Eleven
“You look beautiful,” Theo whispered in my ear as our ensemble moved down the hallway toward the ballroom.
My hair was curled in perfect waves, so shiny, stiff, and sticky, I didn’t dare touch it.
The dress swept down to my ankles, a beautiful tulle creation with a black lacy design going over one shoulder and cinching at my waist. It looked like a fairy-tale dress, and as beautiful as it was, the six-inch heels and tightness of the waist made me wish for leggings and my favorite band hoodie.
Eloise and the queen gushed over it; the designer was one of the top in the world.
If any of my clothes at home were designer, it was from a store, where others could get a similar piece.
This was a one-of-a-kind dress, brought in specifically for me, tailored to fit every curve.
All for this evening. For the night I made my first public appearance at Theo’s side.
No pressure.
My hands shook, my stomach twisting with nerves.
“Relax.” He laced his fingers through mine. “Everything will be perfect.”
Did he not know me? I was a walking disaster. The memory of meeting the queen a week ago was still fresh in my mind. My introduction to the king was not much better.
This week had been a blur of meetings, etiquette training, and waiting for Theo to return from his nonstop obligations. We hardly got to see each other all week, even Eloise was off doing her duties most of the time, leaving me wandering the hallways and staring at paintings.
Hanging out with Grandpa Al. He really was a good listener.
I talked to my family on the phone several times. They were not invited here tonight but were coming to the polo match and garden party tomorrow.
The slight had not been lost on my uncle.
“Smile. They will love you.” Theo squeezed my hand.
I forced my lips to curve up, seeing the flashes of press ahead of us, clamoring for the nobility and famous people invited to the event.
“Shite,” I whispered under my breath, inhaling deeply. Every step closer was like a stake, pinning me down into this new life.
“You got this,” Theo muttered in my ear, confidently marching us to the next room. His camera-ready smile showed off his pearly white teeth. Kicking into prince mode, he personably greeted the royal press with ease.
He was born to do this. To play this role.
Don’t trip, Spencer.
My smile wobbled on my face from nerves as flashes blasted across my vision.
“Prince Theo! Who is she?”
“Are you officially together?”
“Are you two dating?”
“Tell us, Highness. Who is the lovely creature?”
From every direction, noise and flashes bounded off the high ceilings and ornamentation of the glittery room. Large paintings of Theo’s ancestors hung behind us, feeling like more people surrounding me, daring me to claim a reason I was here.
“One at a time!” Theo laughed, taking everything in stride while the room started to spin on me.
Bloody hell, do not pass out. My hand clamped down on his tighter, trying to keep upright.
“Ms. Spencer Sutton is my girlfriend.” Theo winked down at me. “We met at school but made it official when I returned from RAF. You will be seeing a lot of her from now on.”
His meaning was clear. Our relationship was serious.
“Ms. Sutton! Ms. Sutton?” The press started yelling my name, the flashes burning my retinas. “Who’s your family?”
“We will be issuing a formal press release.” Theo’s shoulder brushed into mine.
“But I will let you know I am very happy and in love with this girl. Thank you.” He waved, his other hand going to my lower back, directing me toward the doors of the ballroom, where everything glinted, but with gold and crystal instead of flashbulbs.
The doors opened, Theo walking us through. The moment they closed, he turned to me.
“See? Everything went brilliantly. You were perfect.”
“I didn’t utter a word.” I touched my stomach with my free hand, hoping to settle it.
I had never been one who enjoyed attention on me.
The intensity of the spotlight had me squirming like a worm.
This experience had me desperate to find the king’s hounds and curl up in the warmth of their coats.
They weren’t cuddly family dogs, but animals had a calming effect on me.
I was the girl at the party petting the cat or chilling with the dog.
“Champagne?” Theo grabbed a glass off a passing tray.
“Yes.” I swiped it from his hand, downing it. My etiquette teacher would be seizing on the floor, but I needed alcohol in my veins now.
I glanced around the massive ballroom filled with the rich, famous, and noble.
Gold trimmed the white walls and ceilings, and dozens of crystal chandeliers hung in pairs above the wood floor that was covered with deep red carpets.
The dining tables were draped with white linen and set with gold plates and utensils.
Everything glimmered in the soft light as music twirled around the space from the hidden orchestra.
The king’s table stood out at the end of the long table design.
Beautiful. It was hard not to be dazzled by the elements, sucked in by the glitter of the extremely wealthy.
I set the flute on a tray, grabbing another one and drinking that too.
“Spence?” Theo’s eyebrow went up. He looked good, his tux fitting his newly built body like a glove, his hair brushed back, looking like a mini version of his father.
Even the way he held the glass reminded me of the king.
The arrogance of knowing he had no one here to impress. He was the top of the heap.
Swallowing back the last bit of liquid, I took a breath. “Sorry.”
“You have nothing to be nervous about.”
“Right.” I let go of his hand, but he reclaimed it instantly.
“Come on, let’s do our duty and greet the guests.” He pulled me along as I dropped my second glass onto a passing tray. “I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone. Especially my grandmother.”
Without thinking, I dug my heels into the rug, halting us.
“What?” He glanced back at me.
“Your grandmother?” I swallowed. “You mean the dowager queen?” Alexander’s mother, Anne, was well known for her strong, blunt personality. A woman who could shred people with a look and make the heads of state fumble and bumble in her presence.
“Grannie really isn’t as bad as you think.” Grannie? Anne didn’t strike me as anyone’s grannie. “She’s really all bark and no bite.”
All bark, huh? Is that why she got the President of the United States to run off with his tail between his legs?
He moved us across the room again, the dowager queen herself sitting on a silk-covered sofa by one of the fireplaces, her legs crossed at her ankles, her back straight as a board.
The woman was still as graceful and elegant as she was when I was a child.
In her mid-seventies, she looked like she was barely older than her son.
Her hair was now a beautiful white styled above her shoulders, and her soft gold lacy dress fit her tall, lean body.
She was the definition of classically beautiful, someone who seemed born to be royalty.
And intimidating as hell.
“Grannie,” Theo called to her as we stepped up to her, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
“Theodore.” She took his hand, leaning up into his kiss.
Her voice was like glass, smooth and cool.
“You are late.” Her gaze rolled over his attire, then up to his face as she gracefully set her martini down on the table in front of her.
“You will be king someday. You are not a child anymore. You need to start stepping into your role.”
“I was right on time, Grannie.” He smiled with humored annoyance. Like this was a game they played every time. “And Father thinks I’m doing well in my new role.”
I was still struggling with what he called her. I could never imagine her ever playing with her grandchildren or baking cookies with them. No warmth emanated from her. Just rules, traditions, and roles. It wasn’t hard to see where Alexander got his no-nonsense personality.
A small smile cusped her mouth as she took him in. “I heard you were top of your class at the Royal Air Force. Of course, there was no doubt. The son of a king should be at the top.”
“I was.” Theo brushed off her compliment, angling to me. “I actually wanted to introduce you to someone special.” His hand went to my back, pushing me forward.
Like walking into a cage with a lion, I watched her attention shift from Theo to me. Her lids lowered as her gaze went from my shoes to the tip of my scalp. Same blue eyes as her son, which were sharp and clear. Studying. Assessing. Appraising me—worthy or not worthy.
Posh meal or fast-food garbage.
“Grannie, this is Spencer Sutton.”
“It is an honor meeting you, Dowager Queen.” I tried to curtsy, but my knees smacked into the coffee table, sloshing liquid out of the martini glass on the table.
She reached out with a frown, steadying her drink, her icy gaze snapping to me as if being clumsy was a cardinal sin.
Another great start, Spence. I really was not meant to be let out in public.
“Sutton.” She said my name like it was a dry cracker on her tongue. “The family name sounds vaguely familiar.”
“Yes, I—”
“Are you the Baron Sutton’s daughter of Chatstone Manor?” She steamrolled over me.
“I am. My father is Andrew Sutton. My uncle is Fredrick.”
“Oh.” Her lips pursed. One word. A single syllable, and she told me everything I needed to know. Drowning me in all the things she didn’t bother saying, but I could feel her stab at me with invisible knives.
“We met at Alton College.” Theo grinned like he didn’t notice her clear disappointment. “When I got back from training, I knew I wanted to make it official.”
“Did you?” It really wasn’t a question, but a challenge, blue ice gliding to me. “So, Spencer, you must sit down with me. I want to get to know the girl who stole my grandson’s heart.”
Panic batted my lungs. Oh, feck no.
“She’d love that!” Theo’s smile bounced to me like a puppy.