Royal Watch (Royal Watch #1) - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,81
of the car. This was the first thing he had said to me since we parted earlier.
My heels hit the step, my legs straining to get down. The dress they put me in looked casual, but it was tight and highlighted every curve on a day I wanted to be in sweats, snuggling a heating pad, and shoving ice cream down my throat, which actually was most days.
“Thank you.” My hand gripped his, feeling already clumsy, knowing it would take very little for me to fall on my face. A muscle twitched in his cheek, and he quickly let me go when I was steady on my feet. I tried to hide my sigh as the crowd screamed my name, the bustling of people and cars all aggravating my nerves, making me feel extremely exhausted.
“Is it over yet?”
Lennox gaze roamed around, taking everything in. “Pizza and a movie sounds good tonight, doesn’t it?”
“Like heaven,” I muttered. No painkillers on Earth took away the achy sensation running over my body. The dress cut into me, and the heels dug into my toes. There hadn’t been many evenings since Theo came back that we had been able to stay in. Always an event, always a place to be, another stiff dress and tall heels.
Always poised.
Hanging out with my friends, grabbing coffee, being silly, going for a horse ride, just binging a TV show—those weren’t things I could do anymore. Not even a royal member yet and the life consumed every moment, every action, every word.
Every bit of me.
The crowd roared when Theo got out of the car. He waved cheerfully at the assembly lined up behind a guardrail, a smile lighting up his face. He was a natural, this world a perfect fit for him. Eloise pretended well and enjoyed a lot of aspects of it, but Theo was born for this life.
His effortlessness and charm should have eased me, but sometimes it only stoked more irritation through me, made me feel less because I didn’t enjoy it. Didn’t he ever want to tell them off? Have a bad day? Wear a tracksuit to a gala? Or—gasp—not go at all.
Theo came around the car, reaching out for me, his arm curling around my waist, turning us to the paps.
Click. Click. Click. Click. Flashes burned my irises. My smile was forced over my face as I turned my head like I was taught, to get the best picture.
“Theo! Theo! When are you going to propose? Theo!”
His grin widened, looking down at me coyly. “Soon.”
I smiled up at him, acting like this was something we had discussed, while my stomach dropped like a roller coaster, twisting and turning around my gut.
He waved at them, lacing his free hand with mine, pivoting us to the entrance with perfection. We ticked all the boxes: elegant, sweet, charming, and poised. The image the world seemed to demand us to be, forgetting we were human beings.
And we were still teenagers.
We stepped in, staff descending on us, taking our coats as lords and ladies milled around, already pivoting to the prince.
“Theo…” I looked up, needing a moment with him. Us. A reminder I wasn’t drowning in all this.
He glanced down at me before his name rang through the doorway to the arena. He turned quickly toward the sound, and I knew I was already forgotten.
“Theodore!” Lord Astor held up a drink, waving him over. Ben stood next to his father, already appearing hammered, slamming back the scotch in his hand. Lord Grant Astor was a good-looking man, Ben taking a lot after him. Tall and lean with a mop of brown hair, both father and son held themselves like only the true elite did.
“Good to see you, Grant.” Theo shook hands with him before he and Ben clapped each other on the back.
“It’s been a long time, my boy,” Grant replied, his accent posh. “I was just telling Benjamin the other day we hardly see you anymore.”
“Yeah, life has been busy.”
“Aye, aye,” Grant replied, bobbing his head. “The life of the future king.” He bent toward me. “And this must be Spencer.” He took my hand, his gaze raking over me with interest, kissing it softly. “Very nice meeting you.”
“And you.” I dipped my legs in greeting. Living with the King and Queen of Great Victoria had you dropping into a curtsy frequently.
“I can see why we see even less of Theo. A true beauty.” He dropped my hand, nodding at Theo. “Well done, my boy.”