Page 13 of A Touch of Charm (Miracles on Harley Street #3)
T hea wandered through the house alone after Andre went to tend to his patients, and Mary decided to follow the nurse again. It was early in the afternoon, and the light coming through the large windows at Cloverdale House cast a golden-orange hue onto the damask wallpaper. Thea’s fingers brushed lightly against the shimmering fabric wallpaper. Rich, intricate patterns danced beneath her touch, each thread reminding her of the opulence she’d left behind at home when she ran away. It hadn’t been hasty, nor had it been avoidable to run away; she was still convinced, but it was a big step though one that should help her to achieve her freedom. She was perhaps known as the runaway princess, but that didn’t mean she was free to follow her heart.
Yet, despite the familiarity of luxuries, there was something different in England. She took a deep breath, letting the cool air under the vaulted ceiling of the staircase fill her lungs as she continued her exploration. The air was fresh, as if the wind whispered promises of new beginnings. It invigorated her, filling her with a newfound confidence that she rarely felt at home.
When Thea approached an open door, a light-flooded room made her stop. Blinking, she stepped cautiously through the open door. Her eyes adjusted, revealing a cozy sitting area bathed in the afternoon’s sunlight, and the silhouette of a woman caught her attention. She seemed relaxed yet poised in an armchair with one leg stretched onto a cushioned stool. She hadn’t seemed to notice Thea come in, for she appeared caught in her thoughts—gazing out the window onto the lovely park surrounding the castle that Thea had noticed earlier from the carriage.
She appeared not much older than Thea, perhaps only two or three years her senior. Her dark brown hair was swept up in a simple yet elegant coiffure, revealing a delicate neck and refined posture.
Thea cleared her throat, and the woman turned toward her with a practiced smile of the sort Thea knew all too well from a refined upbringing.
“Come in!” the woman called out, her voice clear and inviting. “Is it time for my tea already?”
Thea hesitated for a moment, then stepped fully into the room. The woman’s warm eyes were framed by long lashes that cast gentle shadows on her cheeks. Her kindness and openness drew Thea in.
“I’m afraid I’m not here with tea,” Thea said, offering a small smile. “I was just exploring the castle and found myself drawn to this room.”
The woman’s mouth curved into a genuine smile as she gave Thea the once-over. “Well, you are most welcome. I’m Isabella Victoria von Habsburg, Lady Ashford. And you are?”
“Thea,” she replied, inclining her head slightly in greeting.
“Just Thea?”
“Princess Josephine Theodora Andrea von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen,” she said with a curtsy.
“Your Royal Highness.” Anna gripped the chair’s armrests tightly and tried to push herself up. She must have tried to rise and bow to Thea, but Thea rushed and lay her hand over hers, for it was evident that the woman who’d introduced herself as Anna was hurt.
“Don’t get up on my behalf. I see you’re injured.” The woman sank back into the chair. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ashford,” Thea assured her, hoping the need for etiquette wouldn’t take over the newfound freedom she’d enjoyed since she arrived in London.
“Please, call me Anna,” she said, waving away the formality. “What brings a princess here? Have you also been injured?” Anna gave her the once-over and then nodded toward a chair opposite hers, also turning toward the lovely window bathed in the afternoon sun.
“I’m here with my brother; he’s the patient,” Thea said, careful not to give away too much to a stranger. But there was something familiar about this woman.
“Nothing too serious, I hope?” Anna asked.
“No, he just needs some time to heal.” Thea couldn’t help but warm at her dark eyes. She felt as though she’d seen their questioning look before.
Thea moved toward the indicated chair. The overwhelming light streaming in from the window cast an inviting glow on the plush upholstery. She sat, smoothing her skirts and taking in the details of the room—the richly colored Persian rug, the fine china displayed on a nearby cabinet, and the faint scent of jasmine that she attributed to Anna.
“It’s quite lovely here,” Thea remarked, her eyes meeting Anna’s again. “Very different from home, but beautiful in its way.”
“Where did you grow up?”
“Bran Castle in the Carpathian Mountains.”
Anna dropped her hands on her lap and smiled softly. “I’ve seen drawings, and they must be rather stunning. This castle has changed to convert it into a rehabilitation center. It’s a very hush-hush affair and reserved only for nobility. Think of this place as Almack’s for the invalid. I’m lucky to have obtained a spot even before it opened officially.”
“How did you? I heard it wasn’t supposed to open for quite a while.”
“Oh, my husband can be rather generous in ensuring his privacy. When I caught him, he realized he needed to lock me away.” Anna hesitated, momentarily interrupting the bubbly nature Thea had just begun to appreciate. “He probably didn’t expect ever to be caught with his mistress.”
Thea blinked incredulously, but she knew she’d heard right. Then Anna pulled at her gown, and a tightly bandaged ankle gave Thea a pretty good idea of her injury.
“It’s all of my own doing,” Anna sighed. “I fell off my horse because I rode too fast. Thus, I broke my foot.”
“How did this happen?”
Anna’s eyes twinkled with tears, and she leaned toward Thea, holding the armrests on either side of the chair. “I was on an outing in Somerset. We have a country estate there, and I had planned to surprise my husband there after he returned from a business trip. I had some important news to share with him.” Anna patted her stomach, and Thea instantly understood. “That’s when I saw him with a woman. Under our apple tree!” She threw her hand in the air. “It was unmistakable.” Thea swallowed hard, her eyes flickering with shock and empathy as she listened to Anna’s tale. “It’s the same tree under which he proposed to me. He promised lifelong love and fidelity, and now look at me. With child and injured, locked away for his convenience.” Thea clutched her chest with both hands. What a terrible fate for such a young woman. “I rode so fast and aimlessly in my rage when I caught him.” Anna wiped the tear from her cheek that rolled down.
“Did you speak to him?”
“He wouldn’t speak to me! He said we’d discuss it later.”
Just like Father used to say when I tried to address the topic of my unwelcome match.
“But then you fell and got injured,” Thea whispered, her voice trembling with the sorrow of newfound understanding.
“And now I’m here until my leg heals,” Anna said and then pursed her lips.
“And the baby?” Thea asked, but she was afraid of the response. Pregnancy was a precious state, and she wasn’t too naive to underestimate the dangers a horse’s fall could cause under such circumstances.
“I have only been seen by the nurse, and she said she didn’t suspect any injuries to the baby. But I have yet to see the doctor.”
From the following of Anna’s brow with a tension Thea recognized from a woman who’d exhausted her last resort, Thea realized that Anna’s heart hurt more than her broken bones.
Thea took Anna’s hand, and their eyes met. It was a moment when two women sat in the simple understanding that even their titles were insufficient to protect them from society’s patriarchal structure. And just like that, Anna wasn’t a stranger anymore. Even as far away as Thea had fled to England, she recognized a commiserating soul, and a new friend in Anna.
“I ran away from my betrothal.”
“Did he…?” Anna’s falling tone implied the worst.
“Oh no, no! I’ve not seen him since I was three years old. I don’t remember him at all.” Thea pursed her lips. “But I just wanted more from life than being his wife.”
Anna deflated. “I understand. You are very wise for your young age to realize it in time.”
“Nobody else sees it that way.”
“Perhaps not, but it’s your life. At least until you marry, and your husband dictates what you may do.” She sighed.
“What is it that yours won’t let you do?”
Anna looked out the window and blinked profusely. Was she trying not to cry in front of a princess, or was there another reason for the emotions she seemed to try to hide?
“I was rather hoping to search for someone,” Anna murmured, each word heavy with melancholy.
“Who is it?” The thought of being trapped in a loveless marriage had been terrifying enough, but now, considering losing one’s flame and then being trapped was unbearably cruel. “A flame from your past?” Thea pressed on as the feeling of commonalities with Anna grew into warm friendship in Thea’s heart.
“No, my brother. We lost him, but perhaps he’s not dead. How could I ever stop trying to find him?”
“Of course you cannot.” Thea couldn’t fathom the thought of losing one of her brothers, she’d undoubtedly try anything in her power to find them.
“My husband won’t entertain the thought. He said it’s not his responsibility to search, and I… I loathe him for this, Thea.” Anna covered her mouth with one hand. “I’ve never spoken the words aloud, but it’s true.” A tear rolled down her cheek, and she wiped it with the hand already on her face.
A comfortable silence settled between them, punctuated only by the distant chirping of birds outside and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze that made the light flicker in the room.
Thea wished she could help Anna and suggest ways to put out the word about a missing person.
“I will speak to my brother and ask if he can aid your search,” Thea said.
“No, if he’s injured, let him heal. This is something I can’t share with… Hohenzollern, you said?” Anna cast Thea a questioning look, and Thea nodded.
“You are connected to Prince Ralph?”
Thea tasted acid. “He’s the one I’m running away from.”
Anna tilted her head back and her chin up.
Surely, Thea had misspoken now, and she already regretted trusting Anna. It was just that her eyes were so warm, and a certain familiar je ne sais quoi prevented Thea from putting her guard up.
After a few moments, Anna spoke again, her tone more serious. “I shall help you hide.”
Thea inhaled deeply, her chest filling with renewed hope that she’d found a new friend indeed.
“I know him, and he would make a worse husband than even mine. He’s his distant cousin, I’m afraid.
“You know, I must admit, I wasn’t expecting company today,” Anna said warmly. “The best connections often start in the most unexpected ways.”
The simple conversation and shared understanding brought a sense of belonging that Thea hadn’t realized she was missing.
As they continued to chat, the afternoon light shifted, casting long shadows across the room. Thea felt a contentment she hadn’t felt in a long time—a sense of being exactly where she was meant to be.
“Would you like to stay for tea, after all?” Anna asked, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I promise it will be much more enjoyable with company.”
Thea smiled, her heart light. “I would love that, Anna. Thank you.”
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Thea and Anna sat together, sharing stories and companionship, forging a bond that Thea knew would carry them through the challenges ahead.