Alesandra finally pulled the notecard free. “Now you may take my cloak, thank you.”
Colin rolled his eyes heavenward. He tossed her cloak in Caine’s direction. His brother caught the garment in midair just as Colin spotted the notecard clutched in Alesandra’s hand. “Why in God’s name did you bring that thing along?”
“I’m going to need it,” she explained. “I simply don’t understand your aversion to this list, Colin. Your hostility is most unreasonable.”
She turned her attention to his brother. “You’ll have to excuse your brother’s rudeness. He’s been ill.”
Caine smiled. Colin shook his head. “You don’t have to make excuses for me,” he stated. “Caine, this is the woman you’ve been referring to as The Plague. Alesandra, meet my brother.”
She again tried to curtsy and Colin again ruined it. She was just leaning forward to catch hold of her gown when Colin grabbed hold of her hand and started dragging her into the salon.
“Where’s your wife, Caine?” Colin called over his shoulder.
“Upstairs with Mother,” he answered.
Alesandra was tugging on Colin’s hand, trying to get loose. “Why don’t you just toss me on a chair and leave. You’re obviously in a hurry to get rid of me.”
“Which chair do you prefer?”
He finally let go of her. She took a step back and immediately bumped into Caine. She turned around, begged his forgiveness for her clumsiness, and then asked where his father was. She really wanted to speak to him as soon as possible, she explained.
Because she was looking so serious and worried, Caine didn’t dare smile. Princess Alesandra was a pretty thing, he thought to himself. Her eyes were a brilliant shade of blue and the freckles on the bridge of her nose reminded him of his wife, Jade. She was actually very beautiful, he realized.
“Jenkins went upstairs to tell my father you’re here, Princess Alesandra. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable while you wait?”
She thought that was a splendid idea. Caine had obviously been given all the manners in the family. He was very solicitous and polite. It was a nice change from his brother.
Colin stood near the fireplace watching her. She ignored him. She hadn’t paid any attention to the exterior of her guardian’s town house, but she imagined it was just as grand as the interior. The salon was at least four times the size of Colin’s. There were three settees placed in a half circle around the ivory-colored marble hearth. It was a lovely room filled with treasures the Duke of Williamshire had collected from around the world. Her gaze scanned the room, then came to rest on the gleaming object in the center of the mantel. She let out a gasp of pleasure. The replica in gold of her father’s castle hadn’t been misplaced after all. The reproduction of her childhood home was the size of a small brandy decanter and was exact in every detail to the real castle.
The look of joy on Alesandra’s face took Colin’s breath away. “Alesandra?” he asked, wondering what had caused that reaction.
She turned to smile at him. Then she hurried over to the mantel. Her hand trembled when she reached up and gently touched the side of one golden turret. “This is a replica of my home, Colin. It’s called Stone Haven. I lived there with my mother and father.”
“I thought your father gave up his kingdom when he married your mother,” Colin remarked.
She nodded. “Yes, he did. He purchased Stone Haven before he married her. The general can’t touch it, either. It’s located in Austria and he won’t have any jurisdiction there, even if he is able to take over the throne. The castle will continue to be safe.”
“Who owns it now?” Caine asked.
She didn’t answer him. He assumed she hadn’t heard his question. He was as intrigued by the castle as Colin appeared to be. The two brothers flanked Alesandra’s sides as they stared at the reproduction. “The detail is quite impressive,” Caine remarked.
“My father gave it as a gift to your father,” she explained. “He was playing a bit of trickery—good-hearted, of course —and I looked for the castle when I was staying at his country home, but I couldn’t find it. I thought it had been lost. It pleases me to see it has a place of honor.”
Colin was about to ask her what she’d meant by her remark that trickery had been involved when they were interrupted.
“Of course it has a place of honor,” the Duke of Williamshire called out from the entrance. “Your father was my friend, Alesandra.”
She turned at the sound of her guardian’s voice and smiled in greeting. The Duke of Williamshire was a distinguished-looking man with silver-tipped hair and dark gray eyes. The sons had gotten their good looks from him, of course, and their height as well.
“Good afternoon, Father,” Colin called out.
His father returned the greeting, then walked into the salon. He stopped in the center and opened his arms to Alesandra.
She didn’t hesitate. She ran to him and threw herself into his arms. He hugged her tight and kissed the top of her head.
Colin and Caine shared a look of disbelief. They were astonished by their father’s show of affection to his ward. The elderly man was usually very reserved, but he was treating Alesandra as though she were his long-lost daughter.
“Has Colin been treating you well?”
“Yes, Uncle Henry.”
“Uncle Henry?” Caine and Colin repeated the name at the same time.
Alesandra pulled away from her guardian and turned to glare at Colin. “Uncle Henry doesn’t mind being related to me.”
“But he isn’t related to you,” Colin stubbornly reminded her.
His father smiled. “I’ve asked her to call me Uncle,” he explained. “Alesandra’s part of our family now, son.”
He turned to his ward then. “Sit down and we’ll talk about this marriage business.”
She hurried to do as he requested. She spotted her notecard on the floor and immediately went to fetch it. Colin waited until she was settled in the center of the brocaded settee and then went over and sat down next to her.
His bulk crowded her into the corner. Alesandra nudged his hard thigh away so she could collect her skirts from underneath him. “There are plenty of other seats available,” she whispered so her Uncle Henry wouldn’t hear her criticizing his son. “Do sit somewhere else, Cousin.”
“If you call me cousin one more time I swear I’m going to throttle you,” Colin threatened in a low growl. “And quit squirming.”
“You’re crowding her, son. Move over.”
Colin didn’t budge. His father frowned, then took his seat next to Caine on the larger settee facing Alesandra.
“How have you two been getting along?” his father asked.
“Colin was sick all week,” Alesandra announced. “Am I moving in with you today, Uncle?”
“No.” Colin’s denial was abrupt—harsh, too.
His father frowned at his son before turning his gaze back to Alesandra. “Would you like to move in here?” he asked.
“I thought Colin wanted me to,” she answered. Her confusion was apparent in her expression. “It seemed an imposition, having to look out for me. He’s been acting very irritable today. I believe the cause is anxiety.”
Colin rolled his eyes heavenward. “Let’s get back to the main topic,” he muttered.
His father ignored that command. “Colin’s anxious?” he asked Alesandra.
“Yes, Uncle,” she answered. She folded her hands together in her lap while she added, “He’s anxious to get rid of me. So you can understand my confusion, can’t you? A few minutes ago he was ready to toss me on the settee and leave, and now he’s telling you I should stay with him.”
“That is a contradiction,” Caine interjected.
Colin leaned forward. He braced his elbows on his knees and stared at his father. “I don’t believe it’s a good idea to have her move anywhere just now. There was an incident outside the Opera House,” he added with a nod.
Alesandra interrupted him by
nudging him in his side. He turned back to look at her.
“You don’t need to go into that,” she whispered. “You’ll only worry him.”
“He needs to be worried,” Colin told her. “If he’s going to take over the responsibility of looking out for you, he’ll have to understand what he’s up against.”
Colin didn’t give her time to argue with him, but turned back to his father. He quickly explained what had happened, added a few pertinent details he’d gathered from his talk with Sir Richards, and ended with his opinion that the threats weren’t going to stop until Alesandra was married.
“Or until the general has either won or lost his campaign for the throne,” Caine interjected.
“Hell, that could take a year,” Colin predicted with a scowl.
“Perhaps,” his brother agreed. He turned to his father then and said, “I think Colin’s right. Alesandra should continue to stay with him. He’s more experienced in these matters and it would be less dangerous for you and Mother.”
“Nonsense,” his father countered. “I know a thing or two about protecting my family. I can handle any danger that comes my way. The gossip, however, is something we must address. Now that your mother and I are feeling fit again, Alesandra will have to move in with us. It isn’t acceptable for an unattached man and woman to live together.”
“It was the thing last week,” Caine reminded his father.
“Because of our illness,” his father replied. “Surely people will understand.”
Colin was incredulous. He didn’t know what to say to his father’s naive belief. He turned to his brother for help in arguing his point against Alesandra moving and saw that Caine was just as incredulous.
“Have you heard any gossip?” his father asked Caine, frowning now over that worry.
Caine shook his head. Colin tried to hold on to his patience. “Father, gossip isn’t the important issue here,” he said. “You cannot equate the danger you would be placing your family in with a few whispered remarks. Of course people are talking. Alesandra and I don’t care.”
“I won’t let you argue me out of my decision,” his father stubbornly insisted. “You insult me if you believe I can’t look out for my ward. I’ve taken care of a wife and six children all these years without a problem and I’m not about to stop now.”
“But no one has wanted to kidnap Mother or . . .” Caine began.
“Enough,” his father ordered. “The topic is closed.” He softened his tone when he added, “Your mother was right when she said Alesandra should get married as soon as possible. That would put an end to all this nonsense.”
Colin looked at Caine. “She has this damned list.”
“I gave her that list, son.”
Colin didn’t know what to say to that.
“A list of what?” Caine asked.
“Must you explain to Caine?” she whispered. Her cheeks were turning pink with embarrassment. “He’s already married.”
“I know he’s married,” Colin replied with a grin.
Caine pretended he hadn’t heard Alesandra’s protest. “A list of what?” he asked his brother again.
“Men,” Colin answered. “She and Father have made a list of suitable men to marry.”
Caine didn’t show any outward reaction to that explanation. He could tell from Alesandra’s expression she was uncomfortable with the topic they were discussing. He decided to try to make her feel more at ease. “That sounds reasonable to me,” he announced.
“Reasonable? It’s barbaric,” Colin told him.
Caine couldn’t suppress his grin.
“This isn’t amusing,” Colin snapped.
“No,” Caine agreed. “It isn’t amusing.”
“It’s most serious, sir,” Alesandra interjected with a nod.
Caine sat up a little straighter. “So the purpose of this meeting is to select a husband from the list? Have I got it straight in my mind?”
“Yes,” Alesandra answered. “I wanted to interview the candidates last week, but Colin became ill and I was occupied nursing him back to health.”
“You nursed him?” Caine asked with a smile.
She nodded. “Night and day,” she said. “He needed me.”
Colin was exasperated. “I did not need you.”
She took exception to his gruff tone of voice. She leaned back against the settee. “You’re a very unappreciative man,” she whispered.
Colin ignored her remark. He nodded to Caine. “That reminds me,” he said. “I wanted to thank you for your help. The ledgers haven’t looked so organized in over a year.”
“What ledgers?”
“The shipping ledgers,” Colin explained. “I appreciated your help.”
Caine shook his head. Alesandra nudged Colin to get his attention. “Couldn’t we get back to the topic at hand? I would like to get this settled as soon as possible.”
“I didn’t touch your ledgers,” Caine told his brother.
“Then who . . .?”
No one said a word for a long minute. Alesandra turned her attention to straightening the folds in her gown. Colin slowly turned to look at her.
“Did you hire Dreyson or someone else to work on my books?”
“Of course not. Your books are private. I wouldn’t let an outsider look at them. Besides, no one was admitted while you were sick.”
“Then who the hell did the work?”
“I did.”
He shook his head. She nodded. “Don’t jest with me, Alesandra. I’m not in the mood for it.”
“I’m not jesting. I did do the work. I organized all of your logs, too, and filed them away.”
“Who helped you?”
She was highly insulted by that question. “No one helped me. I’m very good with figures,” she told him. “You have my permission to write to Mother Superior if you don’t believe me. I made a second set of books for her so the banker would give her . . . Oh, dear, I probably shouldn’t have mentioned that. Mother Superior called it a sin, but I didn’t believe it was. It wasn’t larceny, either. I only changed the numbers so she could get the loan.”
Colin had an astonished expression on his face. She guessed he found her confession shameful. She quit trying to explain herself and took a deep breath. “As for your ledgers,” she continued. “Transferring numbers and totaling your columns didn’t require special training. It wasn’t difficult, just tedius.”
“And the percentages?” Colin asked, still not certain he believed her.
She shrugged. “Anyone with half a mind could figure out percentages.”
He shook his head. “But you’re a woman . . .”
He was going to add that he couldn’t imagine where she’d gotten the training for book work, but she wouldn’t let him finish.
“I knew that would come up,” she cried out. “Just because I’m a woman, you assume I couldn’t possibly understand anything but the latest fashions, isn’t that right? Well, sir, you’re in for a surprise. I don’t give a twit about fashions.”
Colin had never seen her this riled. Her eyes had turned into blue fire. He thought he might like to strangle her. But he’d kiss her first, he decided.
Caine came to her rescue. “And did the mother superior get her loan, Alesandra?”
“Yes, she did,” Alesandra answered, her voice tinged with pride. “Mother didn’t know the banker was looking at the second set of books, of course, or her vows would have forced her to confess. The nuns all follow very strict rules. She didn’t find out until it was too late. She’d already spent the money on a new chapel. So it all worked out quite nicely.”
Colin let out a snort. “I’ll wager she was sorry to see you leave,” he said dryly.
“Shall we get back to our reason for being here?” Caine suggested. He stood up and walked over to Alesandra. “May I have a look at your list, please?”
“Yes, of course.”
Caine took the notecard and went back to his seat. “It isn’t complete,” Alesa
ndra explained. “There are ten names on the list now, but if you want to add another one or two, please do so.”
“I believe we should go ahead and start without Gweneth,” her guardian announced. “Caine, read the first name and we’ll put the man under discussion.”
Caine unfolded the sheet of paper, scanned the contents, and then looked at his brother.
“Get started, son,” his father insisted.
“The first name on the list is Colin,” Caine announced, his gaze directed on his brother.
“Yes, but I’ve scratched him off,” Alesandra explained. “Do you see the line through his name? Please go on to the names I haven’t scratched through.”
“Hold on,” Caine said. “I want to know why he was marked off, Alesandra. Did you put his name on the list or did my father suggest Colin?”
“I gave her his name,” his father answered. “She hadn’t even met Colin when we started the list. I believed it would be a sound match, but now I can see it wouldn’t wash. They aren’t suitable for each other.”
Caine was of the opposite opinion. The sparks flying between Alesandra and Colin were close to igniting, and each was desperately trying not to acknowledge the reason behind his or her frustration.
“How did you come to the conclusion they weren’t suited?” Caine asked his father.
“Just look at the two of them together, son. It’s plain for anyone to see. Alesandra’s looking terribly uncomfortable and Colin hasn’t quit frowning since he sat down. It’s apparent they don’t get along. And that, you see, is an important ingredient for a sound marriage.”
“Could we get on with it, Caine?” asked Colin.
“Colin, do you have to be so irritable?” Alesandra asked.
He didn’t answer her. She turned her attention to Caine. “He’s been ill,” she reminded his brother, using that as her excuse for Colin’s surly mood.
“It’s this topic,” his father interjected with a frown in Colin’s direction.
“If Colin agreed to marry you, Alesandra, would you have him?” Caine wanted to know.
“He has already declined,” Alesandra explained. “And he wouldn’t be acceptable anyway.”