Page 24 of Always a Princess

“Sneak away and come see it.”

“Tonight? I can’t. My uncle is here.”

“Tomorrow. The next day. The day after. Whenever you can.” He pressed a card into her hand. “This is the address. Or I will send a carriage for you. Just send me word, and I will arrange everything.”

After the way her uncle had spoken to her in the ballroom, this man—this prince—was sounding like a godsend. But marriage was a huge decision. Thea couldn’t just say yes after dancing with him twice.

“Just send word, Thea. Please.”

She stared into his eyes and couldn’t help but wonder aloud, “How often do you say please?”

He grinned, the suave prince once more. “With others, rarely. With you, freely.”

Thea loved the way that sounded, which made him even more dangerous. “I must go.” She turned to leave. “I’ll try to send word.”

“Please,” he said again, his blue eyes blazing, and her heart thumped against her rib cage.

“I must go,” she whispered again before he opened the door, and she slipped out.

As soon as she was in the hallway, she walked toward the ballroom, but a tall form stopped her.

The Duke of Carlton.

“Your Grace, excuse me. At least I didn’t run into you for a third time.”

“You need to be careful, Miss Templebourne.”

“Excuse me?” she repeated, this time as a question.

“With whom you associate,” he clarified.

She prayed the prince wouldn’t leave the room until after Carlton was gone. “What exactly are you saying, Your Grace?”

“Just be careful. You wouldn’t want to damage your prospects.”

“I don’t have prospects, Your Grace. I am a chaperone.”

“You misunderstand.”

“Clearly, I must. I also must go. My uncle will be looking for me.”

“Templebourne is desperately trying to find buyers for his daughters to save himself from financial ruin. I doubt he will notice you slipping out of unoccupied rooms.”

“Excuse me?” she said once more.

“You say that often.”

“Ruin?”

He nodded.

Thea’s heart sank. “How impending?”

“If they don’t make solid matches, sooner rather than later …” He trailed off, but his meaning was clear.

“He wants you to be one of those matches,” Thea said, deciding honesty was merited in this situation.

“As would I, but not for them.”