“Yes. And that is just from yesterday. Every minute you get a dozen new followers. The more you and Theo are out, the more this will grow. The moment you announce your engagement, this will quadruple. The other social media sites are around the same, if not more. They are very curious and interested in you, which you must have known would happen. Prince Theo is the most eligible bachelor in the world, and you’ve taken him out of the game before he was even really in it.” She shifted her cell to her other ear. “From what I’ve seen on Twitter, you should be glad we had all commentary off. There are a lot of broken hearts across the world. They never had a chance with him anyway but can be vicious in their claim that they could have, saying you are not worthy of their prince.”
I knew the cruelty of the anonymous faces on social media. Even as low as my family was, I had my fair share of attacks, people loving to rip me down to make themselves feel better about their situation.
“I suggest you stay far away from social media for a while. Let us deal with it. You are going to have lovers and haters. That’s just how it goes. And once they get used to the idea of you, it will calm down. Right now, everyone is going to have an opinion about you. Of you two together. Please stay off your mobile if you want to keep your sanity.”
“Okay.” Acid swished in my stomach. Everyone could tell me strangers’ opinions didn’t matter, and maybe they were right, but I was being torn to shreds and dissected by the world. Was anyone strong enough for that?
Theo. Theo. I repeated his name to myself. He’s all that’s important.
“Okay, I think that is all. Just remember every move you make will be photographed today. If you can get some sweet moments with your family, with the king and queen, that would be nice.”
I was familiar with the “candid” staged photos. So many pictures people thought were caught in the moment were actually purposeful, like an episode of reality TV—scripted realism.
“Oh, and one last piece of advice. Look like you are drinking and having fun, but don’t drink. One loose slip of the tongue, one stumble… a PR nightmare, harsh ridicule for you, and embarrassment for the royal house.” She frowned like I had already done it.
“Sure.” Now it was the only thing I wanted to do. Sweeping out of the room before she could say more, I took off to find some coffee.
Would they let me hang out in the stables all day instead?
“Spencie!” My sister’s soft voice rolled through the throng of people, her curly strawberry-blond hair flowing behind her as she ran for me.
“Livie.” I crouched down, wrapping my arms around her tiny frame. Today my mother had her in a new outfit, a knee-length light blue dress with sheer sleeves, white Mary Jane-type shoes, and a cute headband. She fit into this world much better than I.
“I have missed you so much,” she said quietly, her calming voice a balm to my agitated mood.
“I’ve missed you more.” I hugged her again before standing up, my parents surrounding me.
“So good to see you, Spencie.” My father, with the same quiet nature as my sister, hugged me with one arm like I was a delicate flower, stepping away quickly. From birth, nobles were taught to keep emotions at a minimum. Hugs and kisses were kept subdued and limited.
“You look beautiful.” My mum leaned in, air-kissing my cheeks. My insides gripped at her compliment, waiting for the punch to come after it. “Though you could have spent a little more time on your hair and some more blush. You look tired.”
And there it was.
“Thanks.” I forced a smile on my face. Of course, she looked impeccable in a brand-new lavender dress. Vivian Sutton was the kind who never stepped out the front door without looking camera ready.
In her mid-forties, she could easily pass for mid-thirties. She was my height, yet somehow still seemed to tower over me with her perfect posture. With shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes, pronounced cheekbones, and creamy skin, she was stunning. Her mother had used her daughter’s looks to advance their station. My grandmother shoved her daughter at anything with a title and was thrilled when Vivian fell in love with Andrew, a baron of Chatstone Manor. That was until the title wore off and Grandmother realized she should have gone higher on the noble ladder for suitable partners. My father’s lowly title was still a sticking point for my grandmother at holidays, saying her beautiful girl could have married a prince or an emperor.
I didn’t want to think how giddy Grandmother was at the idea of me being courted by a prince.
“Spencer.” Uncle Fredrick greeted me with a dip of his head as Aunt Lauren gave my cheeks more air kisses.
“We are so proud of you.” She squeezed my hand, her gaze hopping around like ping-pong, landing on all the elite nobles and celebrities.
“Proud of me?” My nose wrinkled.
“Yes, my girl. This is a huge deal for our family.” Fredrick tugged at his tan suit sleeves. “Not that we shouldn’t be treated with high respect. We are no less than any of these buffoons here.”
“Freddie!” Lauren hissed, smacking him, while my mother grabbed a glass of champagne from a server strolling by and downed it. “Don’t say such things so loud.”
“They have treated us like lepers for years,” he grumbled. “And now look. Our niece is set to marry the Prince of Great Victoria.”
“I’m not set to marry anyone.” You thought you missed your family until you were with them again. Funny how fast they could drive you insane.
“Please.” Fredrick huffed. “Look around. You are being groomed to be his wife.”
Wife. That was a title that I found very uncomfortable. I was hardly nineteen, way too young to get married.
How long would it be before the RH pushed for us to do it? Maybe two or three years? That still felt far too young to settle down. Not that my life didn’t already feel planned out for me.
Theo. I needed to say his name, think of him every time I started freaking out. All this pressure would make anyone lose their minds. But in the end, it was about him and me. What we wanted.
Lacing my fingers through my sister’s, I decided it was time to take the show on the road and get this horribly awkward part over with.
“Spencer!” Theo spotted me making my way toward him. He stood by a beautiful brown thoroughbred polo pony. “I was about to go search for you, luv.” He reached out, touching my hip as he leaned in to kiss my temple. Letting go of my sister, my attention was on the horse, my fingers sliding through the silky coat, its head bobbing as I rubbed its nose, a smile growing on my face.
“Haven’t seen a smile like that since you got here.” Theo smirked, shaking his head. “Should have known my little animal lover would be happier with the horses.”
My lids narrowed on him as I continued to pet the horse. Little animal lover, like what I wanted to do was some cute quirk. A passing fancy.
“Well, hello. You must be Olivia.” Theo turned to my sister. His ease around people contrasted my personality with blaring clarity. I rubbed my nose into the horse, gladly hiding from everyone, while Theo ran straight into them.
“I am.” She smiled gently, pinching her dress to curtsy. “You are very handsome. Like a movie prince.”