The crowd makes noises—surprise, delight, and scandal. I don’t care. I kiss him back, lost in it, lost in him.
When he pulls me upright, I’m dizzy.
Normally I don’t care for such attention, but that was kind of perfect. I don’t need to glance toward Cordelia to know she wholeheartedly disagrees.
Chapter Twelve
CALDWELL
Mable is smiling, her eyes slightly dazed but bright as I pull her upright. There she is. She’s even relaxed in my hold now.
I should feel guilty for putting her on display, but I want Mable and everyone else to understand that I’m serious about us. This will be hitting the news and tabloids by tomorrow. This is not my typical style, so everyone will know Mable is different. Not a family friend or someone I was set up with as a possible suitor from another high-society family.
“That was...” Mable licks her lips that are swollen from my kisses. I plan on keeping them that way.
I study her face, but she’s already smoothing her expression. I don’t like that one bit. One of the beautiful things about Mable is how her emotions play across her face, not hiding, but they are now. This is the part of the royal life I hate. It was why I was hesitant to introduce Mable into it to begin with. I hate that she’s forced to hide any part of herself.
“Necessary,” I finish. She laughs, the sound lighter than I’ve heard all night. I think she forgot about everything around us for a brief moment, and fuck, do I love that I can do that to her.
“Necessary?”
“Completely.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You were doubting me. I could feel it.”
“I wasn’t doubting you. I was doubting... never mind.” She lets out a small puff of air, the reality of what’s all around us coming back into full view.
Mable isn’t one for confrontation or to speak up quickly. I know I’m not going to be able to pull anything out of her while we’re at the reception, but I can show my girl what she means to me. Actions always speak louder, they say.
My father’s voice cuts through the noise, and I smile. I have an ally against my mother. Mom can often run circles around Dad, but when he hits a limit, which happens on rare occasions, she’ll back down from whatever it is.
“Caldwell! Bring her over here already.”
We both turn to see him waving us over from the head table, my mother seated beside him, looking anywhere but at us. She remains poised, maintaining the façade she puts on to the rest of the world. She isn’t always this way. There is another side to her, one that not many know. I wish she could always be that person.
“Come on,” I say, taking Mable’s hand. “Meet my parents properly.”
She stiffens slightly but follows. “You’ll love my father.” I squeeze her fingers, trying to reassure her. My father stands as we approach, his smile genuine and warm. My mother nods, polite but distant.
“So this is the young lady we’ve heard so much about,” my father says, extending his hand. “I’m Henry. Please, sit. Both of you.”
Mable shakes his hand, and I can see her relax fractionally at his warmth. “Thank you. The wedding was beautiful,” she says softly.
“Wasn’t it?” My father beams, flagging down two glasses of champagne for us. “Julian finally settled down. Took him long enough. Eleanor thought he’d never commit.”
“Henry,” my mother says quietly. “I just didn’t see it happening this quickly. They have known each other three months.”
I’m not sure if she’s taking a jab at my relationship with Mable, but it wouldn’t surprise me. They are, however, not wrong. I didn’t see my brother settling down, but it just goes to show you, the right woman can change everything.
“What’s done is done.” My father hands Mable a glass, clinking his against hers. “To new beginnings.”
She smiles, taking a sip, and I watch my father’s eyes soften. He’s always been able to charm anyone. It’s where Julian gets it from. It’s a skill I sometimes wished I possessed.
“Tell me about yourself, Mable. Caldwell has been remarkably tight-lipped.” He raises an eyebrow, looking at me, letting me know he’s not too happy about it.
“I just graduated,” she says. “I received a degree in urban studies.”
“She went to Imperial Supérieure,” I’m quick to add.
“Ambitious. I like that.” He leans in. “Eleanor got hers in political science, you know. Before she married into all this.”
