Page 92 of A Touch of Charm
Her love.
Alex and Stan cast each other a look that said more than she could fathom, though seemed likeI-can’t-believe-we-have-to-do-this-with-our-baby-sister.
Silence followed.
Stan shifted in the seat, and the springs in the cushions creaked.
“I want only Andre,” Thea’s voice pierced the silence.
Except that it didn’t pierce the silence.
Her brothers remained motionless.
“As soon as possible, of course,” Thea added for good measure.
Stan blinked a few times, but it was Alex who spoke first. “That’s the problem. It’s not possible.
“Do I have to explain it to her? Are you jesting?” Alex turned to Stan. “What did you do while you’ve been here?”
“Quite a lot, thank you for asking. In all theminutessince you’ve arrived, you haven’t even asked about any of the diplomatic accomplishments of my time in England—”
“Well, because you let our sister fall in love.” Alex gestured grandly.
“What was am I supposed to do, catch her mid-fall and stop the landing?”
“Perhaps yes, if it was the doctor she landed on.”
“Enough!” Thea rose and inhaled so that her chest swelled with the courage she didn’t have. “I am indeed going to marry Andre. Yes, it is complicated because I must first breach the betrothal agreement with Ralph. But this is my life, and I will not be a bystander while you two think you have the authority to rule over me in Father’s absence.”
Both Stan and Alex stared at her, eyes wide and mouths agape.
“It won’t work,” Alex said.
“I will make it work!” Thea’s voice betrayed the anger bubbling within her.
“That’s not what I mean. It will work with him if you love him.” Alex sighed. “I wish you nothing more than happiness.”
“Me too,” Stan added. “Frankly, I haven’t said anything until now because I cannot blame you for not wanting to marry the Habsburg prince.”
Thea couldn’t believe the words that came out of her brothers.
“B-But you said—” she croaked. Oh no, Stan must have told Alex…
“It won’t work in that Father will never agree to swap a Habsburg prince for a Habsburg bastard. It has to be a done deal.” Stan narrowed his eyes, and Alex shook his head, his lips flat in a line in resignation.
“But he doesn’t know Andre the way you do,” Thea plead to Stan.
“That’s why.” Stan raised his eyebrows. Then he shifted in the settee and scratched his chin. “I would prefer a man like Andre for my dear sister over the Habsburg prince a million times.”
Alex raised his chin. “As your older brother, I must remind you that you have dynastic responsibilities, Thea. You’re not anybody. You are a princess.”
“And our little sister,” Stan added, which earned him an approving nod from Alex.
“What about your dynastic obligations and the girl in Cornwall?” she asked.
Alex’s mien fell. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Because it just happened, and the feelings are so grand that you cannot contain the joy in your heart?”
