“I’ll want to talk to him too,” Colin announced. “He’ll need to know, of course.”
“Know what?” his father inquired.
Caine was already grinning. He knew his brother was up to something, but he couldn’t imagine what it was. Only one thing was certain in Caine’s mind. Colin had made the decision to marry Alesandra, and he wasn’t going to let her get away now.
“Yes, son,” his mother said. “What is it Morgan needs to know?”
“That Alesandra and I slept together.”
The duchess dropped her napkin and let out a little screech. Jade’s mouth dropped open. Caine started laughing. The Duke of Williamshire had just taken a swallow of water when Colin made his announcement. He started choking.
Alesandra closed her eyes and fought the urge to scream.
“You slept with her?” his father demanded in a strangled roar.
“Yes, sir,” Colin answered. His voice was very pleasant, cheerful in fact. He seemed completely unaffected by his father’s wrath. “Several times in fact.”
“How could you deliberately . . .” Alesandra couldn’t go on. She was so mortified, she couldn’t seem to catch a thought long enough to speak it.
“How could I lie?” Colin asked her. “You know better. I never lie. We did sleep together, didn’t we?”
Everyone was staring at her now, waiting for her denial.
“Yes,” she whispered. “But we . . .”
“For the love of God,” her guardian shouted.
“Henry, calm yourself. You’re going to make yourself ill,” his wife advised when she saw how mottled his complexion was becoming. The duchess was once again frantically fanning herself with her napkin in an effort to remain composed.
Colin leaned back in his chair and let the sparks fly around him. He looked bored. Caine was thoroughly enjoying himself. Jade kept trying to make her husband take the matter more seriously by poking him in his ribs.
“Colin, have you nothing to say to straighten out this misconception?” Alesandra demanded in a near shout so she would be heard above Caine’s laughter.
“Yes,” Colin answered.
She sagged with relief and gratitude. The feeling was short-lived, however.
“If Morgan still wants you after I’ve explained how we spent the last week, he’s a better man than I am.”
“You don’t have to tell him anything.” Alesandra tried to control the anger in her voice. She didn’t want to lose her dignity, but, Lord, Colin was making that difficult. Her composure was in shreds and her throat was aching with the need to shout.
“Oh, but I do have to explain the situation to Morgan,” Colin said. “It’s the only honorable thing to do. Isn’t that right, Caine?”
“Absolutely right,” Caine agreed. “It’s the only honorable thing to do.”
Caine turned to his wife then. “Sweetheart, I don’t believe you’ll need to have that private talk about the marriage bed with Alesandra after all.”
Alesandra glared at Caine for that comment, because she could tell from his grin he was jesting.
“Dear God, what must Nathaniel be thinking? He’s looking down from heaven and probably shaking his head in regret for leaving his daughter in my hands.”
“Uncle Henry, my father wouldn’t have any regrets,” Alesandra announced. She was so furious with Colin for getting his own papa upset her voice crackled with tension. “Nothing sinful happened. I did go into his room and I did sleep with him, but only because he was so demanding and I became so weary . . .”
The Duke of Williamshire covered his forehead with his hands and let out a low groan. Alesandra knew she was making a mess out of her explanation and tried to start over. “I kept my clothes on,” she blurted out. “And he . . .”
She was going to explain that Colin had been ill and had needed her help, but she was interrupted before she could finish.
“I wasn’t wearing anything,” Colin cheerfully informed his family.
“That’s it,” his father bellowed. His fist came down hard on the tabletop. The crystal goblets clattered together in reaction.
Alesandra jumped, then turned to glare at Colin. She’d never been this angry in all her life. Colin had deliberately twisted the truth to his advantage and now her guardian thought she was a trollop. She decided she wasn’t going to sit there another second. She threw her napkin on the table and tried to leave. Colin caught her before she’d even pushed her chair back. He put his arm around her shoulders and hauled her into his side.
“You two are going to be married in exactly three days’ time. Caine, you see to the special license. Colin, you keep silent about what happened. I won’t have Alesandra’s reputation in tatters because of your lust.”
“Three days, Henry?” Gweneth asked. “The church is reserved for the Saturday after next. Couldn’t you reconsider?”
Her husband shook his head. “Three days,” he repeated. He noticed Colin had his arm around Alesandra’s shoulders and added, “He can’t keep his hands off her as it is.”
“But, Henry . . .” his wife pleaded.
“My mind’s set, Gweneth. You may invite a few close friends if you’re wanting to, but that is the only concession I’ll allow.”
“No, Father,” Colin said. “I don’t want the news of the marriage to get out until it’s over. It’s safer for Alesandra that way.”
His father nodded. “I’d forgotten,” he admitted. “Yes, it would be safer. All right then, only the immediate family will be here.”
He turned his full attention to Alesandra. “I want your agreement to wed Colin,” he commanded. “And I want it now.”
“Do you agree?” Colin asked.
He’d won and he knew it. She slowly nodded. Colin leaned down and kissed her. She was so startled by the show of affection she didn’t pull away.
“That’s quite enough of that,” Henry snapped. “You won’t be touching her again until you’re married.”
Alesandra turned to Colin. “You’re going to regret marrying me.”
He didn’t seem overly worried about that possibility. He wouldn’t have winked at her if he’d really been concerned.
Jenkins appeared in the doorway. “Begging your pardon, your grace, but we have a visitor at the door. Sir Richards is requesting an immediate audience with your son, Colin.”
“Show him into the salon, Jenkins,” Colin called out.
“Why would the director of security be wanting to see you?” his father demanded to know. “You told me you’d quit the department.”
The worry in his voice confused Alesandra. She started to ask her guardian why he was so concerned, but just as she opened her mouth to say something, Colin tightened his hold on her shoulders. She turned to look at him. His expression didn’t give anything away and she knew no one else at the table realized he was silently ordering her to remain quiet.
“After what happened to your leg, I can’t imagine why you would continue working for the director,” his mother interjected.
Colin tried to hold on to his patience. “The director had nothing to do with my injury.”
“It was a long time ago,” Jade reminded the duchess.
“By God, he’s finished with that cloak-and-dagger business,” his father announced.
Caine leaned forward, drawing Colin’s attention. “Why exactly is Richards here?” he asked.
“I requested his help,” Colin answered. “And he was also going to gather some information for me.”
“Regarding?” Caine asked.
“Alesandra.”
Their father looked relieved. “Well, then, that’s quite all right. Yes, Richards is just the man to ask about the general. Shall we go into the salon and hear what he has to tell us?”
“We aren’t going to be left out, Henry,” his wife announced. She stood up to face her husband. “Come along, Jade. You, too, Alesandra. If the matter concerns one of us, it concerns all of us. Isn’t that right, Henry?” Then she and the o
thers left the room.
Colin let go of Alesandra. She stood up when he did. She caught hold of his hand before he could leave.
“Your father now believes I’m a trollop,” she whispered. “I would appreciate it if you would set him straight.”
Colin leaned down close to her ear. “I’ll explain everything after we’re married.”
His warm breath sent a shiver of pleasure down her neck, making it difficult for her to concentrate. Up until an hour ago, when Colin had kissed her so passionately, she’d been desperately trying to think of him as a friend . . . or a cousin. She’d been lying to herself, of course, but, damn it all, it was working. Colin had turned the tables on her, though, when he’d touched her. Now, just standing so close to him made her heartbeat race. He smelled so wonderful, so masculine, and . . . Oh, Lord, she really needed to get hold of her thoughts.
“You’re a scoundrel, Colin.”
“I like to think I am.”
She gave up trying to make him angry. “Why don’t you want your family to know you’re working for . . .”
He wouldn’t let her finish. His mouth covered hers in a quick, hard kiss. She let out a little sigh when he pulled back, then repeated her question. He kissed her again.
She finally got his message and quit her questions. “Will you explain after we’re married?”
“Yes.”
Jade walked back into the dining room. “Colin, I would like to speak to Alesandra in private. We’ll be along in a minute.”
Alesandra waited until Colin had left the dining room, then went around the table to stand next to Jade.
“Do you really dislike the idea of marrying Colin?”
“No,” Alesandra answered. “And that, you see, is the problem.”
“How is it a problem?”
“Colin’s being forced into marrying me. He’s acting out of duty. I can’t control that.”
“I don’t understand,” Jade remarked.
Alesandra brushed her hair back over her shoulder in a nervous gesture. “I wanted to control the situation,” she whispered. When it first became apparent I would have to get married, I was very angry inside. I felt so . . . powerless. It didn’t seem fair. I finally came to terms with my circumstances, however, as soon as I began to think of the marriage as a business transaction and not a personal relationship. I decided that if I chose my husband and set my own terms, then it wouldn’t matter if he loved me or not. It would be a business arrangement, nothing more.”
“Colin won’t agree to your terms, though, will he? I’m not surprised,” Jade remarked. “He’s an independent man. He’s proud of the fact that he’s making it on his own, without help from family or friends. He isn’t going to be easy to control, but in time I believe you’ll be happy about that. Have some faith in him, Alesandra. He’ll take care of you.”
Yes, Alesandra thought to herself. Colin would take care of her.
And she would become a burden to him.
He wasn’t interested in her inheritance and in fact had made it perfectly clear he wouldn’t touch it.
He wasn’t impressed with her title, either. Being married to a princess was going to be a nuisance because he would have to suffer going to several important functions during the year. He’d have to mingle with the prince regent, and, Lord, she knew he’d hate that.
Colin had rejected everything she had to offer.
No, it wasn’t a fair exchange.
Chapter
8
Sir Richards had just finished greeting everyone when Jade and Alesandra walked into the salon. The director turned to both ladies. He knew Jade, and after telling her how wonderful it was to see her again, he turned his full attention to Alesandra.
“Henry told me the good news. Congratulations, Princess. You’ve chosen a fine man.”
Alesandra forced a smile. She thanked the director, agreed Colin was indeed a fine man, and asked him if he would be attending the wedding.
“Yes,” Sir Richards replied. “I wouldn’t miss it. It’s a pity it has to be kept a secret, but you understand well enough the reasons. Come and sit down now. I’ve some information you’ll be interested in hearing.”
Sir Richards ushered her over to one of the settees. Jade and Caine were seated across from her, and the duke and duchess took the third settee.
Colin stood alone in front of the hearth. He wasn’t paying any attention to the director or his family. His back was turned to the gathering and he was intently studying the miniature on the mantel. Alesandra watched Colin as he lifted the castle to get a better look at it. The expression on Colin’s face was masked, and she wondered what he was thinking.
The duchess was explaining her plans for the wedding. She was determined to make the intimate affair as lovely as possible. She was interrupted by her husband when he called out to Colin.
“Be careful with that, son. It’s priceless to me.”
Colin nodded but he didn’t turn around. He had just noticed the tiny drawbridge latched with a delicate-looking chain. “This really is a piece of workmanship,” he remarked as he gently pried the drawbridge away from the hook. The door immediately dropped down. Colin lifted the castle higher so that he could look inside.
Alesandra saw the surprised look in his eyes. He smiled, too. She smiled in reaction. He had just figured out the bit of trickery her father had played on his friend so many years ago.
Colin turned to Caine and motioned to him with a quick tilt of his head. Caine stood up and walked over to the mantel. Colin didn’t say a word to his brother. He simply handed him the castle, then turned and walked over to sit next to Alesandra.
The duchess had only just warmed to her topic of the wedding plans. Both her husband and the director were patiently listening to her.
Caine suddenly let out a hoot of laughter. He drew everyone’s attention, of course.
Caine turned to Alesandra. “Did you know about this?”
She nodded. “My mother told me the story.”
“Later, when you’re alone with Father, would you show him?” Caine asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“Put that down,” his father ordered. “It makes me nervous to see it handled. Do you have any idea of its value, Caine?”
His son laughed. “Yes, father, I understand its value.” He closed the drawbridge and put the castle back where it belonged.
“Mother, I don’t believe Sir Richards is interested in your plans for the wedding,” Colin said. “He’s been polite long enough. Let him get to his reason for calling.”
Gweneth turned to the director. “Were you just being polite?”
“Of course he was, Gweneth,” her husband told her. He softened his bluntness by patting his wife’s hand.
Caine had returned to his seat next to his wife. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to his side.
Alesandra noticed that both her guardian and his eldest son were very open in showing their affection for their wives. Caine was stroking his wife’s arm in an absentminded way and her uncle Henry hadn’t let go of his wife’s hand. Alesandra envied the loving couples. She knew it had been a true love match between her guardian and his wife, and from the way Jade and Caine looked at each other, she assumed they had also fallen in love before they were married.
She and Colin were another matter altogether. She wondered if he realized what he was giving up to marry her and almost asked him that question then and there.
Sir Richards saved her from embarrassing herself when he took the floor. “Colin asked me to assist him with a little experiment. He had reason to believe the lady’s maid, Valena, was in a league with the ruffians trying to snatch the princess.”
Alesandra was stunned by the director’s explanation. She turned to Colin. “What reason would you have to distrust that sweet . . .”
He interrupted her. “Let him finish, Alesandra.”
“Colin was correct,” Sir Richards announced. He smiled at his host. “Both
your sons have the best instincts I’ve ever come across in all my days working for the department.”
Henry beamed with pleasure. “It’s a trait I like to think they inherited from me,” he remarked.
“Yes,” Gweneth agreed. Her loyalty to her husband was absolute. “Henry’s always been as cunning as a lion.”
Colin tried not to smile. He believed his father was more like a lamb than a lion, but he didn’t see that as a flaw. In truth, he envied his innocence. He’d lost his own years ago. His father was a rare man indeed. He seemed to be immune to the darker side of life. Having heard his father’s confession of the dark period he went through when he was a younger man made him all the more remarkable. The experience hadn’t made him cynical. He wore his heart on his sleeve most of the time, and Colin knew that if there was any softness at all left in his own nature, it had come from his father.
“Now, then, as I was saying,” the director continued. “Colin told the maid to inform the princess that there would be a meeting at my town house. He set the time for ten the following morning. Valena slipped out during the night to tell her companions. Colin had one of Alesandra’s guards follow her. Right as rain the following morning, there they were, four in all, hiding in wait near my home to nab the princess.”
“So there were four in all?” Colin asked. He wasn’t at all surprised by the news. Alesandra was speechless. She had always believed she was a good judge of character but now admitted she’d certainly been off the mark with Valena. Alesandra’s thoughts immediately turned to Victoria and she wondered if she’d been wrong about her, too.
“Good heavens, I hired Valena,” the duchess blurted out. “She came to me and I should have thought that odd, but I was so pleased with her because she was born near Alesandra’s father’s home. I thought it would make our ward feel more comfortable to have a reminder of her past. Valena spoke the language, you see. I looked into her references, Henry. Yes, I did, but now I realize I should have been more thorough.”
“No one’s blaming you, Mother,” Colin told her.
“Why didn’t you tell me about your suspicions?” Alesandra asked Colin.