Page 10 of A Touch of Charm
Stan deflated and groaned her name.Yes, embarrass me further by showing your annoyance with your little sister.
“What would you have done if I hadn’t been there tonight? And Andre? Can you imagine what those men could have done to you and the little girl? You are responsible for her.”
Thea grimaced and her hands went cold. He was right. She’d been so proud of making her way to London she hadn’t truly considered the dangers.
If she were compromised, or worse, she couldn’t even return as a bride for Prince Ralph. She’d be ruined. On second thought… Thea’s eyes shot to Andre again.
Mary suddenly turned and flapped her arms in the air. She must have been dreaming. With another swing, she moved her right leg and swung it over Andre, seated across from Thea.
He caught her leg and steadied it, letting the child rest half-sprawled over his already tight space in his seat. Thea tried to lift the girl, but she was so heavy in her relaxed state that she couldn’t find the right angle to pull her up. Andre gave a reassuring “Shh” and nodded, indicating that she shouldn’t wake the child on his account.
The doctor was surprisingly at ease with the child and didn’t seem to mind being discomforted by her.
Shadows danced across Andre’s face, cast by the flickering lantern swinging on the hook outside the carriage cabin, highlighting the intensity of his gaze and the tension that crackled between them.
“So what now?” Stan asked Andre as if he had a say in Thea’s future.
“I’m staying in London with you,” she declared, unwilling to let the men decide for her.
And to her surprise, Andre gave her a pleased look—controlled, as if he didn’t want Stan to see, but Thea had noticed it.
“I’ll tell Alex you’re here. He’s in Cornwall and will escort you home,” Stan declared with a sense of finality. “I’ll call him back sooner. He can help me before he meets Miss Lyndon. He’s supposed to meet—”
“It doesn’t sound like Alex is very keen on meeting his politically arranged betrothed or else he wouldn’t be hiding in Cornwall.”
But Stan didn’t pay Thea any heed. “I’ll send him a note from London.”
“I’m not going with him.”
“So you want to miss your brother’s engagement? He’s come to England to meet his betrothed. These alliances could save us.”
“Or ruin our lives.” Thea deflated. “I’m not going back to meet mine.”
Thea’s gaze held steady as it met Stan’s, her curiosity piqued by the silent clash of wills reflected in his eyes—a familiar scene reminiscent of the stubborn exchanges she often navigated with her kin. A wistful ache whispered through her, yearning for the comforting chaos of familial debates and shared laughter—but this was about her future.
As the carriage journeyed on, the rhythmic creaks formed a haunting symphony, echoing the relentless beat of her heart. Her lashes fluttered subtly, each glance towards Andre a silent entreaty for recognition. With every surreptitious look at the doctor, the air thickened with an unspoken tension, a tantalizing curiosity enveloping her. Thea felt an irresistible pull, a desire to delve deeper into the enigma that was Andre, if only she dared to uncover more.
Chapter Four
London, later that night…
It was nearlytwo o’clock when the carriage finally pulled up before the practice when Andre hopped off, his boots landing softly on the cobblestones. Harley Street was dark, and the lights inside the other white houses in Marylebone were off. He approached the driver, whose arm hung at an awkward angle. Stan gave Andre a nod; he’d escort Thea and Mary inside, so Andre could tend to the driver.
“I’d like to take a better look at you now,” Andre said, his tone firm but kind. He offered the man a supportive arm and guided him toward the door of 87 Harley Street, where his practice was located.
The house, usually bustling with activity, stood oddly silent tonight. The others were still at the wedding, leaving Andre as the sole occupant of the practice. He unlocked the door and flicked on the gas lights, the warm glow casting familiar shadows in the hallway.
Leading the injured driver past the door markedApothecary,Andre paused at the second door on the right. He turned on the light and helped the man onto the examination table.
“Stay here. I’ll get something to clean your wounds,” Andre said, his voice steady despite the unusual quiet around them. The practice was usually bustling with activity.
He stepped into the hallway and froze. Stan stood there, having already brought in the luggage, and beside him was Thea, cradling the sleeping little girl in her arms. The unexpected sight tugged at something deep within him.
“I need to tend to him.” Andre’s upbringing required that he’d set the table and be a perfect host but his impulse was to tend to the injured driver.
“I’ll take the horses to the back.”
“You’ll what?” Thea asked Stan with a quirked brow.
