“Yes. Of course.”
A noise came from Lennox, casting our attention on him.
He was staring past us, emotionless. “Do you need anything else, my lady?” Every word sounded like he ground it through a shredder.
“No,” I replied.
He dipped his head and started to spin around.
“Hey, man,” Theo called out to him. “Sorry about what happened earlier. That’s my father for you.”
“No worries, Highness.” Lennox’s stone face thawed, and he gave Theo a slight nod. “I understand why he did it.”
“I actually like that you will be watching Spencer.” He winked down at me. “I feel better knowing you are on my lady.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Don’t sir me. Call me Theo. You know I hate all those titles.”
“Not when I’m on duty,” Lennox countered. “And you better get used to it, Your Highness.”
“Such an arsehole.” Theo grinned, hitting his friend on the arm.
“Not a secret, Highness.” Lennox’s eyes snaked to mine.
No, it certainly wasn’t.
A smug grin hinted at his mouth, as if he heard me, before he looked back to Theo.
“I will leave you two.” He bowed, starting to walk again.
“Okay, but come find us when you’re off duty. I told Eloise we needed to stay in tonight. Maybe some beers in the theater room.”
Lennox bobbed his head and strolled down the lane away from us.
“Theater room?” I curved an eyebrow at Theo.
“We don’t have to worry about going to the movies when movies that haven’t even been released yet come to us.”
Of course they did.
A royal perk. More golden paint on the cage.
Chapter 11
“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.
“Shit,” 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.”