“I think about you all the time.”
“Last night? That proposal. Did you think I’d like that? In front of everyone?”
Putting his hands on his hips, he stared at the ground.
“Theo, you know me. Do I like being in big crowds where everyone is watching me?”
“No,” he whispered.
“Then why?”
He stayed silent, still not looking at me.
“Tell me why you would do that to me,” I demanded.
“Because I knew you couldn’t say no!” His head bolted up, a flare of his temper showing.
I sucked in; it was the first bit of honesty from him.
“Fuck, Spencer, I’m not blind. I could feel you drifting from me. And I reacted, knowing in front of people you’d agree. I didn’t want to lose you, and I thought if we got past all this uncertainty, got engaged, we’d find our way back. We still can.”
“No.” I stepped up to him, the ring between my fingers. “We can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because.” My eyes watered. “You deserve someone who loves you with all her heart. To not even hesitate for a moment when you propose.”
He didn’t speak for over a minute, staring at the ring, tears glinting in his eyes. Finally, he took it, exhaling heavily, clearing his throat. “It’s not so easy. You can’t simply un-engage from a prince.”
“What do you mean?”
“The world is just finding out we got engaged. The authorized comments from RH were issued only moments ago. Our picture has been put up on the official website. It’s too soon to flip it on everyone, and today Father and I have a stressful meeting with Parliament.” He grunted. “What my father is going to say about this…I can’t deal with this today.”
I swallowed. I knew exactly what his father would say. But would he really want his son to marry someone who didn’t love him? Wouldn’t he want more for him?
“Please, can you pretend a little longer?” He grabbed my hand, slipping the ring back on.
“Theo.”
“Please, do me this favor.”
I took in a deep breath, feeling the weight step back on my shoulders.
“Give me a few days. We’ll talk later about how to handle this.”
“Theo…”
“Please, Spencer? I just need a little time. Can you keep acting like everything is fine?”
My shoulders drooped, knowing this wasn’t as simple as handing back the ring and walking away. Not for royals. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Thank you. Let’s keep this between us for right now, not even my sister. Okay?” He stepped up to me, his lips brushing my forehead. “And I won’t lie and say I don’t hope you will give me one last chance. I don’t want to give up on us. I think we could have been really happy.” He kissed me again before moving away, sadness etching his face. “When you said yes last night, you made me the happiest man in the world.” He choked, twisting and strolling for the door.
“Theo?” Pain pinched my expression. That tiny bit of hope Theo still held on to broke. A tear slid down my cheek.
He paused, looking back at me.
“You never even noticed.”
“What?”
“I never said yes.”
While Theo was dealing with the kingdom, I was required to deal with the wedding and engagement plans. By how quickly the House responded to the engagement, Chloe must have been preparing for a while. The folder was thick, and the contacts, the most prestigious in the world, were already dumping sketches on my lap.
The day was a blizzard of meetings and discussions about things I really didn’t have much say over anyway. People showed me a handful of approved dresses, flowers, and jewelry. None of them were me. And after a while, I nodded at anything they recommended, tuning out. It was crazy; no one saw how unexcited I was. Shouldn’t the bride be bustling with enthusiasm?
I kept asking for another glass of champagne, the only perk of the day. I continued to text Lennox, indignation blazing the longer he ignored me. He was still my bodyguard. What if I needed him? Would he go against his duties to stay away from me? The fact he left me last night completely went against protocol.
“It is such an honor to be even asked to present you with one of my designs for your dress, my lady,” one designer gushed, jolting me back to the present. She pranced around, not able to hide her nervous excitement. “I would be so unbelievably honored to also design any gala or event dresses for you. Anything. Even a robe from my line could transform my life.”
Damn you, Theo. Guilt enveloped me over the effort people were putting forward with the hope this would change their careers. And it would all be for naught.
While Chloe and others went over specifications and contracts, I noticed Dalton stroll by the room.
“I’ll be right back.” I leapt off the sofa, rushing out of the room.
“Dalton.” I jogged after him.
He stopped, curving to see me. “My lady.” He dipped his head. “May I offer my congratulations.”
“Don’t,” I muttered, my gaze roaming around for unwanted ears. Tugging his sleeve, I slinked into an empty sitting room. They had a dozen of them, and most were never used. I shut the doors, my words drying up on my tongue, peeling and cracking as they came out. “I’m sorry…for what you saw…god…I can’t imagine what you think of me.”
“It is not my place to judge, miss.”
“Please,” I replied wryly. “You of all people have the right. You have been so kind to me when so many weren’t. And I feel I’ve betrayed you as well. Disappointed you.”
Dalton took a breath, his massive shoulders sinking, his stern guard expression slipping slightly.
“If it makes my actions any less horrendous, I did end things with Theo earlier yesterday. Or so I thought. Last night was supposed to be us putting on a face, until…”
Dalton’s curious gaze met mine. He had the kind of penetrating stare that was sexy and intimidating at the same time. He and Lennox seriously could do a photoshoot for the hottest bodyguards alive.
“The thing with Lennox. I fought it for a long time and after the bombing... I can’t say my choices weren’t hurtful and despicable, but—” I stopped, the intense feelings for Lennox ripping out my oxygen.
“What you do is not my concern.” Dalton cuffed his hands, standing tall. “No need to explain it to me.”
“But I feel like I do.” I took a step toward him. “Out of everyone in this place, your respect means the most to me.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Don’t fuckin’ ma’am me.” I glared at him, making a chuckle roll off him. “You have known and watched Theo for a long time. Protected him in all ways. I hate how this happened, and I hate you might feel in the middle.”
“You know I wasn’t Lennox’s biggest fan when he first arrived, but he quickly changed my notion of him. He has become a good mate and has my utmost respect for what he has gone through in his life. But you know as much as I like you, my loyalty will always be to Theo first. His safety. But his personal life is not my affair.”