many times before. Right before he’d turned his wrath on Landen. Beating him.
Oh. Holy. Shite.
Instinct kicked in, lurching me at them in a blink. My nails clawed into his hands.
“Let her go!” I bellowed, shoving his chest. For a second, it was like he didn’t even recognize me, a feral snarl on his lips as he continued to shove Eloise around.
“Fredrick!” I screamed, my palm slapping his face. Holy hell, did I just slap my uncle? “Let. Go. Of. Her. Now!”
He went still, blinking at me, his nose huffing with exertion and anger.
“Let go of Her Highness,” I growled, stepping between them, my chin high.
I could see the moment of understanding flicker over him. The realization of what he just did. Assaulting the Royal Princess…
She could have him dragged away to jail forever with one word.
His arms dropped away, panic widening his eyes. “Spencer.” He whispered my name like a plea.
I turned around to face Eloise, terrified of her response. Friendship in this world was fleeting and unstable. She could turn against my whole family for this.
“Are you okay?” My gaze moved down her, searching for any damage.
“Yeah.” Her eyes stayed on my uncle, not trusting him. “I’m fine. Been manhandled far more than that, though the other was enjoyable.”
“Eloise?” I touched her arm, drawing her attention back to me.
She looked at me for a few beats before her head nodded. “I’m fine, Spence.” Her words eased my shoulders down, knowing she didn’t put me in with my uncle. “Not like my head wasn’t already cracking in two. And I haven’t even had tea yet this morning.” She exhaled, rubbing her head.
“Go.” I nodded to the palace. Her gaze drifted back to my uncle and then to me. She didn’t even have to ask, her expression saying it all. “I’ll be fine.”
“Too hungover for this shite anyway.” She nodded, stepping away then paused, turning around. “Lord Sutton… you are never to step foot on these grounds again. Nor will you ever address me. You are done.” Her princess demeanor pushed back her shoulders.
I saw my uncle’s head bow forward in despair, his whisper of “Yes, Your Highness,” could barely be heard.
Eloise departed, her shoes crunching over the gravel. When they drifted away, I spun around, embarrassment, confusion, and rage puffing up my body so violently I couldn’t even speak. Folding my arms, I glowered at my uncle.
“You were never supposed to see that.” He set his body up tall, his expression stern. The Fredrick I grew up with back in place. “This was personal business.”
“Personal?” I exclaimed. “You just shook the Princess of Great Victoria! Threatened to kill her.”
“Please, stop being so dramatic, Spencer. You sound like Landen.” He took a step, brushing me off like a silly juvenile.
“No,” I barked, grabbing his sleeve, stopping him. “You are going to tell me what is going on. I saw you last night at the event. I know what Eloise does. Is that why you were there? Gambling?”
“It’s none of your business what I do. You are a child. I am the grown-up in the family.” He traveled around me.
“It is my business if you are gambling our estate away!” I spat at his back, halting him in place. “I know we are struggling for money.”
“You know nothing, my dear,” he replied.
“I know more than you think.”
“Really?” He swung around. “And what is it you think you are privy to?”
“We’re broke.”
“Who told you that?” He tried to laugh, but it sounded strained.
Dad had hinted at it, but for some reason, I used another name. “Lord William.”
My uncle turned into a statue, not even blinking. He stared at me.
“Stay away from Lord William.” His voice eerily rolled over like the fog.
“Believe me, I was not seeking him out.”
“No. Stay away from him, Spencer.” Fredrick stomped back toward me, his shoulder curling. “He is cunning and dangerous.”
“I can handle myself.” I stood my ground against my uncle’s formidable persona. He always frightened me before, but after my time here, he felt small and not as daunting as I used to think of him. “But I need you, my uncle, my family, to tell me the truth.”
His throat bobbed, not responding.
“What have you lost?” I folded my arms, feeling for once like the adult here. “Not just last night, but in all.”
“Spencer…”
“Tell me!” I demanded. “I have every right to know. That is my home too. My legacy as well as Landen’s and Olivia’s.”
Silence.
“Tell me!” I bellowed.
He stirred, jaw crunching down.
“TELL ME!”
“Everything,” he wailed, his