“Thought you might like that.”
“It’s perfect.” I hacked a little, fully taking in the sweet burn. “Thank you.”
“Welcome, ma’am.”
“Do I look like a ma’am to you?”
“No. You do not.” He grinned, peering at me while moving around the tented bar they had set up inside, refilling the garnishes and serving other customers. “What should I call you, then?”
“Spencer works.” I finished off the rest of the cocktail.
“You know I could be fired for that.”
I exhaled, setting the glass down, knowing he was right. Anyone overhearing him be so informal with me would find it improper.
“Another one?” He tipped his head at the empty glass.
“Yes.” I nodded my head, feeling the pins in my hair scrape my scalp. I watched him start to mix the drink, lost in the smoothness of his movements. Like it was choreographed dance. “What’s your name?” I asked, feeling a good buzz settle in. Crap, what was in this thing?
“Jacob.” He poured the cocktail into a fresh glass, pushing it to me.
“Well, Jacob, you’ve probably saved my life, or at least saved others from me.”
“Glad to be of service, my lady.” He leaned on the counter, staring at me with a flirty smile.
A harsh cough snapped my head to my side.
“Is everything all right here?” Lennox stepped up, his chest puffed, gaze darting from Jacob to me.
“Yeah.” I arched a brow in confusion. “Just getting a drink. Oh, sorry, did I need to ask you for permission? I keep forgetting I answer to you.”
Lennox’s shoulders rose, a nerve twitching in his jaw.
“Funny,” he growled under his breath.
“Is it?” I glared up at him, then snapped my head back forward. “Having a drink with my new favorite person, Jacob, here.” I motioned to the bartender, sounding drunker than I thought I was.
“No more for her,” Lennox spoke over my head to the bartender.
“Pardon me?” Fire. Rage. Like a monster bursting through my chest, I rotated to him. “You do not tell me what to do.”
Lennox stepped into me, his head bowed close. “When you’re drunk and start acting foolishly in front of press, royalty, and judgy nobles, who are all foaming at the mouth to tear you down, as your bodyguard—as your friend—I’m going to step in.” His eyes flicked over my head to Jacob.
My toes butted into his shoes, my shoulders square as I moved in even closer, his body practically touching mine.
“You’re not my friend.” My voice was low, my tongue lashing. “You made that clear. You are my bodyguard. An employee of the royal house. And as much as you’d like to think the other way, you do not give orders. Especially to someone who might become royal. Your employer.” I hated the declaration the moment I said it, sounding beyond bitchy and elitist.
He inhaled sharply, his mouth pinching.
“Go away, Lennox. I will beckon if I need you.” I whipped back around, anger and alcohol fueling my words, but shame and self-loathing burned in my stomach like acid.
None of that sounded like me. It wasn’t the person I was, but for some reason, out of the entire world, Lennox seemed to bring it out in me.
He muttered something under his breath, marching away from me. I forced a smile on my face like I was glad he was gone, my attention back on Jacob. “How about another one?”
Jacob stood there, his gaze sliding from me to where Lennox used to be, a strange expression on his face, like he knew or understood something.
“I need to get a new bodyguard. We can’t stand each other.”
“That’s not what it looked like from here.”
“Oh god, no. That was pure loathing. If I turn up dead, look to him first.”
Jacob snorted, starting to mix a new drink.
“He’s right, my dear.” A crusty voice jumped me back around. This time it was someone I wanted to see even less than Lennox.
Lord William.
He leaned back on an elbow, facing out toward the track, a glass primed right at his smug lips.
“You two are rubbish at hiding it.”
“We’re not hiding anything,” I snapped.
Only his eyes slid to me. Condescending. “Please, my dear.” He looked back out, taking a drink. “I may be old, but I know when two people are in a lovers’ spat.”
“We’re not—”
“Hey, I’m not judging. You clearly aren’t getting pleasured enough by the prince.” He leered at me, licking his lips. “Finding excitement with the bodyguard. Tale as old as time, my girl.” Every vulgar word dragged over my skin, stirring bile in my gut. “If you only came to me, I could have given you everything you desire.”
“You are disgusting,” I seethed, stepping away. His hand wrapped around my wrist, holding me in place, his grip much firmer than you’d expect for someone his age.
“You want me to stay quiet?” His stale breath was heavy with alcohol. “You rub my back, and I’ll rub yours.”
“There’s nothing to stay quiet about.” I tried to jerk my hand from his grip, but his bony fingers wrapped around tighter.
“Sure, there is.” A malicious smile grew on his face, his eyes dropping to my breasts, licking his lips. “You can deny it all you want, but it’s so clear to anyone really looking. All it will take is a little point in your direction, a little implication of your bodyguard. To the king, to the press… just a whisper, and you will be besieged in doubt and ridicule. The king already doesn’t believe you belong. You think after that he will allow his only son to marry you?” Smugness engulfed his face. “And that’s without adding your destitute family.”
“Leave my family out of this,” I growled, yanking my hand from his. “They have nothing to do with any of this.”
“Don’t they?” His head flicked to something behind me. I twisted around to see my uncle over by the racetrack, his face contorted in anger, his frame defensive and angry, arguing with someone I couldn’t see.
What was Fredrick doing here? I didn’t think any of my family was invited. And wouldn’t my mum have told me if they were coming? But I didn’t see anyone else. Not Landen, my aunt, or my parents.
Just my uncle.
“It seems your family is right in the middle, gambling away what’s left of your pitiful fortune and legacy. If you have any left.” He took a sip of his drink. “How humiliating for you that you are acting so righteous now, when it’s only a matter of time before you will be on your knees in my office, begging me to help you.”
I gulped back the acid gagging my throat, my chin lifting.
“Grandpa, the closest you will see me on my knees is leaning over to throw dirt on your coffin.”
He grinned, showing off his yellowing teeth. “How fun you will be to break.”
Folding my arms, I glowered at him.
“How much I’m going to enjoy when that stubbornness is groveling at my feet. I have the means and the money to protect you, Spencer… or destroy you.”
“Get away from me.”
Lord William’s mouth brushed against my cheek, chuckling lowly. “Oh, the scandal we’ll have, Ms. Sutton,” he said, strolling away with a wink.