he leans toward my ear. “Just follow my lead. After greeting them, I’ll introduce you. You need to do a small curtsey when they greet you. Okay?”
I don’t even have a chance to respond before he leads me into the room, leaving Creed and his father in the hallway. I want to tell my feet to stop, to carry me back to a less stressful life, but they won’t listen, automatically following Anderson.
“Your Majesty.” He releases me and bows his head slightly. I watch as an older version of Anderson shakes his hand, the gesture feeling oddly formal and lacking any closeness or affection. As if Anderson’s an employee, not a son.
“Gabriel.”
Then Anderson turns toward the woman at his father’s side. She’s tall and slender, much like Esme. Her silvery platinum hair is styled in a trendy pixie cut, reminiscent of Jamie Lee Curtis. In fact, everything about her reminds me of the actress, even down to the penetrating gaze that studies and analyzes every inch of me. She certainly doesn’t exhibit any warmth or affection toward me. But as her eyes focus on Anderson, she smiles.
“Gabriel, darling.”
“Grandmother.” He bows. She inclines her head before offering her cheek, which he kisses.
When he returns to me, he straightens his posture, turning into a person I haven’t seen much of since our relationship began. He turns into Prince Gabriel.
“I’d like to introduce you to Ms. Nora Tremblay. Nora.” He smiles down at me. “This is my father, King Gabriel.”
Nerves spiral through me, piercing and deep. All I can do is pray I get the greetings correct and don’t look like an idiot when I curtsey. I haven’t exactly needed to curtsey to anyone in the past, oh…lifetime. Now I wish I’d spent last night learning all these archaic customs and rules instead of wrapped in Anderson’s arms as we made love. Four times, if he’s to be believed.
Doing my best to maintain my balance, I move one foot behind the other, lowering my head slightly as I bend my knees. “Your Majesty.”
My gesture seems to pass muster as he offers me his hand, which I take. “Pleasure, Ms. Tremblay.”
I smile before Anderson turns toward his grandmother.
“Grandmother, I’d like you to meet Ms. Nora Tremblay. Nora, this is my grandmother, Queen Veronica, the queen mother.”
I go through the same motions, even more cognizant of my movements this time. I picture myself losing my balance and stumbling. It would be my luck to do something like that.
When I first met Hunter’s parents, I’d spilled my drink across the table at the restaurant, soaking his mother’s dress. I’d never been so horrified. Thankfully, she laughed it off. I expected her to forbid her son from ever seeing me again because I didn’t measure up. But she didn’t. She embraced me, despite what I viewed as my failings. It made me realize my relationship with my own mother had been incredibly unhealthy.
“We’ll have to work on that, won’t we?” Queen Veronica snips out, her nose upturned.
I open my mouth, unsure how to respond.
“It’s my fault,” Anderson interjects. “I sprang this on her. I have no doubt once Nora begins her instruction, she’ll catch on rather quickly.”
I keep my expression neutral, like I used to whenever my mother criticized me in that passive-aggressive way she always did. Much like it seems Queen Veronica does.
“One hopes so. Thankfully, all she’ll need to do today is stand there and smile.” She turns her annoyed stare toward me. “You can manage that, can’t you?”
“I’ll try not to disappoint,” I counter, doing everything to bite back any snarkiness begging to be set free.
“We should get on with it.” King Gabriel smiles a congenial smile.
I still don’t know what to think about him. He’s a bit of a conundrum. Over time, I’ll probably have a better read on him, but right now, I sense he never learned how to balance being both a king and a father. It’s like he wants to be a father to Anderson right now and celebrate in this moment, but he remembers who he is and the responsibilities placed on his shoulders.
I hope Anderson doesn’t turn out the same way.
“Your Majesties, if you’re ready.” Colonel Winters appears out of thin air.
“We are,” Queen Veronica responds.
“Very well.” He turns on his heels with precision, escorting us out of the drawing room. Creed and Major General Lawson join us for the journey through the corridors. When we approach a large metal door, Major General Lawson punches a code into