neck.
“You are so kind. Thank you, my liege.”
“Again, please call me Theo.” He held out a hand for me. “Since we are going to be very much a part of each other’s families now.”
I took his hand, letting him pull me into his side, my mouth twitching under my smile.
“This is my Uncle Fredrick and Aunt Lauren.” I waved at the pair looking like they would burst if I didn’t introduce them soon. Theo moved in to shake their hands.
“I bet you want nothing more than to get blinding drunk and pass out in a horse stall?” A familiar dry voice muttered into my ear from behind, jumping me around.
“Landen!” I couldn’t stop the squeal from taking over my voice, my body crashing into his, my arms wrapping around him with utter glee I couldn’t hide.
“Whoa, cuz.” He laughed, stumbling back from my exuberance.
“Oh my god, I’ve missed you,” I whispered into his ear, blinking back the tears skimming my eyes. He was like air. A touchstone in my newly hectic world. We had been through everything together, and I forgot how much his presence calmed me.
“I have missed you too.” He clutched me before we both stepped back. “You don’t even know.” His gaze slid slyly to his father. “It is hell without you.”
“Move in with me here.” I grabbed his hand. I knew he’d think I was kidding, but I really wasn’t. He was home; he was everything I missed. Only one other thing was missing.
“What about me?” As if I conjured up that missing piece, my best friend stepped around the horse, opening her arms to me.
“Mina…” I croaked, diving into her arms.
With all the photographers snapping away from the cordoned-off section they stood behind, I knew I should be acting more refined. I couldn’t. Seeing my friends was like letting sunlight into a dark room.
Chapter 14
If I thought introducing Theo to my family would be painful, introducing them to the king and queen was torture. Theo had rushed through the introductions before running off for his polo match, leaving me to keep the conversation going and bond the two sides.
King Alexander was polite, but his pinched expression and attention, or lack thereof, on my parents showed how little excitement he held for the union. The queen was gracious, but she also found a reason to walk away the moment it was deemed polite.
“Thinks himself so much better than us,” Fredrick mumbled into his drink, annoyance flickering his gaze side to side.
“Fred.” Aunt Lauren held her finger to her lips. “Keep your voice down.”
“He is the king, Freddie,” my father muttered to his brother.
“One who was insufferable even as a boy. Always acted like our family was so beneath his.” In the incestuous world of nobles, each generation went to school with the next, keeping the circle small. History repeating itself over and over. My uncle had been in the same grade as the king, my dad two years below. All of them rowed together and played in the polo matches. Now their sons and daughters were doing it.
“We will soon be his in-laws, and he still acts like we are dirt.”
“Calm down, Freddie,” my father said soothingly. “Let’s not start out Spencer’s engagement with our quarrels.”
“No one is engaged, Dad.” I felt Landen’s fingers squeeze my elbow, his reinforcement helping more than he ever knew. Mina stood on my other side. They were like two support beams I needed to get through the day.
“Just a matter of time.” Mother finished another glass of champagne, hitting each glass faster the more Fredrick bitched next to her.
Glancing out, I spotted my sister playing with Duke of Wallingford’s son and daughter. I missed being that age, when playing and being silly was still okay. Though sadly, Olivia’s years as a child were ending; by next year, they’d probably shame her for what they adored about her now.
“Encourage him every chance you get, Spencer.” Uncle Fredrick’s lecture tone kicked in. “The quicker you tie him down, the better. Give him no chance to see what else is out there.”
“Dad!”
“Freddie!”
Landen and Aunt Lauren chided him, but he didn’t even flinch.
“It’s the truth, is it not?” He looked around as if we should all nod. “There is a lot of enticement out there, women not caring if he has a girlfriend. Hell, most won’t care if he has a wife, but those enticements stay on the side when you are married.”
My father flinched, but no one disputed my uncle. Peering at the