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.”
“You have nothing to be nervous about.”
“Right.” I let go of his hand, but he reclaimed it instantly.
“Come on, let’s do our duty and greet the guests.” He pulled me along as I dropped my second glass onto a passing tray. “I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone. Especially my grandmother.”
Without thinking, I dug my heels into the rug, halting us.
“What?” He glanced back at me.
“Your grandmother?” I swallowed. “You mean the dowager queen?” Alexander’s mother, Anne, was well known for her strong, blunt personality. A woman who could shred people with a look and make the heads of state fumble and bumble in her presence.
“Grannie really isn’t as bad as you think.” Grannie? Anne didn’t strike me as anyone’s grannie. “She’s really all bark and no bite.”
All bark, huh? Is that why she got the President of the United States to run off with his tail between his legs?
He moved us across the room again, the dowager queen herself sitting on a silk-covered sofa by one of the fireplaces, her legs crossed at her ankles, her back straight as a board. The woman was still as graceful and elegant as she was when I was a child. In her mid-seventies, she looked like she was barely older than her son. Her hair was now a beautiful white styled above her shoulders, and her soft gold lacy dress fit her tall, lean body. She was the definition of classically beautiful, someone who seemed born to be royalty.
And intimidating as hell.
“Grannie,” Theo called to her as we stepped up to her, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
“Theodore.” She took his hand, leaning up into his kiss. Her voice was like glass, smooth and cool. “You are late.” Her gaze rolled over his attire, then up to his face as she gracefully set her martini down on the table in front of her. “You will be king someday. You are not a child anymore. You need to start stepping into your role.”
“I was right on time, Grannie.” He smiled with humored annoyance. Like this was a game they played every time. “And Father thinks I’m doing well in my new role.”
I was still struggling with what he called her. I could never imagine her ever playing with her grandchildren or baking cookies with them. No warmth emanated from her. Just rules, traditions, and roles. It wasn’t hard to see where Alexander got his no-nonsense personality.
A small smile cusped her mouth as she took him in. “I heard you were top of your class at the Royal Air Force. Of course, there was no doubt. The son of a king should be at the top.”
“I was.” Theo brushed off her compliment, angling to me. “I actually wanted to introduce you to someone special.” His hand went to my back, pushing me forward.
Like walking into a cage with a lion, I watched her attention shift from Theo to me. Her lids lowered as her gaze went from my shoes to the tip of my scalp. Same blue eyes as her son, which were sharp and clear. Studying. Assessing. Appraising me—worthy or not worthy.
Posh meal or fast-food garbage.
“Grannie, this is Spencer Sutton.”
“It is an honor meeting you, Dowager Queen.” I tried to curtsy, but my knees smacked into the coffee table, sloshing liquid out of the martini glass on the table.
She reached out with a frown, steadying her drink, her icy gaze snapping to me as if being clumsy was a cardinal sin.
Another great start, Spence. I really was not meant to be let out in public.
“Sutton.” She said my name like it was a dry cracker on her tongue. “The family name sounds vaguely familiar.”
“Yes, I—”
“Are you the Baron Sutton’s daughter of Chatstone Manor?” She steamrolled over me.
“I am. My father is Andrew Sutton. My uncle is Fredrick.”
“Oh.” Her lips pursed. One word. A single syllable, and she told me everything I needed to know. Drowning me in all the things she didn’t bother saying, but I could feel her stab at me with invisible knives.
“We met at Alton College.” Theo grinned like he didn’t notice her clear disappointment. “When I got back from training, I knew I wanted to make it official.”
“Did you?” It