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.”
Theo’s face burst into a huge smile as he lowered himself to her level.
“And you are even prettier than a movie princess.” He bowed formally. “My lady.”
Olivia giggled, her cheeks blushing deeply.
He stood up, stepping up to my family.
“It is an honor to meet you, sir.” He grasped my father’s hand.
“The honor is all mine, Highness.” Dad bowed. “And please call me Andrew.”
“Then you have to call me Theo. I’m fine with my father carrying the formal titles for a while longer.” He chuckled.
Theo moved to my mom, kissing her hand. “I can see where Spencer gets her beauty.”
Ugh. I had to turn away so no one would see me roll my eyes. Such a cliché line.
She turned a deeper shade of pink than her lipstick, dipping her legs in a curtsy, her hand fluttering to her