Page 14 of Always a Princess
“Odd bird,” Hudson repeated. “You gave him nothing. No answers. Just more to ponder over his brandy.”
“What it is about noblemen in your culture that they cannot countenance marrying a woman who isn’t just out of the schoolroom?” Alexander chose an overstuffed chair and pulled out a cigar.
“Probably their mothers, or fathers, holding the purse strings.”
“Fools. To allow such fears to dictate one’s life partner seems shortsighted.”
Hudson laughed. “And it’s so much better in Russia?”
Alexander turned to him with a chuckle. “I can only say such things because I am not in Russia.”
“Your mother has a bride chosen for you?”
“More like the tsar has his own ideas regarding such matters.”
“Can’t say no to him.”
“No, one never says no to the tsar.”
“It would be like the Queen Mother presenting you with a bride her royal self. One would say, Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Indeed.”
Hudson settled into the chair beside him. “So, you came for an English bride?”
“Not exactly.”
“You never did say how long you were planning to stay.”
Alexander trimmed his cigar and lit a match before holding it to the end and sucking it to light it. Once it was lit, he met Hudson’s gaze.
“I didn’t make any plans. But let’s say indefinitely at present.”
“But you have to go back, right?”
Alex shrugged and puffed his cigar. “We shall see what happens.”
“And the lady?”
He smiled. “We shall see what happens.”
CHAPTER 10
“Do you think he will ask you to dance again?”
“I think he will.”
The twins chattered on the way to the next ball. It had been three days since she had waltzed with the prince, and during that time, all of their conversations had been centered on him.
“As I have said multiple times, we should be talking about which young men you are interested in this season and who you should be focused on getting to know better to determine if he would make a suitable husband.”
“I can’t imagine marrying any of them. Not one has been more interesting than watching paint dry. And I do mean that literally,” Louisa replied.
“The most interesting man I’ve met this year was the footman who rescued my glove,” Sophia said.
Thea released a long sigh. “What am I going to do with you two? Your father will not be pleased.”
“Then he can marry one of them,” Louisa said with a grin.
