Page 7 of Always a Princess

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” Thea heard the exasperation in her own tone.

“Lady lessons can wait. This is ever so much more important. Open it.”

“It has to be from him,” Louisa whispered.

“Him who?” Thea asked as she unwrapped the package.

“You know who. The prince!” Sophia said.

Thea’s hands froze on the velvet. “That would be both supremely inappropriate and highly unlikely.”

“He has asked you to dance twice,” Louisa said.

“Just open it,” Sophia said. “Then we will all know.”

Thea unwrapped the velvet, holding her breath. Inside was a silk bag, tied with a blue bow.

“I can hardly handle the suspense,” Louisa breathed.

Thea untied the bow and opened it to find … dancing slippers. Exquisite, cream-colored dancing slippers, embroidered with gold and silver and encrusted with jewels that looked strikingly authentic.

“Oh my goodness,” Thea breathed.

“They’re fit for a princess,” Sophia whispered.

“But do they fit, Thea? You must try them on.”

“I could not. I cannot accept these. Girls, you know the rules. One does not accept gifts of this nature from anyone but family or one’s husband or betrothed as a wedding gift.”

“Maybe that’s what he is trying to be,” Sophia said.

“Is there a card? A note? How romantic.” Louisa completely ignored Thea’s words, and yet Thea found herself looking for a note.

There was nothing of the sort. But it didn’t matter. Thea knew exactly who they were from. There was no question.

“If they fit, you have to wear them tomorrow night to the ball at the Graftons’. Ohhh, Christianna is going to be so envious. Finally, something that outshines everything she owns.”

“I will not, and that remark was completely unnecessary and beneath you, Sophia. One does not gossip or speak ill of others. If one has nothing kind to say, one says nothing at all.”

“She told me last night I’d eaten too many cakes for my gown to look becoming,” Sophia replied.

“And for her, we feel compassion—as, clearly, no one has ever cared enough to teach her better. We do not sink to the level of those who are unkind to others.”

“But are you going to wear them? To the ball? Please, say you will, Thea? Dance with him. He’s a prince,” Louisa said with hands clasped before her.

“A title⁠—”

“Does not guarantee a suitable husband,” the twins finished together.

“But it’s just a dance. In beautiful slippers,” Sophia finished.

But to be eighteen again and swept up in the glamour of romance, Thea thought.

“Girls, I attend balls only to serve as your chaperone. My duty is to make certain nothing happens to you and no man is too forward with you.”

“We will both sit out whichever dance he asks. The dowager will wait with us. We won’t leave her side. We promise,” Louisa replied.

Both twins stared at her, and Thea read wistfulness and anticipation on their features.