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He was waiting for me by the door, his eyes lighting up as he took in my appearance. “You look absolutely stunning,” he said, running his hand up my arm and sending a thrill through my body. “Shall we go?”
I nodded, my heart racing with anticipation. Tonight was more than just dinner - it was a chance for me to meet Spencer’s parents and learn more about the man I was falling for from a different perspective. I had heard so little about them from Spencer, but I was eager to put faces to the names and see how they had influenced the person he had become.
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, sensing some tension in the corners of Spencer’s eyes. It seemed like he was more nervous about this dinner with his parents than I was. I took his hand, hoping to ease some of his anxiety.
“Shall we?” I asked, a hint of excitement in my voice.
“Our car’s waiting,” Spencer replied, a smile playing on his lips.
“A car? I expected a royal carriage,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
“I’m so sorry to disappoint,” he chuckled. “But I’ll do my best to make it up to you.”
I grinned back at him, feeling a sense of comfort in his presence. “I have no doubt about that. I already have a few ideas about how you can do that,” I said with a mischievous twinkle in my eye. “Just you wait.”
“Bloody hell, London,” Spencer said, his tone equal parts amusement and exasperation. “You never cease to surprise me. Now I’m going to be wondering what inventive, filthy things you have planned for later. Not exactly ideal when we’re having dinner with my parents.”
I grinned mischievously. “Then I probably shouldn’t tell you what I’m not wearing,” I teased, winking at him. “But maybe I should. It’s your call.”
Spencer let out a deep, guttural sound that was part growl, part laughter. “You’re trouble,” he said, shaking his head. “Pure trouble.”
I laughed along with him, feeling a sense of warmth and connection between us. Despite the nervousness that still lingered in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but feel excited about the night ahead. This was another adventure in our relationship, and I was ready to face it with Spencer by my side. Whatever challenges or surprises lay in store, we would tackle them together. It was going to be a night to remember. In a good way, I hoped.
* * *
I stared at the house,feeling a mix of nerves and awe as I waited for Spencer to come around and open my door. The front entrance was grand, with double doors made of polished mahogany that looked like they belonged in a palace. The windows were large and adorned with intricate scrollwork, allowing the soft glow of interior lighting to spill out onto the street. This was a house that commanded attention and spoke to the wealth and prestige of its owners.
Spencer had spent the drive here filling me in on the various forms of proper etiquette his family would expect, from letting him open the door and pull out my chair to the way to greet his parents. It felt like playing a role, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of nervousness as I mentally rehearsed the steps in my head. But I tried to remind myself that he wasn’t asking me to be someone else. He just wanted me to be myself, but with a few extra touches of elegance and poise.
With that firmly in mind, I walked up to the door, my arm linked with Spencer’s. As we approached, the sheer size of the place blew me away. This wasn’t just a house, it was a mansion. I wondered what it would be like to grow up in such opulence, with every comfort and privilege at your fingertips. But as we walked to the front doors, I felt my nerves fray once again. The stakes were high, and I couldn’t afford to mess this up. I took a deep breath and reminded myself to stay calm and focused.
The man who answered the door was an honest-to-goodness butler, complete with a black suit, white tie, and everything. His name tag read “Benedict.”
“Good evening, Benedict,” Spencer said politely.
“Sir.” Benedict’s eyes flicked to me. “Miss.”
“Good evening,” I said with a smile, but Benedict didn’t even blink in response. Based on what Spencer had told me, that was normal.
As the butler closed the door behind us, I found myself face-to-face with Spencer’s parents. The resemblance between father and son was striking, from the clear blue eyes to the sandy brown hair, now silver-streaked with age. The man was tall and heavyset, with broad shoulders that gave him a commanding presence. Next to him stood a slender woman with blue-black hair and dimples that looked all too familiar. It was clear that Spencer got his good looks from both sides of the family.
“London, may I present my parents, Raynard and Eloise York. Dad, Mum, this is London McCrae,” Spencer introduced me with a polite bow of his own.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” I said with a smile and a nod, not offering a handshake since I knew it was not the proper greeting for this situation.
“If you’ll join us in the drawing room while we wait for dinner to be announced,” Eloise said with a polite smile directed at both of us.
Spencer and I followed his parents into an elaborately decorated room, where two more adults and three children sat quietly on a couch. The opulent decor was impressive, but even more remarkable was the sight of the children, who sat with their hands folded neatly in their laps, as if they were afraid to move on the expensive piece of furniture.
The children’s faces lit up as they saw Spencer, and the boys looked over at a woman with dark brown hair and blue eyes, silently asking for permission to approach. The youngest child, a girl who couldn’t have been more than three years old, didn’t hesitate and ran straight towards Spencer.
“Uncle Spencer!” She leaped into his waiting arms and hugged him tightly around the neck.
“Have you been behaving yourself, Jane?” Spencer asked with a smile.
She nodded enthusiastically before leaning close to him and whispering at a typical little kid whispering volume, “I try, but it’s really hard.”
“I know,” Spencer whispered back. “I try too.”
