Page 42 of His Royal Request

I cringed. Cousins don’t look at each other like that.

They separated and she sidestepped to stand in front of Aiden. “Hello, Aiden.” She said the words like she was seducing him.

I was ten seconds from either running away or pushing her away from my man. Not that he was really mine. I shook my head and focused on behaving myself.

“Shauna.” Aiden offered his hand. She looked at it for two seconds before laughing and wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You’re so silly.” She closed her eyes and seemed to be sinking into him. I sucked in a breath then felt a hand on my forearm. I looked down to see Isla’s hand holding me back. I took a half step back and she dropped it. There was a story here and I was going to have to wait to get it.

Aiden stepped out of her grasp and looked to me. “Shauna, this is my girlfriend, Charlotte.”

The vixen’s eyes turned to me, her smile never slipping. “How wonderful to meet you.” Her words were polite but I saw the venom in her eyes.

“You too.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “An American?” She looked to Aiden. “Really?”

I stood up straight ready to take on this chick. She might have four or five inches on me but I would fight her if I had to. Aiden stepped closer before I could react and placed his arm around my waist again. “Yes. It was nice to see you again.” He then turned us and faced forward ready to receive the next guest.

I heard her huff and stomp off, not pausing to greet Isla or Ronan. As soon as the clicking of her heels faded, I pulled out of Aiden’s grip and faced him. “Who was that and why do I feel like I might have a hit on me in the next few minutes.”

Aiden sighed, deflated more than I’d ever seen him. Worry flooded through me. “She’s someone we grew up with.”

“Her father’s an English Baron and thinks that actually means something.” Ronan cut in.

“You two dated.” I didn’t need to ask.

He nodded. “For three months.” I cringed as he rubbed a hand over his face. “We were seventeen and both home from school.”

“He was a fool,” Isla said, “but she’s held out hope for a reunion since then.” Isla pulled a disgusted expression. “She’s a title chaser.”

“I don’t think she’s that bad ” Cian spoke to us for the first time. Of course, he was taking her side. They seemed like they’d get along beautifully.

“Why is she even invited?” Aiden looked at his older brother.

Cian didn’t miss a beat. “She’s friends with Nicole.”

“No, she’s not,” Isla interjected. “They met once when they were sixteen.”

“Shauna said she wanted to be here to congratulate and support her dear friend. Of course, I extended the invitation, it would be rude not to.”

I eyed Cian and fought the urge to shake my head. There was no way he was that blind. The future king of Lochland couldn’t possibly be that oblivious. He wasn’t telling his siblings something. I could feel it in my bones.

There were only a few more cars we had to wait for before George reappeared. “Lunch is being served in the green hall.”

Ronan led the line back into the palace and past the stairs. I froze when I saw portraits of the entire family hanging prominently on the wall. How had I missed that? I shook my head, they must have worked hard to keep me ignorant.

Aiden fell into step next to me and slipped his hand into mine. It felt so natural I almost didn’t notice. I relaxed at his touch, he had a powerful effect on me. Sometimes he made me nervous, or excited, and other times he was the sense of calm I craved.

Cian’s tsk of disapproval made me want to swing our hands as we walked into the hall where the guests were waiting, just in case anyone was confused about who I was. I refrained, reminding myself that drawing attention was a bad idea. I didn’t want people’s focus to be on me in case I made a mistake or forgot a rule. Heaven forbid I offend someone, especially when there were two more days until the wedding.

Aiden pulled out my chair before taking the seat next to me. Cian sat at the head of the table since his parents were absent, and Isla sat on my other side. I felt much more protected than the night before.

12

Aiden

Charlie was handling herself better than I could have ever expected. She held herself with poise and didn’t let anything or anyone rattle her. Or if she was, she didn’t let it show. It was more than I could have asked for.