Chapter 13
Something was different about her tonight. Her dress was far more severe and matronly than anything he had seen her wear before, as was her hair. It was scraped back in a tight chignon, and her expression did not invite anyone to come closer as she stared at her hands, tightly clasped in her lap.
Was she reprimanded for our waltzing? Alexander wondered.
He had hoped that by dancing with other women first, her reputation would be spared the gossip he had ignited the first time.
He could not see beneath her hem, but he was willing to bet one of his Russian estates that she was not wearing dancing slippers this evening.
Her demeanor and appearance made him want to speak with her even more. What troubles her this evening? How can I change the pinched look on her face into a sunny smile?
And then he saw the difference. A man with a graying beard returned to her side with both of her charges.
“Is that her uncle? Their father?” he asked Hudson.
“The Marquess of Templebourne. He never comes to these things.”
“What is he like?”
“Not a bad chap. Not very exciting. Loves to hunt, play billiards, and is devoted to his mistress, who he has kept for many years.”
“Doesn’t sound too bad.”
“Eager to get the daughters married off, or he wouldn’t be here.
It looks like he is getting involved in the business of matchmaking himself.
Rather shocking. But then again, he is a widower without an heir.
No doubt he would like to get one on the way to pass the title and estates to,” Hudson added.
“I still want to speak to her.”
“Tonight may not be the night, mate.”
From her pale countenance, Alexander knew Hudson was partially right at least. The last thing he wanted to do was make life difficult for Thea.
“Perhaps not on the dance floor, but somewhere. The balcony, the garden, a corner, anywhere.”
“Restraint might be the better part of valor tonight, Your Highness.”
“You may be right, but that doesn’t mean I’m giving up already.”
Each moment of the evening passed painfully slow for Thea, and by her estimation, also for the twins. Their father brought suitor after suitor to meet them, and both looked less than enthusiastic, although they played their roles as dutiful daughters well.
Strange perhaps, but teaching them to be dutiful had never entered Thea’s mind as an important quality of their education. She taught them to know their hearts and minds and how to follow where they led.
Have I done the girls a disservice?
Would they end up trapped in loveless society marriages, miserable because they knew there was another way to live?
“May I be so bold as to ask for an introduction, my lord?” A man’s voice came from just beyond where her uncle stood by the twins.
“Mr. Beaumont, I didn’t realize you would be here this evening,” her uncle said to the tall, broad, dark-haired man in splendid clothing.
“And I didn’t realize you had two beautiful daughters of marriageable age, my lord.”
There was something about the way he spoke to her uncle. He was respectful, but the deference of a mere mister addressing a peer was absent.
Her uncle, on the other hand, instantly looked uncomfortable.
“Of course. Mr. Brook Beaumont, this is Lady Sophia Templebourne and Lady Louisa Templebourne.”
The way he emphasized Lady wasn’t lost on Thea.
The man’s gaze wasn’t predatory exactly, but he looked like he was taking stock of the girls as though he had every right to simply select one and be done with the matter of courting.
“My ladies.”
He bowed, but it lacked the polish of Alexander’s, and she knew it was because he hadn’t been doing it his whole life.
He was nouveau riche. Invited because of his money rather than his social standing.
When he stood straight again, Thea noted how dark he was.
Swarthy was how she would describe him. He was interesting to look at, but what was more of interest to her was how his granite-like gaze fixed on Louisa.
“If I may be so bold once more, may I have this dance, Lady Templebourne?”
Louisa looked to her father, perhaps not for permission, but more for rescue. “Father?”
Her uncle paused, as if considering denying the request, but forced a smile onto his lips. “Of course, Mr. Beaumont. Lady Louisa would be honored.”
“Excellent.” He offered her his arm.
Thea was proud of how ladylike Louisa was as she accepted his escort to the dance floor.
As soon as they were gone, a realization hit Thea. “You owe him money.”
Her uncle’s gaze cut her like a knife. “Shut your mouth.”
She didn’t mean to speak the words aloud, and now his glare was murderous.
“Excuse me. Forgive me. I … I am feeling faint. I will see myself to the retiring room.”
“Good,” he said. “See that you do.”
Thea couldn’t move fast enough. Her old shoes pinched, unlike the beautiful, bejeweled slippers she had deliberately not worn tonight, knowing there was no way she would be able to dance with her uncle in attendance.
This time, she watched where she walked, making certain to avoid turning the corner too closely so she didn’t run into anyone.
She nearly made it to the retiring room before she heard his deep, accented voice.
“Thea.”
He reached for her hand and pulled her into the room across the hall, shutting the door behind them.
“What are you doing?” Panic rose within Thea. “We can’t.”
“I had to see you. Talk to you. What is wrong?”
“I must go. I can’t be seen alone with you. I’ll ruin the whole family.”
“Not if you marry me.”
It was the last thing she’d expected to come from his beautiful mouth.
“I bought you an estate. I would like to show it to you.”
“Are you mad?”
“I have never been further from madness. A bit impatient perhaps, having waited two weeks to see you again though.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
In the darkness, his face was shadowed, and he appeared even more devastatingly handsome.
A smile came to his lips as a wistful expression shifted his features. “Say yes, Thea. It changes everything.”
“I don’t know you.”
“But you want to.”
“Of course I do.”
“Then how do we solve this when we can’t be alone together? Is that not madness?”
“Can we go back to the part about the estate? What do you mean, you bought an estate? Here?”
“In London. I searched for a week. Looked at every single one that matched my needs with an eye toward what would please you most. I think you will love it.”
Thea stared at him. “Are you truly not mad?”
“No, I’m Russian.”
“I have to go.”
“Sneak away and come see it.”
“Tonight? I can’t. My uncle is here.”
“Tomorrow. The next day. The day after. Whenever you can.” He pressed a card into her hand. “This is the address. Or I will send a carriage for you. Just send me word, and I will arrange everything.”
After the way her uncle had spoken to her in the ballroom, this man—this prince—was sounding like a godsend. But marriage was a huge decision. Thea couldn’t just say yes after dancing with him twice.
“Just send word, Thea. Please.”
She stared into his eyes and couldn’t help but wonder aloud, “How often do you say please?”
He grinned, the suave prince once more. “With others, rarely. With you, freely.”
Thea loved the way that sounded, which made him even more dangerous. “I must go.” She turned to leave. “I’ll try to send word.”
“Please,” he said again, his blue eyes blazing, and her heart thumped against her rib cage.
“I must go,” she whispered again before he opened the door, and she slipped out.
As soon as she was in the hallway, she walked toward the ballroom, but a tall form stopped her.
The Duke of Carlton.
“Your Grace, excuse me. At least I didn’t run into you for a third time.”
“You need to be careful, Miss Templebourne.”
“Excuse me?” she repeated, this time as a question.
“With whom you associate,” he clarified.
She prayed the prince wouldn’t leave the room until after Carlton was gone. “What exactly are you saying, Your Grace?”
“Just be careful. You wouldn’t want to damage your prospects.”
“I don’t have prospects, Your Grace. I am a chaperone.”
“You misunderstand.”
“Clearly, I must. I also must go. My uncle will be looking for me.”
“Templebourne is desperately trying to find buyers for his daughters to save himself from financial ruin. I doubt he will notice you slipping out of unoccupied rooms.”
“Excuse me?” she said once more.
“You say that often.”
“Ruin?”
He nodded.
Thea’s heart sank. “How impending?”
“If they don’t make solid matches, sooner rather than later …” He trailed off, but his meaning was clear.
“He wants you to be one of those matches,” Thea said, deciding honesty was merited in this situation.
“As would I, but not for them.”
A flash of wariness shot through Thea. “I am afraid I don’t take your meaning, Your Grace.”
“Yes, you do. You needn’t have any worry about your future, Miss Templebourne.”
Thea’s cheeks heated as she began to comprehend his attention and notice. “Excuse me, Your Grace. I must go.”
He stepped aside. “Of course. Have a good evening.”