Page 29 of Always a Princess
The butler did not immediately reply.
“It is fine. Never mind, Lewis.”
“I do not know, my lady. But he looked quite upset after he read the note.”
“Thank you for sharing that.”
“You are quite welcome, my lady.”
Thea ventured back upstairs with the news.
“Then, you’re going, right?” Sophia asked.
She sucked in a deep breath. “Yes, I am.”
Both girls squealed.
“Hush before you alert the whole house.”
“I’ll leave a candle burning in my window until Father returns,” Sophia said. “Be safe.”
“Thank you.”
“Thea,” Louisa said, making her pause, “change into the jade gown. I’ll help you. Quickly.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to see a prince.”
In the jade gown, Thea certainly felt like a princess once more.
“Stunning. Now go. And take my cloak.” Louisa threw it around Thea’s shoulders.
“I love you both.”
“I know. And we love you like the older sister we never had. Be careful. We will be waiting.”
Thea snuck down the back stairs with her heart pounding and palms sweating. Thankfully, no one noticed as she stepped outside and walked around the edge of the garden. Keeping to the shadows, she slipped through the hedgerow.
In the lamplight, a beautiful black lacquered carriage waited with a snowy-white pair of matched horses.
She walked toward it, and a footman jumped down.
“Good evening, Miss Templebourne. He awaits.”
“Who?” Thea had to clarify, just in case.
“His Highness, Prince Karalovy.”
She breathed a relieved breath. “Thank you.”
She took the footman’s hand as he helped her into the carriage. But it wasn’t empty. Alexander was seated inside.
“You’re here. I thought—”
“That I would waste one single moment of time I could be spending with you?”
Her breath caught at his forthrightness, and her heart began to pound anew. Thea had not lied when she said he was dangerous to her. He made her want to throw caution and good sense out the carriage window.
