Page 6 of Always a Princess

Thea looked away, hoping it would end the subject. But she couldn’t deny the wisdom coming from the gaggle of older women.

When Thea returned to Templebourne House in the wee hours of the morning, she couldn’t help but lie in bed and dream about what might have been if she’d said yes.

It had been much too long since she’d simply been held by a man as they waltzed across the dance floor. She could imagine her body inches from his tall, broad frame.

Why is it this man draws my mind and sends shivers through my body when no other has come close in a decade? Is it because he is a prince?

As Thea reminded the girls before every event of the season they attended, titles did not necessarily equate to good husbands.

Wait a moment, Thea thought as reality intruded. He’s not interested in marrying me.

Matrimony was for young, untouched virgins making their debuts and participating in the season. Not a spinster intent on hiding the fact she’d already been married once in secret.

What were the prince’s intentions then? They could not be honorable.

In that moment, Thea was honest with herself. If she weren’t chaperoning her nieces, perhaps there was a part of her that wouldn’t be offended by the prince approaching her with less than honorable intentions.

After all, wasn’t life for living?

Thea shut down her thoughts before they turned dangerous. She’d already been wild enough for one lifetime.

Prince Karalovy isn’t for me.

But there was a quiet voice within herself that replied, Why not?

CHAPTER 5

“Cousin Thea, a delivery arrived for you.”

Thea set her quill back in the inkpot and rose from the desk. “A letter?”

She had just been writing to Great-Aunt Albina. Perhaps the older woman had read her mind.

Footsteps thundered into the room, which sounded more like a herd of elephants than young ladies.

“No, a package.”

“Girls, must I remind you, we do not run in the house? We do not run at all. We are ladies, not galloping horses.”

“You didn’t see the carriage that just left. You’d gallop like a horse too,” Louisa said.

“What carriage?”

“It was stunning. All black with gold trim,” she replied.

“Unmarked,” added Sophia. “No crest.”

“And a very handsome footman left this for you.” Louisa held out a velvet-wrapped package.

“What in heaven?” Thea stared at the blue velvet as though it were a foreign substance.

“Open it!” Sophia urged.

As much as she wanted to open the package in private, Thea knew there was no chance of that with the twins.

“Shut the door then. Walk softly, with dignity, like the lady that you are.”

Sophia spun and rushed to shut the door.