Page 52 of Royally F*cked

“Anderson. Thank you for joining us tonight,” I shake his hand then introduce him to Charlie.

“Ah, yes, the mysterious fiancée that you have been hiding from all of us,” the dickhead cannot help but dig.

“Well, Anderson, with a woman as beautiful as Charlotte, can you blame me for wanting to keep her to myself?” I smile proudly at my fiancée and feel her squeeze my hand as she smiles back.

Anderson chuckles, “Fair point. Careful or I may just steal her for myself. I bet she looks delicious in a proper maid uniform,” he winks like the cocky bastard he is.

Someone will die here tonight; I can feel it. And Anderson may be the first. “I’d choose my words carefully if I were you. Charlotte is spoken for, and I won’t tolerate such crass comments about her.”

Anderson pats me on the shoulder like we’re old friends. “Relax, just a joke between the men. Perhaps I can get her a drink and you can catch up with my daughter. I’m sure you remember Henrietta.”

Following protocol, I kiss the back of Henrietta’s hand. “Mistress Henrietta, always a pleasure.”

“Come, Charlotte, let’s have that drink,” Anderson tries to take her off my arm.

“Daddy, I’m sure you and King Julius have a few things to discuss. Why don’t you let me get to know Miss Charlotte while you men handle business?”

“Anderson,” my uncle, George, calls out. “Prince George has something he’d like to run by you about a contract he’s just acquired.”

Saved by more politics, Anderson takes his leave.

“Thank you, Hettie, for having Charlotte’s back,” I tell the woman that I essentially stood up a week ago.

“Always. Us women have to stick together in this world,” Henrietta tells Charlotte. “I apologize about my father’s behavior and assure you that he and I are not cut from the same cloth.”

“Hettie, is it?” Charlie asks.

“Yes.”

“Please, feel free to call my Charlie. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Charlie. I like it. You chose well Prince Julius.” Henrietta tells me.

“I like to think so,” I kiss Charlie’s forehead.

Henrietta leans in as if she’s hugging Charlie and whispers something in her ear. Charlie’s eyes widen and she nods back at the other woman.

“I think I’d like a glass of champagne. Can I get you two love birds anything?”

“No thank you,” I answer for us both. I won’t be drinking at all tonight because it is clear that I’ll need to keep my wits about me.

“What was all of that about?” I question under my breath once Hettie has stepped away.

Charlie leans up on her tiptoes and presses her lips to my cheek. “She warned me to stay close to you whenever I can and said she overheard some chatter that you should know about. Apparently, you’ll know where to meet her to discuss it.”

I turn my head and kiss Charlie back. “If you’re not with me, stick with Ozzy. If I disappear, I’ve gone to speak with Hettie. Follow Ozzy’s lead from there.”

“Okay,” she whispers back.

I will not be sticking around very long tonight.

“Well if it isn’t the crown prince and his fiancée,” my cousin, Princess Bethany greets us next. “Happy Birthday, Jude,” she says as she kisses both my cheeks.

“Thank you Beth. I’d like to introduce you to Charlotte.”

“Charlotte. Congratulations. Jude is one of the good ones.”

Bethany has always been on my side. George Jr. has been too for the most part, but it’s always been clear that George does his father’s bidding.

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