Castles (41 page)

Her hand dropped to her stomach in a protective gesture. “I would like to have Colin's children,” she said. “But he has an important schedule and I promised not to interfere.”

“What does a schedule have to do with babies?”

Alesandra tried to pull herself together. She felt as though she were in a daze. She couldn't seem to organize her thoughts. Why hadn't she realized . . . the possibility . . . the only logical answer . . . Oh, yes, she was pregnant.

“Alesandra, do explain,” Catherine demanded.

“It's a five-year schedule,” Alesandra blurted out. “I'll have children then.”

Catherine thought she was jesting with her. She burst into laughter. Alesandra was able to maintain her composure until her sister-in-law took her leave a few minutes later. Then she hurried up to her bedroom, shut the door behind her, and promptly burst into tears.

She was filled with the most conflicting emotions. She was thrilled she was carrying Colin's son or daughter. A precious life growing inside her seemed a true miracle to her and she was fairly overwhelmed with her joy—and her guilt.

Colin might not be happy about the baby at all. Alesandra didn't have any concerns about his ability to be a good father, but wouldn't a child now be an added burden? Oh, God, she wished he loved her. She wished he wasn't so stubborn about her inheritance, too.

She didn't want to feel guilty, and how in heaven's name could she feel so euphoric and frightened at the same time?

Flannaghan came upstairs with a cup of hot tea for his mistress. He was about to knock on her door when he heard her crying. He stood there, uncertain what to do. He wanted to find out what was wrong, of course, so that he could try to help, but she had closed the door, indicating she wanted privacy.

He heard the front door open and immediately turned back to the steps. He'd reached the landing when Colin walked inside. He wasn't alone. His partner, Nathan, followed behind him. The man was so tall, he had to duck his head under the arch of the doorway.

Flannaghan knew better than to blurt out his worry about his mistress in front of company. He hurried down the steps, bowed to his employer, and then turned to greet his partner.

“We'll go into the salon,” Colin said. “Caine and his wife are going to be joining us shortly. Where's Alesandra?”

“Your princess is above the stairs resting,” Flannaghan answered. He was trying to act like a dignified man of the house. He had met Nathan before, of course, yet was still a bit intimidated by the man.

“Let her rest until my brother gets here.” He turned to his partner and said, “We've had to go out every damn night. Alesandra is exhausted.”

“Does she like going out every night?” Nathan asked.

Colin smiled. “No.”

A knock sounded at the door just as Colin and his partner walked into the salon. Flannaghan assumed the callers were Colin's family. He hurried to open the door and was in the process of bowing low when he realized it was just a messenger boy standing on the stoop. The messenger held a white gift box tied with a red ribbon. He thrust the package at Flannaghan.

“I've been given a coin to see Princess Alesandra gets this,” he announced.

Flannaghan took the box, nodded, and then shut the door. He turned to go up the stairs, smiling now, for he had a good reason to interrupt his princess and hopefully, once he was inside her room, he could nag out of her the reason why she was so upset.

The door knocker sounded again. Flannaghan put the box down on the side table and went back to the front door. Less than a minute had passed and he thought the messenger had returned.

Colin's brother and his wife waited entrance. Lady Jade gave Flannaghan a nice smile. Caine was barely paying attention to the butler, however. He was diligently frowning down at his wife.

“Good afternoon,” Flannaghan announced as he pulled the door wide.

Jade hurried inside. She greeted the butler. Caine gave him a nod. He seemed preoccupied.

“We are not finished with this discussion,” he told his wife in a hard, no-nonsense tone of voice.

“Yes, we are finished,” she countered. “You're being extremely unreasonable, husband. Flannaghan, where are Colin and Nathan?”

“They're waiting for you in the salon, milady.”

“I'm going to get to the bottom of this, Jade,” Caine muttered. “I don't care how long it takes.”

“You're being unreasonably jealous, Caine.”

“Damn right I am.”

He made that emphatic statement of fact in a loud voice as he followed his wife into the salon.

Both Nathan and Colin immediately stood up when Jade entered the salon. Nathan took his sister into his arms and hugged her tight. He glared at Caine because he had raised his voice to his sister, then added a rebuke.

“A husband shouldn't raise his voice to his wife.”

Caine laughed. Colin joined in. “You've done a complete turnaround,” Caine remarked. “I seem to remember you were always shouting.”

“I'm a changed man,” Nathan replied in a calm, matter-of-fact voice. “I'm content.”

“I'll wager your Sara's probably doing all the yelling now,” Colin said.

Nathan grinned. “The little woman does have a temper,” he remarked.

Jade sat down in the chair next to Nathan's. Her brother resumed his seat and turned his attention back to Caine. “Are you two having a difference of opinion?”

“No,” Jade replied.

“Yes,” Caine answered at the very same moment.

“I don't wish to speak about this now,” Jade announced. She deliberately turned the topic. “I'm dying to see the baby, Nathan. Does she look like you or Sara?”

“She's got my eyes and Sara's feet, thank God,” Nathan replied.

“Where are they now?” Colin asked.

“I dropped Sara at her mother's so she could show off the baby.”

“Are you staying with her family while you're in London?” Caine asked.

“Hell, no,” Nathan answered. There was a true shudder in his voice. “They would drive me daft and I'd probably kill one of them. We're staying with you.”

Caine nodded. He smiled, too. How like Nathan to instruct instead of ask. Jade clasped her hands together with joy. She was obviously thrilled with the news.

“Where is your wife?” Nathan asked Colin.

“Flannaghan went upstairs to get her. She'll be down in a minute.”

One minute turned into ten. Alesandra had already taken off her ink-stained gown and put on a pretty violet-colored dress. She was sitting at her writing table, absorbed in her fanciful task of making a list of duties for Colin. She would never show the list to her husband, of course, because none of the orders were appropriate. Wives, she was learning, did better to suggest to their husbands. Most, including Colin, didn't like being ordered to do anything.

Still, it was quite all right to pretend, and it did make her feel better to write down her expectations. She put Colin's name at the top of the paper. The list of orders followed.

First, he should listen to his wife explain her concerns about the alarming coincidences involving Victoria and a man who called himself a secret admirer. In brackets she wrote Catherine's name.

Second, Colin should do something about his attitude toward her inheritance. In brackets she added the words too stubborn.

Third, Colin shouldn't wait five years to realize he loved her. He should realize it now, and tell her so.

Fourth, he should try to be happy he was going to become a father. He shouldn't blame her for interfering with his schedule.

Alesandra read over her list and let out a loud sigh. She was so thrilled she was going to have Colin's baby and so afraid he would be unhappy, she wanted to weep and shout at the same time.

She let out a long sigh. It wasn't like her to be so disorganized or so emotional.

She added a question to her list: “Can pregnant wives become nuns?”

She wasn't quite finished and added one more sentence: “Mother Superior loves me.”

There—that important reminder made her feel a little better. She nodded, calmer now, and lifted the sheet of paper in her hands with the intent of tearing it up.

Flannaghan interrupted her. He knocked on her door and when she bid him enter he rushed inside.

He was relieved to see his princess had quit weeping. Her eyes still looked a bit swollen, but he didn't mention her condition and neither did she.

“Princess, we have . . .”

She didn't let him finish. “Pray forgive me for interrupting, but I don't want to forget my question to you. Has Cook been able to talk to anyone in the viscount's household yet? I know I've been pestering you with this matter and I do apologize, but I have sound reasons for wanting to know my answers, Flannaghan. Please be patient with me.”

“She still hasn't run into any of the staff at market,” Flannaghan replied. “May I offer a suggestion?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Why not send her over to the viscount's town house? If she goes to the back door, the viscount won't know she called. I don't believe the staff would mention it to him.”

She immediately nodded agreement. “That's a fine idea,” she said in praise. “This is too important to put off any longer. Please ask Cook to go now. She can use our carriage.”

“Oh, no, Princess, she wouldn't wish to ride in the carriage. It wouldn't be proper. The viscount's residence is just a stone's throw away,” he exaggerated. “She'll enjoy the brisk walk.”

“If you're certain,” Alesandra replied. “Now what was it you wanted to speak to be about before I interrupted you?”

“We have company,” Flannaghan explained. “Your husband's partner is here. Milord's brother and his wife are with him.”

She started to stand up, then changed her mind. “Wait just a minute and I'll follow you down. I've made a fresh list for you.”

Flannaghan smiled in anticipation. He'd learned to love her lists, because in his heart he knew she cared about him enough to help him become organized. She always included little bits of praise along with her suggestions for tasks she believed he would wish to complete for the day. His princess was always most appreciative, too, and gracious with her compliments.

He watched as she sorted through her pile. Alesandra finally found the sheet of paper with Flannaghan's name on it and handed it to him.

He tucked the list in his pocket and escorted her down the stairs. He spotted the package on the table in the foyer and only then remembered he was supposed to give it to her.

“That box arrived a few minutes ago,” he told her. “Would you like to open it now or wait until later?”

“Later, please,” she answered. “I'm most curious to meet Colin's partner first.”

Colin was about to get up and go after his wife when she walked into the salon. The men immediately stood up. Alesandra went over to Jade, took hold of her hand, and told her how pleased she was to see her again.

“Damn, but you did all right, Colin.”

Nathan whispered that praise. Alesandra didn't hear his remark. She finally gained enough courage to walk over to the huge man and smile up at him.

“Do I bow my head to a princess?” Nathan asked.

“If you do, I'll be able to kiss your cheek in appreciation. I'll need a ladder otherwise.”

Nathan laughed. He leaned down, received a kiss on his cheek, and then straightened up again. “Now explain what you meant by appreciation,” he ordered.

Lord, he was a handsome devil. Terribly soft-spoken too. “In appreciation for putting up with Colin, of course. I understand how your partnership works so well now. Colin's the stubborn one, and you're surely the peacemaker in the company.”

Colin threw back his head and laughed heartily. Nathan looked a little sheepish.

“You've got it backwards, Alesandra,” Caine explained. “Nathan's the stubborn one and Colin's the peacemaker.”

“She calls me a dragon,” Colin announced.

Alesandra frowned at her husband for giving away that secret, then walked over to sit on the settee next to him.

“Caine, quit glaring at your wife,” Colin ordered.

“He's extremely upset with me,” Jade explained. “And that's ridiculous, of course. I didn't encourage the attraction.”

“I never said you did,” Caine argued.

Jade turned to Colin. “He threw out the flowers. Can you imagine?”

Colin shrugged. He put his arm around Alesandra's shoulders and stretched out his legs in front of him. “I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about.”

“You had better get this argument settled before I bring Sara and Joanna into your home. Daughters need a peaceful environment.”

Nathan made that announcement. Caine and Colin turned to stare at him. They both looked incredulous. Nathan ignored them.

“Were you pleased when you found out you were going to become a father?” Alesandra tried to sound very nonchalant when she asked Nathan that question. She gripped her hands together in her lap.

If Nathan thought her question odd, he didn't remark on it. “Yes, I was very pleased.”

“But what about your five-year schedule?” Alesandra asked.

“What about it?” Nathan countered, his confusion obvious.

“Didn't the baby interfere with your company plans?”

“No.”

She didn't believe him. Nathan never would have sold company stock if it weren't for the baby. Colin had told her he wanted to purchase a home for his family.