Page 8 of A Touch of Charm
“The Habsburgs won’t sign it if it means that we’d get the last say about the mining,” Stan said.
Andre clapped his hands. “Still, it’s a grand idea.” Then he leaned forward. “Princess Josephine Theodora Andrea—”
“Just Thea, please,” she said, acutely aware of her brother’s disapproving snort.
She wasn’t sure how to act in this context, so she did as she’d been told, held her hand out for him to kiss it, and was surprised with how he did. Andre bowed from his seated position, took her hand, and kissed solemnly on her knuckle lingering for just a fraction of a second too long.
It felt as though he were bending the etiquette on purpose.
A jolt of prickling shot through her, and she withdrew her hand quickly.
He’s dangerous… OH, this is going to be fun.
Chapter Three
Mary was stillfast asleep on Thea’s lap.
“So, how did they find you?” Stan asked. The clatter of hooves echoed against the dirt path as the landau carriage rocked gently, the wheels churning up small dust clouds in the dim moonlight Thea could see from the window.
“I’m afraid I don’t know,” Thea said. “But I know List and his people are dangerous.”
“He has associates everywhere,” Stan mumbled. “His political nets are cast wider than I can ascertain.”
Still, Thea couldn’t decide what was more surprising, the well-educated doctor with irritatingly dark eyes that she tried not to stare at in the dimly lit carriage or the fact that Stan spoke near him about the existential threat List posed for their family as if Andre were a long-time confidant.
Andre smiled crookedly and narrowed his eyes to indicate he was up for the challenge. Thea swallowed hard when she realized it was impossible not to stare at his dashing features.
“Who’s the girl?” Stan pressed on.
“Miss Mary-Elizabeth White.” Thea nodded primly.
Stan pursed his lips and made a roll with his hand in the air, waiting for Thea to continue.
She sighed. “She’s my ward. I’m her governess.”
Stan coughed. “You are serious?”
Andre sucked his lips in as if he were suppressing a laugh, and Thea shot him a that’s-not-funny look.
“Well, I had little with me and met them on the way. They needed a tutor for Latin, French, and mathematics. When I said I could teach it all plus geography—”
“They hired you because you could give their daughter the education due to a princess?” Stan’s voice was slow, and he didn’t even try to hide his anger from Andre. At this moment, however, Thea wished Stan didn’t speak to her in such a patronizing manner. So, what if he was her older brother? He was only one year older than her.
“Indeed.” Thea feigned nonchalance and straightened her back.
“Because you are a princess, Thea.” Stan’s tone grew stern, and Thea’s skin tingled with an unsettling warmth. Knowing that the handsome doctor in the cabin overheard their conversation, heat crept up her neck as she shifted uneasily in her seat. She fidgeted, her hands finding no rest, fingers nervously tracing the embroidered pattern on her gown.
“And I had the best education.”
“For a specific purpose, yes,” Stan nearly growled. It was most unbecoming for a prince.
“And what is that? Being the breeding stock for the Habsburg runt of the litter or merely a trading chip in a political charade?”
Andre watched her intently and ran a hand through his tousled hair, casually drawing attention to the effortless grace surrounding him. Heat crept up Thea’s neck, her cheeks again betraying her as she struggled to hold steady under the heat of his smoldering stare.
Perhaps it was better to have this conversation in the dark carriage after all.
“Thea, I’ve been working on the gold deal. Why didn’t you stay at home and wait your turn to fix—”
