Page 105 of A Touch of Charm
Thea narrowed her eyes. That was all he had to say, no?
“Is something the matter?” A tall blond man stepped through the crows with a smug grin that seemed as unsettling as a Venetian theatrical mask.
“Baron von List,” Stan nodded politely, shooting Alex and Thea warning looks, “this is a private matter.”
“Apparently not, or else you wouldn’t make such a spectacle of yourselves,” the Prussian said with a slightly open vowel sound that betrayed his accent.
Prince Ralph turned to Anna. “Can we speak in private somewhere?”
Anna pointed at a door off the side wall. “In the library over there, Your Royal Highness.”
Where’s Andre? Thea’s heart thrummed as she led the way as etiquette required, followed by her brothers and Prince Ralph. Everyone watched her, the runaway princess’s fall from grace. The scandal would fuel enough shame from England to Transylvania, there was no doubt. But that didn’t matter.
As long as they don’t wage war over me…
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“This is goingto cost you,” Prince Ralph said when he slammed the door to the library shut. Thea cringed but Stan and Alex remained steadfast.
“As I said, our gold mines are being plundered,” Alex said. “We don’t have the funds to pay you off.”
“Then I want her. I am entitled to her!” Ralph pointed at Thea as if she were a statue in the room.
“I never agreed to marry you,” she said as calmly as she could.
Ralph grimaced. “Why would anyone even ask?”
At that, Stan and Alex quirked their brows.
“Perhaps we can find a more diplomatic solution to unite our families’ interests?” Alex said.
“What else is there besides strategic marriages? We’ve been planning on this for as long as… I mean… even before I went on the grand tour of Europe, I knew the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen princess would be at the ready for me.”
Thea bristled against that.
“First of all, Prince Ralph, I’m right here and shall be addressed with respect.”
Ralph sputtered something in German that Thea rather wished she hadn’t understood. But she saw her brothers’ faces and Stan balled his fists.
“The princess is addressing you, and you will listen,” Alex commanded. He was the older brother and raised his chin just like Father did when he accepted no rebuttal.
“What do you have to say, Princess,” Ralph muttered and gave her a once-over that made her feel instantly dirty. If she couldn’t even bear for him to look at her, she couldn’t ever bear his touch.
“Instead of using me as a bargaining chip, why don’t you consider a charter to prevent the exploitation of Transylvanian gold from its mines?”
Ralph waved her off as if she were an annoying fly.
“Hear her out, she’s a political mastermind.” Stan smiled in her direction and Thea’s chest warmed when she looked at her brothers’ supportive expressions.
“There’s nobody to give enough signatures to such a charter, even if I considered it.” Ralph shrugged.
“There’s an English earl, the Earl of Langley. A French marquis, a German count, two Transylvanian royals, and a de Lorraine from Italy in the ballroom. Shall I request their presence for an international convention—”
“You can’t be serious,” Ralph shouted, combing both hands through his thinning hair.
“She is. They are some of our closest friends and will gladly sign a document that stifles your hold on our sister, and plays into Baron von List’s enrichment schemes,” Stan said, now stepping close to Ralph. He was half a foot taller, and it pleased Thea immensely that Ralph had to look up at him.
“Call them in,” Stan said, and Alex left the room.
