Page 23 of Always a Princess

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.”