Page 41 of Always a Princess

Where is the blue silk? Did he send a different carriage for me? Where is Alexei? Is he otherwise engaged due to the short notice of my note? I told him I needed him. I told him I was saying yes.

The carriage came to a halt only minutes later in front of a small two-story stone house.

Why are we stopping here?

When the footman jumped down and opened the door, Thea asked, “What are we doing here?”

“He will explain inside.”

“Your livery is different.”

“Miss Templebourne, he will answer your questions inside. Please come with me.”

His accent is British. Not Russian.

Thea’s stomach flipped. Something isn’t right.

This wasn’t the estate. The carriage was wrong.

Instead of turning and running like her instincts screamed, Thea followed the footman to the door.

A butler—not Ivan—opened the door.

What is going on?

“Miss Templebourne, please come in.”

Silently, Thea crossed the threshold into the quaint home.

“His Grace is in the parlor.”

“His Grace?” she replied, rather louder than the butler had expected from the way he jerked his head back.

“Yes, Miss Templebourne, right this way.”

With horror, Thea realized everything had gone wrong. Alexei wasn’t waiting for her inside.

In front of the cheery fire, crackling in the grate, stood the Duke of Carlton.

“What in the world is going on? Why am I here?”

His welcoming expression creased with confusion. “I rescued you. I thought you understood. I told him I considered you under my protection.”

Thea felt like she’d stumbled into the wrong drama. “What? Told who?”

“Baron Farley.”

Thea shook her head. “Forgive me, I don’t follow.”

“Baron Farley wanted you. He was willing to ruin your family and your reputation with stories of you and your Indian to make it happen. I stopped him, summoned your uncle, and we made a deal.”

Thea blinked. “What deal?”

“In exchange for my cousin, Viscount Ridley, offering for your cousin, your uncle would not stand in my way with you.”

Thea’s stomach twisted into knots. “What?”

“He didn’t tell you?”