Preferred lies, did I cheat ?

I was basically accused of cheating yesterday, only in a friendly game and nothing much was made of it but I'd just like a second opinion.

My drive was on the edge of the fairway (on the fairway) and there was a broken, but still attached to the tree, branch, slightly hindering my contact with the ball. Preferred lies were in play, so I marked, lifted the ball and replaced it about 4 inches behind which took the branch of my way.

The accusation was that I used the preferred lies rule, but not for it's intended purpose, and that isn't allowed.