Page 97 of A Touch of Charm
“You said two are here.”
“Yes, so go and speak with them. They’re expecting you.”
That’s what he feared. They’d expect him, the commoner who’d compromised their sister due to marry a Habsburg—one of his distant cousins no less—and now it was his judgment day.
“They’ll kill me.”
“No, they won’t. And I’ll stand right here.”
She was going to eavesdrop; there was no doubt in his mind. But he had to hold his own and defend a position he’d put himself into, while in actuality, it was the brothers he could relate to.
After all, he’d love to give Paul, his younger sister’s husband, what he deserved. Andre realized the situation was different. Paul had betrayed Anna. He would never do that to Thea.
“Alright, I’m going in.” Andre squared his shoulders, and Thea grabbed his collar.
“Just one kiss for good luck,” she said, pressing her lips against this.
Instantly, his body hardened, and his resolve solidified. He’d lay his life down for his princess, no questions asked. But he could use the good luck.
So, he kissed her back, pulled her closer, and deepened the kiss.
“Ahem!”
Stan cleared his throat.
Thea jumped away, pressing her hands over her mouth, but it was useless; her lips were swollen with desire. Andre would continue where they’d left off, but first, he needed her brother’s blessing.
“Our brother is waiting,” Stan said and inclined his head, signaling Andre to step in.
Wait, this was his treatment room, and yet another man stood in the center, just under the gas lamp.
“May I present Prince Alexander von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen to you?” Stan started, and Andre put one hand behind his back and bowed. “This is Dr. Andre Fernando von Dürer.”
“The professor’s son from Florence?”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness.” Andre couldn’t decide whether to stand en garde or ramrod. He felt that flight was the better response than fighting with two men his size.
“And you studied in Vienna?” Prince Alex pressed on.
“I completed my studies at the faculty of medicine and then continued with an apprenticeship in Delhi.”
“India?”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”
Alex gave Stan a look, but Stan remained placid. He’d learned much in India. And yes, he wanted to teach their younger sister everything. Andre felt their pain, yet that was one aspect he couldn’t get himself to regret. And he was sure Thea would not.
“My brother tells me that you compromised our sister,” Alex said.
Well, Alex was undoubtedly the more direct one.
“I don’t have much to offer besides my heart, but I would like to—”
Alex didn’t let Andre finish. “Why is that, Dr. Fernando Von Dürer, that you have nothing to offer besides your heart? Aren’t you a Habsburg?”
Of course, his accent was as flawless in pronouncing the Italian as well as the German parts of Andre’s names.
Andre swallowed. He went right for the Achilles heel. “It’s because I was born out of wedlock.”
