Page 7 of The Pureblood Princess
What’s the matter?Theodore asks in her mind.
They’re staring, she says, and a moment later, Theodore shifts slightly, his head turning in their direction.
Of course they are.Though he doesn’t speak aloud, she canfeelthe smile in his voice.You look stunning.
His compliment sends butterflies fluttering in her belly, and she tries not to let a blush rise to her cheeks.
At the other end of the table, Lord Kazamir tips his head, watching Nadia curiously as he lifts a teacup to his lips. Nadia offers him a small polite smile, and he gives her one in return. His gaze, though, remains almost... intrigued. What could he possibly be looking at?
A footman pours Nadia a cup of tea, breaking Lord Kazamir’s line of sight, and she sighs gratefully. The Kazamir men might have even worse manners than Honora. No wonder she’s so prickly.
Nadia plucks a pastry from a tray and places it on her plate. Lighthearted conversation picks up around the table again as she puts a piece of the flaky delicacy to her lips. The taste is delightful—a sweet mix of cinnamon and honey—and she savorsit. She’s reaching for her teacup to wash it down when a hand brushes her leg under the table.
The surprise makes her jolt, and she nearly spills the tea in her hand. Beside her, Theodore remains perfectly calm, his tranquil expression betraying nothing. On his other side, however, Honora leans forward and glares, her blue eyes sharp as broken glass.
Theodore’s hand slides slightly higher, caressing Nadia’s thigh through the thin fabric of her skirt, and she fights to remain serene.
Something the matter?he asks, his fingertips teasing her skin lightly.
Not at all.She takes a sip from her teacup as if to prove her point.You’ll have to try harder than that if you wish to discompose me, my lord.
That sounds like a challenge, Miss Magdalena. Don’t you recall how that ended this morning?
His reminder sends her thoughts spiraling back to the forest—to her body pressing against the tree, her bare foot resting upon his shoulder, her legs spread for him. Heat floods her cheeks, and she clears her throat.
Theodore chuckles out loud, drawing a severe look from Honora. Her knuckles turn white as she grips her utensils, and a flush touches her high cheekbones.
“Does no one else see this?” Honora snaps, bringing the jovial—if somewhat strained—conversations to a close. Every head turns toward her, and she gestures toward Theodore and Nadia. “Are we going to pretend nothing is happening here?” Her blue-eyed gaze cuts to her mother, then her father. “Papa?”
Lord Kazamir looks to Lord Rosetti, and something passes between them that Nadia can’t quite make out. Whatever it is, it makes her stomach turn.
Lord Kazamir clears his throat. “We’ll discuss it later, dear.”
“Later?Papa, she’s—”
“Well, now that you mention it, Miss Kazamir...” Theodore removes his hand from Nadia’s thigh and stands from the table. He buttons his tailcoat and pushes his shoulders back. “You’re correct. Somethingishappening here, and I believe it’s time we address it.”
An anxious hush falls across the room, and Nadia’s heart races as Theodore pushes in his chair and takes a step closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers.
“Miss Magdalena.Nadia.”
Her name on his lips, spoken like poetry, makes her breath catch. She’ll never tire of hearing it so long as she lives.
“I could never have anticipated meeting you, could never have prepared myself for the joy and light you bring to my life.” His voice is soft and sincere, his playful demeanor having given way to earnest sincerity. “It brings my physical pain to imagine my life without you, and I can’t bear the thought of not being by your side.”
Reaching into his jacket pocket, he removes a tiny yellow box with a creamy satin bow. The room seems to fade away from around Nadia as he drops to one knee before her.
Theodore looks up at her, his eyes green and shining, and opens the box to reveal a gleaming silver band with a single ruby embedded in its center. The crimson stone winks in the warm light slipping through the windows, and Nadia hears a tiny gasp from Honora as Theodore lifts the ring from the box and holds it out.
“Nadia Magdalena,iubit, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife?”
Francesca squeals in excitement, and in Nadia’s periphery, Giulia reaches over to clamp a hand across her younger sister’s mouth.
Tears of joy blur Nadia’s vision, and she slowly offers Theodore her left hand. “Yes,” she whispers, surprised she was able to find her words at all. “I will be your wife.”
Theodore’s grin is quick and easy, and he slips the band carefully onto Nadia’s ring finger as a chorus of cheers and applause erupt from the Rosettis. Standing, Theodore takes her by the hand and pulls her into an embrace. When she steps away, she holds her hand out to admire the band and its glittering stone.
“It’s perfect,” she whispers, and one tear streaks down her cheek.
