Chapter 10
“Do you think he will ask you to dance again?”
“I think he will.”
The twins chattered on the way to the next ball. It had been three days since she had waltzed with the prince, and during that time, all of their conversations had been centered on him.
“As I have said multiple times, we should be talking about which young men you are interested in this season and who you should be focused on getting to know better to determine if he would make a suitable husband.”
“I can’t imagine marrying any of them. Not one has been more interesting than watching paint dry. And I do mean that literally,” Louisa replied.
“The most interesting man I’ve met this year was the footman who rescued my glove,” Sophia said.
Thea released a long sigh. “What am I going to do with you two? Your father will not be pleased.”
“Then he can marry one of them,” Louisa said with a grin.
Thea wanted to bang her head on the wall of the carriage. But then again, she wouldn’t want either of them to marry a man they didn’t love. How could she wish they would settle for less than a love match when she knew the worth of such a thing?
And yet her uncle’s dictates were clear—get them both married, in one season, as soon as possible.
“At least try to be open-minded. Consider each dance a chance to interview a candidate to wed.”
“I thought we were also supposed to have fun and enjoy ourselves?” Louisa asked.
“Indeed, but one’s intention matters as well.”
“Back to the more interesting topic of conversation,” Sophia said. “Will you dance with him again if he asks?”
Thea didn’t answer, but she flashed her slippers from beneath the hem of her gown, and both girls squealed.
“You’re going to ask her to dance again, aren’t you?”
“Of course. Perseverance, remember?”
“The art form of wooing a woman,” Hudson parroted.
“Exactly.”
“I am glad you decided to come from Russia. Never has a season been more jolly good fun.”
“How many have you had?”
“All of them, except the war. Not that I am considered a great catch. But still, ladies let me write the old name on the dance card. I am heir to an earldom, at least until my brother has a son.”
“And that’s all they care about?”
“That and your annual income.” He paused. “By the way, you may want to consider dancing with more than just Miss Templebourne. That is, if you don’t want to cause a scandal. It is quite a statement to dance only one dance in an evening, with the same woman, at multiple balls.”
“Would it be better for her?”
“Probably.”
“Can they be very old women?”
Hudson snorted. “If you’d like.”
The prince asked three women to dance before he approached her. They were all married or widowed. All above forty if they were a day. Each time, he caught Thea’s eyes and smiled at her.
She knew what he was doing, and she was grateful for it. If he asked other women to dance, it was less out of the ordinary to ask her. Slightly less scandalous.
The twins had made a pact to keep their waltzes free this evening in the event he asked her.
She hadn’t asked them to do so, but she was thankful for their thoughtfulness.
Because secretly, she was eager to dance with him again, especially if it was a waltz because it was the easiest to have an actual conversation.
“Get to know me,” he had said.
And Thea wanted to, more than she would willingly admit to anyone beyond herself.
“Here he comes,” Louisa whispered discreetly, as though Thea wasn’t painfully aware of his exact location within the ballroom.
And I’m not the only one.
Many eyes in the room followed Prince Alexander wherever he went. His every turn on the dance floor was of interest. He was impeccable. He moved with grace and ease, and his partners always appeared charmed. Not that Thea tried to study him too closely. She just couldn’t help it.
As he had said, she felt the pull.
“What a fine specimen he is,” said the dowager as he came toward them.
Maybe they all feel the pull.
Tonight, he was dressed in slightly different uniform, but still with the heavy gold braid and medals. His departure from the stark black and white evening attire of so many others made him seem more regal.
He bowed before her.
“Miss Templebourne, if you would do me the great honor of waltzing with me, I would consider myself a lucky man indeed.”
She paused, wondering if she had completely departed from her sanity. But she couldn’t find it in herself to say no.
“I would be delighted, Your Highness.”
She held out her hand and felt a jolt course through her body when he touched her. He locked his gaze on her like he felt it too.
Time seemed to stop when he took her into his arms. Her movements happened automatically, as she let him lead her through the waltz.
“I was told I would save you from scandal if I danced with other respectable women as well. It is the only reason I have.”
His blunt admission charmed her.
“Thank you.”
“Have you made a decision?”
The question caught her by surprise. “A decision?”
“Whether you want to know me?” His blue gaze intently studied her, as if peering into her soul.
“You are very direct, Your Highness.”
“When I have limited time and very much want an answer, I have no choice. If I had more time, I would be much more elegant about it.”
“I appreciate honesty, so I will give you the same courtesy.” She paused as they turned and took a breath. “I should not. My uncle will not be pleased. My duty is to be a chaperone. And yet …”
“And yet, Thea?” he prompted her.
“I do want to know you.”
His smile was as dazzling as his blue eyes, and it lit his whole countenance, like the sun shone from within him.
“Thank you, Thea. You will not regret it.”
“Are you truly a prince?” Thea couldn’t help but ask. It had been on her mind.
“Entranced by the title?”
“No, just curious if it is genuine.”
“And if it were not?” He smiled.
“The truth matters to me more than the title.”
“Yes, it is genuine.” He turned her with the music.
“The title is hereditary. My family has enjoyed noble status in Russia for centuries. Our lands and fortune are vast. But before you are truly impressed, you should also know princes are common in Russia. There are probably more Russian princes than your whole nobility combined.”
“Truly?”
“We are not a rarity among the aristocracy. Not like royalty is here. To introduce oneself as a prince sounds much more impressive in England than in Russia.”
Thea couldn’t help but smile at his direct reply. “Thank you for the context. Do you plan to return to Russia, or are you making your home here?” She hadn’t even considered the matter until this very moment, and now it seemed the most important question she could ask.
“Should I stay?” He turned the question back on her.
“That would be up to you, Your Highness.”
“I rather think you are mistaken, Thea. It very much depends on you.”
Thea blinked because she could read the truth in his gaze, which never seemed to leave hers. “On me?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She drew in a breath as her head spun. Thea had no idea how long they had been dancing or how quickly the waltz would end. Regardless, it would be too short. She needed more time with him.
“I feel ridiculous, thinking this could go anywhere beyond these two dances,” she said.
“And I find it ridiculous that you do not see how fascinating, beautiful, and desirable you are.”
“Is it because you find me exotic?”
In response, he threw back his head and laughed. “You are beautiful beyond belief, but exotic is not how I would describe an Englishwoman, even yourself.”
In that, he was clearly different from Krish. Krish had found her extraordinarily exotic. In some way, it was a relief. She was not a novelty to Prince Alexander because of her pale skin.
“Then what is it?” She wondered more to herself, but did so aloud.
“That makes me consider buying an estate tomorrow to show you how serious my intentions truly are?”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
The dancers around them slowed as the music ended.
“You are serious?”
“Very.”
“You don’t know me,” Thea said quietly.
“But I want to. And what I know already, I value greatly. Honesty, intelligence, humor, a sense of honor and duty, fascinating conversation, not to mention beauty and an attraction I cannot ignore.”
Well, that answered her question.
Prince Alexander stopped in the middle of the ballroom with his attention fixed on her. In that moment, the rest of the world faded away.
“What are you doing to me?”
“Wooing you. I am a man in want of a wife, Miss Thea Templebourne, I just didn’t know it until I met you.”
Thea’s heart hammered as her breath caught.
How can this be happening again?
A charming foreign prince … and she was in danger of falling in love again.