Page 55 of A Touch of Charm
“Aloe Vera. It’s not a cactus,” Andre said. “It’s used for its soothing properties on skin irritations and burns. The juice is gelatinous and can be applied directly.”
He was ready for the next question from Thea, the governess. He could protect Thea, the princess. But he knew he couldn’t withstand Thea, the woman.
She seemed most interested in being alone with him and had dragged him to where there were only the plants as their witnesses, confusing Andre’s interpretation of her intentions.
Unless she liked him back….The thought lingered in his mind.
She didn’t have any intentions. Stay away from her. Basta!
“Are any of these useful for my brother?”
Ah, she was being the concerned sister. Andre exhaled deeply. Speaking to her as Stan’s doctor was indeed the easiest path forward.
“Neem is helpful.” He pointed at a little tree with the elongated, jagged leaves.
“I’ve never heard of neem,” Thea said as Andre came to her side and picked a leaf.
“It tastes bitter, but the powdered leaves promote healing, cleansing of the blood, and speed up the healing of wounds.”
Thea took the leaf from him and held it to her mouth.
“No, don’t eat it,” he murmured, his voice low and laced with concern. Gently, his hand encircled hers, the warmth of his touch slowing her impulsive gesture. “The leaves need to be dried first. As they are, they could upset your stomach.”
She stilled under the firm yet tender hold of his fingers. Her gaze slowly lifted to meet his, questioning but unguarded.
“And you care if my stomach turns?” she whispered with a hint of a teasing smile, though her voice trembled faintly.
He smiled—a small, earnest thing, like a secret between them. “I care about more than that.”
Her breath caught, the air between them charged yet unspoken. She allowed her hand to rest loosely in his grasp, her lips curving into a delicate smile of surrender. “Then I suppose I’ll trust you… about the leaves.”
Their eyes lingered, the moment unexpected yet filling the space with more than words could hold.
Don’t engage. Look away.
Pick a flower for her.
No!
“I overheard a part of your conversation with Mary,” Andre said.
Thea curled her lips downward, and Andre wanted nothing more in this instant than to kiss the sadness away.
“She’s a deep thinker but still a child. I can’t tell her how I failed my family.”
He studied her as if her words carried the weight of a secret she had yet to share. “Thea, you didn’t fail,” he said softly, his fingers lingering near hers as though afraid to break their fragile connection.
She looked away. “You don’t understand how we were raised,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
I do—more than you know.
But he couldn’t tell her that he was a Habsburg bastard. She didn’t want a Habsburg prince, so how could he ever measure up?
“Stan was… everything good that came from our family. He bore all their expectations so easily, so gracefully. I… I stumbled with the most important of all steps.” Thea flattened her lips.
Silence stretched between them for a moment, heavy but not uncomfortable, like a shared breath before confession.
Andre leaned closer, his tone gentler now. “Thea, strength isn’t always measured by how easily you carry the weight. Sometimes, it’s about continuing, even when it feels impossible. And that… that is where I see you.”
