Page 109 of A Touch of Charm
“This isn’t the same cheese,” she observed, patting her mouth with a napkin.
“I know. The closest to the creamy cheeses we are used to is Devonshire Cream. It’s not too bad once you get used to it.” Andre joined her and ate the food that had been a pillar of comfort from her childhood.
“It’s different but better with you.” Thea cast him a smile and he froze.
“That’s what I wanted to ask you again, alone.” He used his napkin, placed it on the table, and then rose. But before Thea could join him, he knelt beside her.
“If I didn’t compromise you, and Alex hadn’t come… would you still wish to remain in London?”
What a silly series of hypothetical scenarios!
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to force you into a life you do not want.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly as he looked up at her.
Thea reached for his hand. “Where does this come from? I thought the engagement was—”
Andre shook his head. “The engagement is chiseled in stone, Thea. I will never leave your side unless you want me to.”
“Never!” Thea cupped his face with both of her hands. “Don’t ever say such a thing.”
“If you would like to wait to see if you are with child, I won’t pressure you.”
“Andre!”
“Please hear me out. In a few weeks, you’d know. And if you want to erase all of this, I will not stand in your way.” His voice sounded unsteady, but his gaze was firm.
It was too dark to tell if his eyes had gotten redder, but more tears seemed to be welling up, sparkling even more in the dim light on the balcony.
“Is this because of something Alex said?”
“Yes.”
Thea inhaled. Sometimes, she wished she could still pull her brother’s hair, as she had done when she was three years old, and make him scream.
“Not like that,” Andre said. “He said that he’d speak to your father on my behalf because he and Stan gave their blessings in his stead.”
“So?”
“So, if you’d rather forget about the Habsburg bastard from Florence sullying your line, I just wanted to ask you again if you’d like me to step away.”
“And go where?”
“Out of your life.”
“Like you did with your family?”
He nodded.
“No! Don’t you see they’ve been searching for you all these years? And I want you in my life! If a baby is inside me, it should only ever be yours.”
“But everyone knows I’m a bastard now, and you’re this precious, beautiful, intelligent, and oh… Thea, my princess!” He mumbled the last words because she’d pulled his face closer and pressed her lips onto his.
“I only fear one thing,” she said to his mouth.
“What?”
“That a few weeks is too long a wait.”
