Page 38 of A Touch of Charm
Just then, the wind blew stronger, and the rim of Thea’s bonnet flapped backward. The ribbon holding it to her chin slipped off, and the bonnet nearly flew away, but Andre caught it.
Instinctively, he put one hand on the back of Thea’s head and the other under her chin, ensuring that the bonnet stayed put to protect her from the sun but, more importantly, that the ribbon didn’t strangle her. Not that it was strong enough, but he wouldn’t let any discomfort come to her under his watch.
“Thank you,” she beamed.
He held her gaze, for it was too beautiful to look away. Under the brightness of her gaze, Andre felt he might be growing the courage of the stray leaves pricking up from the hedges no matter how carefully they were pruned. He wanted to rebel against everything he’d chastised himself for and kiss her.
“How long have you lived in London?” Thea asked as they walked on, following Mary, who’d carefully stuffed more leaves into her jar.
“About two years now. I was born in Florence but attended school in Vienna. My father had a post at the faculty of medicine there.”
“Is that why you became a doctor?”
“In a way, I always thought I was. Even when I was little, about the same age as Mary, he took me to the lectures and even the laboratory. He gave me grapes to practice sutures when he was occupied with his colleagues. I helped him grade exams by the time I was fourteen.”
“You must have learned very much. I am certain he’s proud of you,” Thea said.
“I wish I knew.” Andre felt that familiar clipping sensation in his lungs whenever he spoke of his family. “When I completed my studies, I traveled to India with Alfie Collins and Felix Leafley.”
“I saw their names on the sign at 87 Harley Street,” Thea smiled.
“Yes. When we came to England and learned of the opportunity to open the practice together, I lost track of my family along the way.”
They were forced to lose track of me under Napoleon’s rule.
But he didn’t want to burden the princess with too much sadness. He hated the pity and much preferred to be judged not for his heritage or the terrible timing of his birth but for the accomplishments that were of his own doing.
“You must miss them very much. I am certain they are looking for you.”
“I had to run away to save their lives; it’s a long story,” Andre said, but then he noticed that Thea grew sadder.
“I only ran away for my own selfishness.”
*
He was breathtaking,and Thea wished she could brush the curl off his forehead and draw him in for a kiss to distract him from the pain and loss he’d suffered. If only she were allowed to act on her feelings, to be free like the butterflies, and land where she wanted, for she would surely choose him.
“It’s not my place to say anything,” Andre mumbled, trying to control the anger bubbling up within him.
“Speak freely. I don’t need the royal etiquette here,” Thea said.
“I know you well enough not to wish to speak freely. You deserve all the respect of a princess, whether you are at court or not.”
Thea eyed him curiously for a moment, then smirked and let her mischievous side shine through beneath the facade of the mere princess.
“Then consider this an audience. Now, speak freely,” she started again.
“It’s not selfishness that made you run away, I think. Self-preservation and pursuing a happy life are more basic than that.”
“Basic, such as instincts?”
“Some instincts for self-preservation are fundamental, yes.”
“Such as…”
“The search for companionship, for instance. Humans usually don’t want to be completely alone. Some wish to have large families or simply a dog to walk for company, but complete solitude is rarely welcome. And one can be lonely in a loveless marriage.”
“Do you want a large family?”
