Page 22 of Always a Princess

“The Marquess of Templebourne. He never comes to these things.”

“What is he like?”

“Not a bad chap. Not very exciting. Loves to hunt, play billiards, and is devoted to his mistress, who he has kept for many years.”

“Doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Eager to get the daughters married off, or he wouldn’t be here. It looks like he is getting involved in the business of matchmaking himself. Rather shocking. But then again, he is a widower without an heir. No doubt he would like to get one on the way to pass the title and estates to,” Hudson added.

“I still want to speak to her.”

“Tonight may not be the night, mate.”

From her pale countenance, Alexander knew Hudson was partially right at least. The last thing he wanted to do was make life difficult for Thea.

“Perhaps not on the dance floor, but somewhere. The balcony, the garden, a corner, anywhere.”

“Restraint might be the better part of valor tonight, Your Highness.”

“You may be right, but that doesn’t mean I’m giving up already.”

Each moment of the evening passed painfully slow for Thea, and by her estimation, also for the twins. Their father brought suitor after suitor to meet them, and both looked less than enthusiastic, although they played their roles as dutiful daughters well.

Strange perhaps, but teaching them to be dutiful had never entered Thea’s mind as an important quality of their education. She taught them to know their hearts and minds and how to follow where they led.

Have I done the girls a disservice?

Would they end up trapped in loveless society marriages, miserable because they knew there was another way to live?

“May I be so bold as to ask for an introduction, my lord?” A man’s voice came from just beyond where her uncle stood by the twins.

“Mr. Beaumont, I didn’t realize you would be here this evening,” her uncle said to the tall, broad, dark-haired man in splendid clothing.

“And I didn’t realize you had two beautiful daughters of marriageable age, my lord.”

There was something about the way he spoke to her uncle. He was respectful, but the deference of a mere mister addressing a peer was absent.

Her uncle, on the other hand, instantly looked uncomfortable.

“Of course. Mr. Brook Beaumont, this is Lady Sophia Templebourne and Lady Louisa Templebourne.”

The way he emphasized Lady wasn’t lost on Thea.

The man’s gaze wasn’t predatory exactly, but he looked like he was taking stock of the girls as though he had every right to simply select one and be done with the matter of courting.

“My ladies.”

He bowed, but it lacked the polish of Alexander’s, and she knew it was because he hadn’t been doing it his whole life. He was nouveau riche. Invited because of his money rather than his social standing. When he stood straight again, Thea noted how dark he was. Swarthy was how she would describe him. He was interesting to look at, but what was more of interest to her was how his granite-like gaze fixed on Louisa.

“If I may be so bold once more, may I have this dance, Lady Templebourne?”

Louisa looked to her father, perhaps not for permission, but more for rescue. “Father?”

Her uncle paused, as if considering denying the request, but forced a smile onto his lips. “Of course, Mr. Beaumont. Lady Louisa would be honored.”

“Excellent.” He offered her his arm.

Thea was proud of how ladylike Louisa was as she accepted his escort to the dance floor.