Page 45 of Always a Princess

The butler went pale and turned. “It is nothing, Your Grace. Just a caller for His Grace.”

“At this hour?”

The butler turned back to Alexander. “You must go. I will leave your card for His Grace. I hope you find who you are looking for.”

“Who are you?” The elderly woman stepped into his view, a quizzing glass held to her eye. “Surely, with breeding like yours, you know it is much too early to call.”

“My apologies, Your Grace. If it was not urgent that I find your son, I would never have bothered you at such an inappropriate hour. Forgive me,” he said as he bowed. “Prince Alexander Nicholas Karalovy of Russia.”

“Aren’t you a handsome one? A prince, you say? What is so urgent?”

He had a choice to make. And he chose discretion. “A matter between gentlemen, Your Grace.”

“A woman, no doubt. Men rarely get so hot under the collar about anything else.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “If your son returns, I need to speak with him urgently. Your butler has my card.”

“I shall ensure he does.”

Alexander turned to leave as another carriage came through the gates.

“In fact, there he is.”

Alexander bowed again. “Your Grace,” he said once more before he strode off toward the carriage.

The door opened, and the duke climbed out.

“Where is she?” Alexander demanded.

“Not here,” the duke replied.

“I swear, if you value your life …”

“I sent her on her way. It was a mix-up. She took the wrong carriage. She was trying to come to you.”

“Where is she now? And why was your carriage waiting?”

“Long story, Prince Karalovy. Suffice it to say, you win. She picked you.”

“I wasn’t aware there was a competition.”

“Apparently there wasn’t.”

“Where is she now?”

“Wherever she asked my driver to take her.”

“You are lucky.” Alexander wasn’t going to waste another moment here. He strode toward his own carriage. “To the estate,” he called to the coachman.

“Clearly not as lucky as you,” the duke called after him.

CHAPTER 20

Thea waited in the library, sipping a cup of tea, wondering what would happen next that she didn’t expect. For truly, the last twenty-four hours had mostly all been unexpected.

But with a fur wrapped around her, the knowledge that her charges were not miserable over their intended husbands, and her hands curled around a warm cup of tea as she awaited her prince, Thea was quite content.

Things might not have gone as planned, but they were certainly working out in her favor.