Page 4 of Always a Princess
A shiver of unease slithered through Thea.
Surely, they don’t know.
As she followed the girls to the front door, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had missed something … or if something much worse had finally happened.
CHAPTER 3
“Take me to your club. I want to see this book of wagers,” Alexander said to Hudson as they left the ball in the wake of his interaction with the beautiful chaperone.
He had seen the tall Englishman stop her at the doorway and the possessive gaze with which he stared at her.
She’s not yours. Not yet.
“Happy to, mate. But if you don’t mind me asking … why?”
Once upon a time, he and Hudson had been sworn enemies, and to be called mate so casually reminded him of exactly how far they had come. Miracles were indeed possible.
“I want to see it with my own eyes.”
“And maybe place a wager of your own?”
Alexander didn’t reply to the second question. “You know, I am truly glad I saved your life.”
“You and me both,” Hudson replied. “Every single day, Your Highness.”
“You know you can dispense with the title, St. George.”
“I know. But occasionally, it has a nice ring to it. I like to remind myself I’m friends with a prince.”
Alexander laughed, something he found himself doing with greater frequency in England than in Russia. “Fair enough. Use it as you wish.”
“It doesn’t hurt my reputation with the ladies either,” Hudson added.
“Then, by all means,” Alexander replied. “Whatever I can do to help.”
“About this wager,” Hudson said as Alexander’s carriage came to a halt in front of the club.
“I just want to see what has already been written.”
“And after, some dice perhaps?”
“Games of chance are not my idea of fun.”
Hudson stopped as he was about to exit the carriage. “Then why are we going to look at the wagers?”
“Because wooing a woman is an art form and a skill that leaves nothing to chance.”
“Damn, that’s a good line, Alex.”
“It isn’t a line, Hudson. It’s a way of life.”
CHAPTER 4
He did it again two days later.
“May I have this dance, Miss Templebourne?”
Everyone in the ballroom stared as Prince Karalovy bowed deeply in front of her. Heat blazed on Thea’s cheeks.
