Chapter 21
A Russian prince was decidedly not an Englishman, nor anything like her Indian prince. He was a force of nature, all his own.
Everything moved rapidly when Alexander gave orders. He was untamed, unbothered, and the most self-assured man she had ever met.
His staff was lovely, and they clearly adored him. Most had known him since birth. The deference, respect, and loyalty they showed were faultless, and they accorded it immediately to Thea as well. Anything she asked was done with all due haste.
When she learned he had planned an Orthodox wedding, she was amazed he could pull it off. Even more amazed the priest didn’t care what her religious persuasion was. He just did the prince’s bidding. It was a small ceremony, only attended by his staff and his friend, the Honorable Hudson St. George.
Thea wished her cousins and great-aunt could have attended, but she knew it would be better to attempt to see them after she married. It was much harder to refuse entrance to a princess than a disgraced niece.
The thought occurred to her as Alexei helped her into the carriage as they left the chapel. Once again, she was a princess.
“You look ravishing, my darling. I am the luckiest of all men.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile at her beautiful husband.
He cut a fine figure in his very formal uniform, with all of its gold braid, medals, and epaulettes.
“Are you happy?” he asked her. “You look a little overwhelmed.”
“I am happy. Please know that. But it is all happening so fast. Everything is changing very quickly.”
“Look at me, Thea.”
She met his crystalline-blue gaze.
“If you feel life spinning out of your control, all you need to do is hold on to me. I will be your rock.”
When he said things like that, Thea couldn’t help but want to melt into his arms. “Thank you.”
“Now I ask you again, are you truly happy?”
“Yes. Truly, Alexei.”
“And?”
“A little nervous.”
“For tonight?”
“Yes.”
“It has been many years since you have …”
“Yes.”
“Fear not, Your Highness. You are treasure in my hands, and I know the value of such a thing.”
Thea swallowed. “When you put it like that …”
“All is well, Princess. You will see. First, we have one stop to make on the way home.”
Home. His estate had quickly become that. And one day in the future, they would leave it and travel to a foreign land. Thea looked forward to the trip. She enjoyed experiencing new cultures. And traveling with the prince was bound to be a new experience.
Their carriage halted in a location Thea didn’t recognize. An alley of all places.
“Where are we?”
“You’ll see. Come. I will carry you.”
“Are you going to carry me everywhere?”
“Perhaps.”
He lifted her out of the carriage and whisked her into what appeared to be the back room of a millinery shop.
When he set her feet upon the floor, she heard a familiar squeal of two voices.
“Thea! Oh my goodness!” Louisa exclaimed.
“You look stunning. Every inch a princess,” said Sophia.
Thea was shocked as the twins came toward her, reaching for her lace-covered hands.
“Would you look at that? Goodness gracious. You look like a queen.”
“Great-Aunt Albina?” A second wave of surprise hit Thea.
She looked at Alexander. “How did you do this?”
“A few notes. A little cooperation. The shop agreed to close for the day.”
She hugged each one of her family members, mouthing, Thank you, to her new husband over Sophia’s shoulder.
“A prince, dearie. How ever did you manage that?”
“It’s a long story, Aunt Albina.”
“She was the most captivating woman in the room,” Alexander said. “I will leave you to visit. Send a servant when you are ready to return home.” He took her gloved hand and pressed a kiss to it before bowing. “My ladies, Your Highness.”
The girls tittered at her title on his lips.
As soon as Alexander left the room, they let loose a collective breath.
“Oh my God, Thea. He’s divine. Absolutely perfect.”
“I dare say she is correct,” Great-Aunt Albina agreed.
“How are you?” Louisa asked. “It has only been a week, and yet it feels like a lifetime that you’ve been gone.”
“A whirlwind. Very much. He wants us to travel to Russia sometime in the near future.”
“Russia!”
“Don’t worry about that right now. Tell me about you. What has happened? Are you engaged to be married?”
“The banns were read two days ago. For both of them,” Aunt Albina replied. “But mark my words—young Beaumont will not wait a month for Louisa. I would place all my whist winnings on him stealing her off to Gretna for an anvil wedding. He’s impatient, that man.”
Thea looked to her cousin. “Louisa, what happened?”
She smiled shyly. “I asked him.”
“If you could paint him?” Thea said. “And?”
“He kissed me. A lot.”
Sophia burst out laughing. “He told her she could paint him any way she wanted. He told Father to make haste with the wedding plans.”
“And you’re excited? Happy?”
Louisa nodded. “I like him. He’s intelligent. He talks to me about business and asks my opinion. He is an unusual man, to be sure … and a good kisser.”
Tears welled in Thea’s eyes until she was practically crying with happiness.
She turned to Sophia. “And you? Your viscount? The duke’s cousin?”
“How did you know he was Carlton’s cousin?”
“Doesn’t matter. How is he?”
“He is sweet. I think he is a little afraid of me, if I am being honest.”
“There is nothing wrong with a man who holds himself back,” said Great-Aunt Albina.
“Will you be happy with him?” Thea asked.
“I’d rather have a husband who is a little afraid of me than be afraid of him,” Sophia said. Then she added, “I think he’s shy. He studies philosophy. His parents have passed on. He has a good fortune. Father is happy. I don’t know what more I could hope for under the circumstances.”
“Love,” Thea said.
Sophia shrugged. “We shall see. He seems kind, and that is a good start, is it not?”
“It is. It truly is,” Thea agreed.
Hope welled within her.
They can both have love. It is possible.
“And what of you, Thea? Are you happy?” Louisa asked.
At the same time, Sophia said, “Do you find it unbelievable you married a younger man?”
“What?” Thea was dumbstruck for a moment. “Younger man?”
“I heard Prince Alexander is only twenty-seven.” Sophia paused. “You didn’t know?”
“That can’t be true.”
“You didn’t know.” Sophia gasped. “Oh my. Well, clearly, he doesn’t care. He must be so in love with you. We heard he paid Madam Celine five times the price to finish your wedding gown in time. All of town is talking about it.”
Thea had had no idea—about any of it.
“Dearie”—Great-Aunt Albina put a hand on her shoulder—“take the advice of an old woman. Age is just a number. A good man is priceless. Don’t worry about what people are saying. You’re living a fairy tale. Enjoy every moment.” Her Scots accent came through, and Thea took her words to heart.
“I can’t believe he didn’t tell me.”
“Just like you didn’t tell everyone you’d been a princess before?”
“Touché.”
“Will we see you again before you go to Russia?” Louisa asked.
“I hope so.” She turned to Great-Aunt Albina. “Would Uncle let you call on me at the estate?”
“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. We will find a way. Now, send a servant for that prince husband of yours. It’s your wedding day, dearie. You have important business to attend to.”
Both girls giggled.
“It will be your turn next,” Thea said.
“And I, for one, am fully on board with being kidnapped off to Gretna Green by Mr. Beaumont,” Louisa said with a smile.
“Do you feel better now?” Alexander asked her as the carriage pulled away from the alley.
“Yes, remarkably. Thank you for arranging that.” Then she remembered what Sophia had said. “How old are you?”
His broad grin was all the answer she needed. “Someone told you.”
Thea sucked in a breath. “It can’t be true.”
“How old did they say I am?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Next week.”
She gasped. “No. Impossible.”
“What?”
“I did not marry a twenty-six-year-old man.”
Alexander reached out to cup her cheek. “No, you married a twenty-six-year-old prince. And I promise, there are benefits, Your Highness, to marrying a younger man, which I shall show you soon.”
He kissed her, silencing any further objections.