Castles (6 page)

He failed the test. Although he gave it his best effort, he was still powerless to control his own physical reaction to her.

His father had certainly outdone himself this time. Colin would have to remember to compliment him on his latest choice—after he'd sent her packing, of course.

They stood staring at each other for a long minute. She kept waiting for him to speak to her. He kept waiting for her to explain her presence to him.

Alesandra was the first to give in. She moved forward until she stood close to the top step, bowed her head, and then said, “Good evening, Colin. It's good to see you again.”

Her voice was wonderfully appealing. Colin tried to concentrate on what she had just said. It was ridiculously difficult.

“Again?” he asked. Lord, he sounded gruff.

“Yes, we met when I was just a little girl. You called me a brat.”

That remark forced a reluctant smile from him. He had no memory of the encounter, however. “And were you a brat?”

“Oh, yes,” she answered. “I'm told I kicked you—several times, in fact—but that was a very long time ago. I've grown up since then and I don't believe the nickname is appropriate now. I haven't kicked anyone in years.”

Colin leaned against the banister so that he could take some of the weight off his injured leg. “Where did we meet?”

“At your father's home in the country,” she explained. “My parents and I were visiting and you were home from Oxford at the time. Your brother had just graduated.”

Colin still didn't remember her. That didn't surprise him. His parents were always entertaining houseguests and he'd barely paid any attention to any of them. Most, he recalled, were down on their luck, and his father, kindhearted to a fault, took anyone begging assistance into his home.

Her hands were demurely folded together and she appeared to be very relaxed. Yet Colin noticed how white her fingers were and knew she was actually gripping them together in either fear or nervousness. She wasn't quite as serene as she would have him believe. Her vulnerability was suddenly very apparent to him, and he found himself trying to find a way to put her at ease.

“Where are your parents now?” he asked.

“My father died when I was eleven years old,” she answered. “Mother died the following summer. Sir, would you like me to help you collect your papers?” she added in a rush, hoping to change the subject.

“What papers?”

Her smile was enchanting. “The ones you dropped.”

He looked down and saw his papers lining the steps. He felt like a complete idiot standing there with his hand grasping air. He grinned over his own preoccupation. He really wasn't any better than his butler, he thought to himself, and Flannaghan had an acceptable excuse for his besotted behavior. He was young, inexperienced, and simply didn't know better.

Colin should have known better, however. He was much older than his servant, in both years and experience. But he was overly weary tonight, he reminded himself, and surely that was the reason he was acting like a simpleton.

Besides, she was one hell of a beauty. He let out a sigh. “I'll get the papers later,” he told her. “Exactly why are you here, Princess Alesandra?” he asked bluntly.

“Your brother and his wife are both ill,” she explained. “I was to stay with them while in the city, but at the last minute they became indisposed and I was told to stay with you until they are feeling better.”

“Who gave you these instructions?”

“Your father.”

“Why would he take such an interest?”

“He's my guardian, Colin.”

He couldn't contain his surprise over that little bit of news. His father had never mentioned a ward to him, although Colin guessed it wasn't any of his affair. His father held his own counsel and rarely confided in either one of his sons.

“Have you come to London for the season?”

“No,” she answered. “Although I am looking forward to attending some of the parties and I do hope to see the sights.”

Colin's curiosity intensified. He took another step toward her.

“I really didn't want to cause you any inconvenience,” she said. “I suggested I rent my own town house or open your parents' London home, but your father simply wouldn't hear of it. He told me it wasn't done.” She paused to sigh. “I did try to convince him. 'Tis the truth I couldn't outargue him.”

Lord, she had a pretty smile. It was contagious too. He found himself smiling back. “No one can outargue my father,” he agreed. “You still haven't explained why you're here,” he reminded her.

“I haven't, have I? It's most complicated,” she added with a nod. “You see, it wasn't necessary for me to come to London before, but it is now.”

He shook his head at her. “Half-given explanations make me crazed. I'm blunt to a fault—a trait I picked up from my partner, or so I'm told. I admire complete honesty because it's so rare, and for as long as you are a guest in my home, I would appreciate complete candor. Are we in agreement?”

“Yes, of course.”

She was clutching her hands together again. He must have frightened her. He probably sounded like an ogre. God only knew he was suddenly feeling like one. He was sorry she was so obviously afraid of him, yet pleased, too, because he'd gotten his way. She hadn't argued with him over his dictate, or tried to act coy. He absolutely detested coyness in a woman.

He forced a mild tone of voice when he asked, “Would you mind answering a few pertinent questions now?”

“Certainly. What is it you wish to know?”

“Why are there two guards with you? Now that you've reached your destination, shouldn't they be dismissed? Or did you think I might withhold my hospitality?”

She answered the last of his question first. “Oh, I never considered you would deny me lodging, sir. Your father assured me you would be most gracious to me. Flannaghan has his note for you to read,” she added with a nod. “Your father also insisted I retain my guards. Both Raymond and Stefan were hired by the mother superior of the convent where I used to live to travel with me to England, and your father insisted I keep them on. Neither guard has family back home to miss, and both are very well paid. You really shouldn't worry about them.”

He held his exasperation. She was looking so earnest now. “I wasn't worried about them,” he replied. He grinned then and shook his head again. “Do you know, trying to get answers out of you is proving to be very difficult.”

She nodded. “Mother Superior used to say the very same thing to me. She considered it one of my greatest flaws. I am sorry if I confuse you. I don't mean to, sir.”

“Alesandra, my father's behind this scheme, isn't he? He sent you to me.”

“Yes and no.”

She quickly held up her hand to waylay his frown. “I'm not hedging. You're father did send me to you, but only after he found out Caine and his wife were ill. I don't believe there was a scheme involved, however. As a matter of fact, your father and your mother wanted me to stay in the country until they were recovered enough to escort me to the city. I would have, too, if I hadn't made all of my appointments.”

She sounded sincere. Colin still scoffed at the notion that his father wasn't behind this plan. He'd seen him at the club only a week before and he'd been perfectly healthy then. Colin remembered the inevitable argument too. His father had oh so casually brought up the topic of marriage, then become relentless as he once again nagged Colin about taking a wife. Colin had pretended to listen, and once his father had wound down, he told him he was determined to remain alone.

Alesandra didn't have any idea what was going through Colin's mind. His frown was making her nervous, however. He certainly seemed to be a suspicious sort. He was a handsome man, she thought to herself, with rich, auburncolored hair and more green- than hazel-colored eyes. They had fairly sparkled when he smiled. He had an adorable little dimple, too, in the left side of his cheek. But, heavens, his frown was fierce. He was even more intimidating than the mother superior, and Alesandra considered that an impressive feat.

She couldn't stand the silence long. “Your father planned to speak to you about my unusual circumstances,” she whispered. “He was going to be very straightforward about the matter.”

“When it comes to my father and his plans, nothing's ever straightforward.”

She arched her shoulders back and frowned at him. “Your father is one of the most honorable men I've ever had the pleasure to know. He's been extremely kind to me, and he only has my best interests at heart.”

She was sounding incensed by the time she finished her defense of his father. Colin grinned. “You don't have to defend him to me. I know my father's honorable. It's one of the hundred or so reasons why I love him.”

Her stance relaxed. “You're very fortunate to have such a fine man for a father.”

“Were you as fortunate?”

“Oh, yes,” she answered. “My father was a wonderful man.”

She started backing away when Colin came up the rest of the steps. She bumped into the wall, then turned and slowly walked down the hall to her room.

Colin clasped his hands behind his back and fell into step beside her. Flannaghan was right, he thought to himself. He did tower over Alesandra. Perhaps his size intimidated her.

“You don't have to be afraid of me.”

She came to a quick stop and turned to look up at him. “Afraid? Why in heaven's name would you think I was afraid of you?”

She'd sounded incredulous. Colin shrugged. “You backed away rather hastily when I reached the landing,” he pointed out. He didn't mention the fear he'd glimpsed in her eyes or the fact that she'd been wringing her hands together. If she wanted to pretend she wasn't afraid, he'd let her have her way.

“Well, I'm not very afraid,” she announced. “I'm not used to . . . visiting while in my nightgown and wrapper. In fact, Colin, I'm feeling quite safe here. It's a nice feeling. I have been a little jumpy lately.”

She blushed, acting as though her confession was embarrassing her.

“Why have you been jumpy?” he asked.

Instead of answering his question, she turned the topic. “Would you like to know why I've come to London?”

He almost laughed then and there. Hadn't he been diligently trying to find out just that for the past ten minutes? “If you want to tell me,” he said.

“I really have two reasons for my journey,” she began. “They're both equally important to me. The first involves a mystery I'm determined to solve. I met a young lady by the name of Victoria Perry over a year ago. She stayed at the Holy Cross convent for a spell. She was touring Austria with her family, you see, and she became quite ill. The sisters at Holy Cross are well known for their nursing skills, and once it was determined that Victoria would recover, her family felt it safe to leave her there to recuperate. She and I became fast friends, and after she returned to England, she wrote to me at least once a month, sometimes more. I do wish I'd saved the letters, because in two or three of them she made references to a secret admirer who was courting her. She thought it was all very romantic.”

“Perry . . . where have I heard that name?” Colin wondered aloud.

“I don't know, sir.”

He smiled. “I shouldn't have interrupted you. Please continue.”

She nodded. “The last letter I received was dated the first of September. I immediately wrote back, but I didn't hear another word. I was concerned, of course. When I reached your father's home, I told him I was going to send a messenger to Victoria to request an audience. I wanted to catch up on all the latest happenings. Victoria led such an exciting life and I so enjoyed her correspondence.”

“And did you get your audience?”

“No,” Alesandra answered. She stopped and turned to look up at Colin. “Your father told me about the scandal. Victoria was supposed to have run off with a man from a lower station. They were married in Gretna Green. Can you imagine such a tale? Her family certainly believes it. Your father told me they've disowned her.”

“Now I remember. I did hear about the scandal.”

“None of it's true.”

He raised an eyebrow over the vehemence in her voice. “It isn't?” he asked.

“No, it isn't,” she said. “I'm a good judge of character, Colin, and I assure you Victoria wouldn't have eloped. She simply isn't the sort. I'm going to find out what really happened to her. She may be in trouble and need my help,” she added. “Tomorrow I shall send a note to her brother, Neil, begging an audience.”

“I don't think the family will want their daughter's embarrassment drudged up again.”

“I shall be most discreet.”

Her voice reeked with sincerity. She was a dramatic thing, and so damned beautiful it was difficult to pay attention to anything she said. Her eyes mesmerized him. He happened to notice she had her hand on the doorknob to his room. He was further distracted by her wonderful scent. The faint smell of roses floated in the air between them. Colin immediately took a step back to put some distance between them.

“Do you mind that I'm sleeping in your bed?”

“I didn't know you were.”

“Flannaghan's going to move my things into the adjoining chamber tomorrow. He didn't think you would be coming home tonight. It's just for one night, sir, but now that he's had time to put linens on the bed next door, I'll be happy to give you your bed back.”

“We'll change in the morning.”