Page 17 of Always a Princess

“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.

CHAPTER 11

“What do you mean, you’re buying an estate?” Hudson asked as they left the ball.

“Exactly what I said. Do you know of any of worth for sale?”