Royal Watch

by Stacey Marie Brown

  “Instruction?”

  Chloe touched her flawlessly smoothed blonde hair. Not even a strand would dare come out of the low tight bun. She was tall and lean, dressed in a knee-length black dress and heels with a red blazer. She was picture perfect for the “message” of the royal house, meeting the same standard as the Queen and Eloise. Conservative, elegant, and reserved. So many things I didn’t feel I was. Maybe those on the outside would disagree, but I preferred animals to people, jeans to dresses, riding boots to heels, pizza to lobster, and loose, long tangled hair to being perfectly coiffed.

  “I know being raised as a baroness you’ve had some instruction on manners and etiquette, but the royal house is another level of traditions and customs. Things that have been in place since the establishment of this kingdom. Protocols a novice could break without even knowing.” She tugged at the edges of her jacket, pressing her red lips together. “Dinner etiquette will start later this afternoon after your fittings. Dresses will be picked for you for the formal events. We want your introduction at the gala to be seamless.” She moved to Millie, handing her a few files. Without a note of instruction, Millie took them with a curtsy and left the room. “Your world is here now. Your message will be the same as Theo’s until you become duchess, then you can start thinking of charities of your own you want to be the voice for. Of course, only if they are first approved by the royal house.”

  The walls cinched down on me, strangling air from my lungs. Stay strong. Think of Theo.

  Chloe went on about my schedule as perspiration glided down the back of my neck, stirring me in the chair. My own family, the people here, everyone was trying to control my life and every choice of words from my mouth, ripping my voice away.

  “I have to go.” The sentiment popped off my tongue before I even realized it as I rose from the chair.

  “Spencer?” I heard Chloe call after me, my legs already taking me out of the room and down the hall. I had no direction or care, I just ran, my only desire to get out of this cage and feel the fresh breeze on my face.

  Weaving and dodging through staff, I moved along several corridors, down the stairs, and out a door, bursting through into a gray day. Sucking deeply, I gulped in air as if I had been strangled, desperate to breathe. The air was still slightly warm, the clouds keeping it in like another cage locking around me.

  My new shoes were kicked out in front of me as I moved across the garden, the stone wall dimming the voices, honks, and rumbles of cars, life on the other side of the barrier. They all wanted so badly to see over the wall, to be part of this world, when all I wanted was out. Funny how so many saw this as the ideal life. They didn’t see that you may have privileges, but no freedoms—no bad days, no nights you could just stay home and watch the telly, drink in a pub with a friend, or wear sweats and your hair in a messy ponytail.

  Darting farther into the private gardens, I longed to get lost in the wildness of nature. But even here, nothing was out of place. Everything was perfect and tamed.

  Reaching a pond, I came to a pause at a bench, watching a few koi fish breach the surface, their lips nipping in hopes of food. I was entranced by their colors and movements, circling around and around. Trapped.

  With a sigh, I dropped on the bench. None of this was completely out of the blue. I understood what being with Theo meant. Still, the panic bubbled to the surface. They were striping every bit of my personality, trying to mold me into another coiffed model of perfection.

  A few birds chirped, the noise of the city rolling softly through the trees, and I inhaled, letting my shoulders drop back down. It was then that I felt it. The back of my neck prickled with the sensation that someone was watching me. I curved my head to peer over my shoulder.

  “Great.” I frowned at the figure behind me.

  Lennox stood there, his scruffy jaw rolling back and forth, his expression twisted up with annoyance.

  “What do you want?”

  “Just doing my job, my lady.” His voice was empty of any emotion.

  “I’m on the grounds. I doubt you have to watch me here.”

  “Always.” He kept his arms behind his back, his gaze staring out past me. “Once you get out of bed, I am on duty.”

  “And you sound so thrilled about that.” I shifted back around, staring at the fish.

  “No. I’m not.”

  His answer yanked my head back around again, the brutal honesty making me laugh for the first time today.

  “You are not any happier about it than I am.” He shifted on his feet, still not looking at me.

  “You’re right.” The truth felt like silk gliding over tender skin. “I wish I could say it wasn’t personal that I don’t want anyone, but I think we’d both know it’s a lie. I don’t like you at all.”

  The ghost of amusement wobbled his lips, the first sign of a personality that I’d seen. Not that I believed he had one. “The feeling is mutual, my lady.”

  “Wow,” I snorted, standing up and turning to him. “You really are new.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because no staff, bodyguard, or private secretary would ever talk to their boss that way. Especially in the royal house.” I folded my arms. “You are willing to risk your job?”

  “You’d fire me for being truthful?” His hazel eyes slid to mine. “Tells me all I need to know about your character.”

  “Screw you.” I ground my teeth. “Your honesty was not asked for, nor do I believe you’d really have my back if the time came.”

  “I do my duty. Whether it’s your arse or the prince’s.” He dropped his arms, clasping them in front of him. “My reputation sort of counts on your survival. I let you die, the chances of someone hiring me again diminish severely.”

  A burst of dry laughter shot from my mouth. I was surprised he was so frank with me. Rubbing my temple, exhaustion quickly engulfed me, my bones still aching from the night before, the bruises under my concealer throbbing.

  “Anyway, thank you for not letting me die last night.” I leaned back on my heel. “I appreciate it.”

  His attention flicked to the side, highlighting his strong jaw.

  No answer.

  Irritation climbed up my back like vines.

  “You don’t need to watch me here. I’m fine.” My head turned the opposite way. “You can go.”

  His head jerked back, his shoulders rising.

  “I don’t take orders from you. I’m not your maid.” His hazel-blue eyes glinted with fire, his hands clasping harder around each other. “I work for His Majesty. He is the one I listen to. Not you.”

  “Excuse me?” My mouth parted; a spark of my uncle’s pride pushed up my chin. The deep insecurity we held at being so low on the nobility list reared inside me. We were still nobles.

  “And I’m not your charge. I am your…”

  “What?” His lids narrowed, a sneer lifting his lip.

  “Nothing.”

  “No, please. Continue.” He raised his eyebrows. “Superior, perhaps? Above my lowly status?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t need to.” His gaze challenged me. “I am fully aware of my rank here. But I am employed by the King of Victoria. If you want to challenge that and start paying me, I will gladly step aside.”

  “What is your problem?” I snapped.

  “You will have to narrow it down.”

  “Fine. With me. What is your problem with me?”

  “Personally, I have no problem with you. You are just a job.”

  “Bullshite,” I responded, feeling the heat crawl up my face from challenging the intimidating man before me. “From the moment I met you, you’ve acted like you hated me.”

  “I don’t feel enough about you to hate you.”

  Embarrassment and hurt punched me in the gut. A retaliation grew in my chest, my mouth opening to hit back.

  “Spencer!” Theo’s voice broke my glare on my new bodyguard, landing on the familiar figure jogging for me from the
house. Instantly, my heart fluttered with happiness, filling with relief. His smile lightened my mood, a smile growing on my face at seeing the boy who made all this bearable.

  You really have the best catch anyway. Hazel’s sentiment wrapped around me like a reassuring hug.

  He was so worth this.

  He smiled at Lennox, wrapping one arm around me, pulling me in to kiss my temple.

  “Hey, luv.” Theo’s posh accent swaddled the term. I would have hated anyone else calling me that, but he seemed to make it work.

  “Hey.” I grinned up at him.

  “A maid told me she saw you running out here. You all right?” The concern in his eyes had me forcing down my fear, nodding my head.

  “Yes. Of course.”

  A noise came from Lennox, casting our attention on him.

  He was staring past us, emotionless. “Do you need anything else, my lady?” Every word sounded like he ground it through a shredder.

  “No,” I replied.

  He dipped his head and started to spin around.

  “Hey, man,” Theo called out to him. “Sorry about what happened earlier. That’s my father for you.”

  “No worries, Highness.” Lennox’s stone face thawed, and he gave Theo a slight nod. “I understand why he did it.”

  “I actually like that you will be watching Spencer.” He winked down at me. “I feel better knowing you are on my lady.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Don’t sir me. Call me Theo. You know I hate all those titles.”

  “Not when I’m on duty,” Lennox countered. “And you better get used to it, Your Highness.”

  “Such an arsehole.” Theo grinned, hitting his friend on the arm.

  “Not a secret, Highness.” Lennox’s eyes snaked to mine.

  No, it certainly wasn’t.

  A smug grin hinted at his mouth, as if he heard me, before he looked back to Theo.

  “I will leave you two.” He bowed, starting to walk again.

  “Okay, but come find us when you’re off duty. I told Eloise we needed to stay in tonight. Maybe some beers in the theater room.”

  Lennox bobbed his head and strolled down the lane away from us.

  “Theater room?” I curved an eyebrow at Theo.

  “We don’t have to worry about going to the movies when movies that haven’t even been released yet come to us.”

  Of course they did.

  A royal perk. More golden paint on the cage.

  Chapter 11

  “You look beautiful,” Theo whispered in my ear as our ensemble moved down the hallway toward the ballroom. My hair was curled in perfect waves, so shiny, stiff, and sticky, I didn’t dare touch it. The dress swept down to my ankles, a beautiful tulle creation with a black lacy design going over one shoulder and cinching at my waist. It looked like a fairy-tale dress, and as beautiful as it was, the six-inch heels and tightness of the waist made me wish for leggings and my favorite band hoodie.

  Eloise and the queen gushed over it; the designer was one of the top in the world. If any of my clothes at home were designer, it was from a store, where others could get a similar piece. This was a one-of-a-kind dress, brought in specifically for me, tailored to fit every curve. All for this evening. For the night I made my first public appearance at Theo’s side.

  No pressure.

  My hands shook, my stomach twisting with nerves.

  “Relax.” He laced his fingers through mine. “Everything will be perfect.”

  Did he not know me? I was a walking disaster. The memory of meeting the queen a week ago was still fresh in my mind. My introduction to the king was not much better.

  This week had been a blur of meetings, etiquette training, and waiting for Theo to return from his nonstop obligations. We hardly got to see each other all week, even Eloise was off doing her duties most of the time, leaving me wandering the hallways and staring at paintings.

  Hanging out with Grandpa Al. He really was a good listener.

  I talked to my family on the phone several times. They were not invited here tonight but were coming to the polo match and garden party tomorrow.

  The slight had not been lost on my uncle.

  “Smile. They will love you.” Theo squeezed my hand.

  I forced my lips to curve up, seeing the flashes of press ahead of us, clamoring for the nobility and famous people invited to the event.

  “Shit,” I whispered under my breath, inhaling deeply. Every step closer was like a stake, pinning me down into this new life.

  “You got this,” Theo muttered in my ear, confidently marching us to the next room. His camera-ready smile showed off his pearly white teeth. Kicking into prince mode, he personably greeted the royal press with ease.

  He was born to do this. To play this role.

  Don’t trip, Spencer.

  My smile wobbled on my face from nerves as flashes blasted across my vision.

  “Prince Theo! Who is she?”

  “Are you officially together?”

  “Are you two dating?”

  “Tell us, Highness. Who is the lovely creature?”

  From every direction, noise and flashes bounded off the high ceilings and ornamentation of the glittery room. Large paintings of Theo’s ancestors hung behind us, feeling like more people surrounding me, daring me to claim a reason I was here.

  “One at a time!” Theo laughed, taking everything in stride while the room started to spin on me.

  Bloody hell, do not pass out. My hand clamped down on his tighter, trying to keep upright.

  “Ms. Spencer Sutton is my girlfriend.” Theo winked down at me. “We met at school but made it official when I returned from RAF. You will be seeing a lot of her from now on.”

  His meaning was clear. Our relationship was serious.

  “Ms. Sutton! Ms. Sutton?” The press started yelling my name, the flashes burning my retinas. “Who’s your family?”

  “We will be issuing a formal press release.” Theo’s shoulder brushed into mine. “But I will let you know I am very happy and in love with this girl. Thank you.” He waved, his other hand going to my lower back, directing me toward the doors of the ballroom, where everything glinted, but with gold and crystal instead of flashbulbs.

  The doors opened, Theo walking us through. The moment they closed, he turned to me.

  “See? Everything went brilliantly. You were perfect.”

  “I didn’t utter a word.” I touched my stomach with my free hand, hoping to settle it. I had never been one who enjoyed attention on me. The intensity of the spotlight had me squirming like a worm. This experience had me desperate to find the king’s hounds and curl up in the warmth of their coats. They weren’t cuddly family dogs, but animals had a calming effect on me. I was the girl at the party petting the cat or chilling with the dog.

  “Champagne?” Theo grabbed a glass off a passing tray.

  “Yes.” I swiped it from his hand, downing it. My etiquette teacher would be seizing on the floor, but I needed alcohol in my veins now. I glanced around the massive ballroom filled with the rich, famous, and noble. Gold trimmed the white walls and ceilings, and dozens of crystal chandeliers hung in pairs above the wood floor that was covered with deep red carpets. The dining tables were draped with white linen and set with gold plates and utensils. Everything glimmered in the soft light as music twirled around the space from the hidden orchestra. The king’s table stood out at the end of the long table design.

  Beautiful. It was hard not to be dazzled by the elements, sucked in by the glitter of the extremely wealthy.

  I set the flute on a tray, grabbing another one and drinking that too.

  “Spence?” Theo’s eyebrow went up. He looked good, his tux fitting his newly built body like a glove, his hair brushed back, 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 to
ok 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.”