Page 13 of Always a Princess

But was she willing to let this truly unique, exciting, unexpected encounter fade away and pretend it wasn’t causing a stirring in her soul?

And was Thea mad, or had the duke’s gaze carried an unspoken interest in her? She had no experience with the season beyond acting as the girls’ chaperone. She had never once expected or anticipated the masculine attention she was receiving. It wasn’t exactly unwelcome, but the intentions behind it seemed murky.

Are the prince’s intentions honorable?

One didn’t dance at a respectable ball with a woman one wanted to take as a mistress, did one?

Suddenly, she wished for an older, more experienced confidant who knew the ways of men in this society. But what Thea had learned so far was to keep her thoughts to herself, as few could be trusted and gossip ran rampant.

Already, she knew her actions at the ball were making their rounds. It was Louisa and Sophia she was here for—not her own romance, if such a thing were even possible.

As Thea fell asleep, she pictured the prince’s sparkling blue eyes and pale blond hair as he whirled her about the ballroom like she had been born to waltz in his arms.

What is it about that man? Am I simply attracted to the exotic?

When the answer didn’t come, Thea fell into a fitful sleep, haunted by bittersweet dreams of the past.

CHAPTER 9

“What are your intentions toward the lady?” A man, who stood eye to eye with Alexander, didn’t bother to introduce himself over the din of the conversation and clouds of cigar smoke.

“Carlton, fancy seeing you here tonight. Come to make a wager yourself?”

From Hudson’s comment, Alexander knew this was the infamous Duke of Carlton. The man who wanted to make Thea his mistress.

“I would hardly be so indiscreet, St. George,” replied Carlton without shifting his attention away from their staredown. “But your friend here has no problem creating spectacles, it seems.”

Finally, a worthy opponent.

Alexander smiled inwardly. “Asking a lady to dance is creating a spectacle, is it?”

“You know what I mean, Your Highness. What are your intentions?” he asked again.

“Are you the lady’s guardian? Or male relative?” Alexander answered his question with a question.

The duke seemed to grit his teeth. “I am an interested party.”

“Then why don’t you ask her to dance, Your Grace?” Alexander asked with a smile full of teeth. “From what I understand, the lady is not yet spoken for, which means I am not infringing on anyone’s prior claim.”

“You can’t be seriously pursuing her.”

“Are you not seriously pursuing her?” Alexander enjoyed frustrating the duke, who clearly was not used to such treatment. But in Russia, one learned to fence politely with words, as one’s life could easily be at stake.

“My intentions are my own,” the duke said with a wrinkle of annoyance creasing his brow.

“Then I am sure you can respect that my intentions are my own as well. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Grace. I hope to see you again.” Alexander gave him a bow, which the duke returned purely out of good breeding.

“Likewise, Your Highness. A pleasure,” the duke said before turning and walking away like the nobleman he was.

“I like him,” Alexander said to Hudson.

“He seemed to want to strangle you.”

“Exactly. And he had the restraint to act like a gentleman. I find that commendable.”

“You are an odd bird, Alex.”

“He’s a worthy adversary and an even more valuable ally.”