Castles (7 page)

“You're being very kind to me. Thank you.”

Colin finally noticed the dark smudges under her eyes. The woman was clearly exhausted and he'd kept her from her sleep by grilling her.

“You need your rest, Alesandra. It's the middle of the night.”

She nodded, then opened the door to his bedroom. “Good night, Colin. Thank you again for being so hospitable.”

“I couldn't turn my back on a princess when she's down on her luck,” he said.

“I beg your pardon?” She didn't have the faintest idea what he meant by that remark. Where had he gotten the idea she was down on her luck?

“Alesandra, what was the other reason for coming to London?”

She looked confused by the question. The second reason must not have been very important, he decided. “I was merely curious,” he admitted with a shrug. “You mentioned you had two reasons and I wondered . . . never mind. Go to bed now. I'll see you in the morning. Sleep well, Princess.”

“I remember the reason now,” she blurted out.

He turned back to her. “Yes?”

“Would you like me to tell you?”

“Yes, I would.”

She stared up at him a long minute. Her hesitation was obvious. So was her vulnerability. “Do you want me to be honest with you?”

He nodded. “Of course I do.”

“Very well then. I'll be honest. Your father suggested I not confide in you, but since you have insisted upon knowing and I did promise I would be honest . . .”

“Yes?” he prodded.

“I've come to London to marry you.”

 

A
lesandra didn't get much sleep the rest of the night. The expression on Colin's face when she had blurted out her second reason for coming to London had made her breath catch in the back of her throat. Lord, he'd been furious. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to block the image of his anger long enough to fall back to sleep.

So much for honesty, she thought to herself. Telling the truth hadn't served her well at all. She should have kept silent. Alesandra let out a loud sigh. No, she had to tell the truth. Mother Superior had drummed that fact into her.

Her thoughts immediately returned to Colin's expression of fury. How could a man with such an adorable dimple in his cheek have eyes so frigid? Colin could be dangerous when he was riled. She really wished his papa had mentioned that important fact to her before she had embarrassed herself so thoroughly and infuriated Colin so completely.

She dreaded her next encounter with him. She took her time getting dressed. Valena assisted her. The maid kept up a constant chatter while she brushed Alesandra's hair. She wished to know all the details of her princess's day. Was she going out? Would she wish her maid to accompany her? Alesandra answered her questions as best she could.

“We may have to find another lodging after today,” she remarked. “I shall share my plans with you as soon as I've formulated them, Valena.”

The maid finished buttoning the back of Alesandra's royal blue walking dress just as a knock sounded at the door.

Flannaghan requested the princess join his employer in the salon as soon as possible.

Alesandra didn't think it would be a good idea to keep him waiting. There wasn't time to braid her hair, and she didn't want the bother anyway. She didn't have a lady's maid while living at the convent and found the formality a nuisance. She had learned to do for herself.

She dismissed Valena, told Flannaghan she would be downstairs in just a moment, and then hurried over to her valise. She pulled out the notecard her guardian had given her, brushed her hair back over her shoulders, and then left the room.

She was ready to take on the dragon. Colin was waiting for her in the salon. He stood in front of the hearth, facing the door, with his hands clasped behind his back. She was relieved to notice he wasn't scowling. He looked only mildly irritated with her now.

She stood in the entrance, waiting for him to invite her to join him. He didn't say a word for a long while. He simply stood there staring at her. She thought he might be trying to get his thoughts under control. Or his temper. She could feel herself blushing over his close scrutiny, then realized she was being just as rude scrutinizing him.

He was a difficult man not to notice. He was so attractive. He had a hard, fit body. He was dressed in fawn-colored riding buckskins, polished brown high boots, and a sparkling white shirt. His personality came through in the way he wore his apparel, she decided, because Colin had left the top button of his shirt undone, and he wasn't wearing one of those awful starched cravats. He was obviously a bit of a rebel who lived in a society of conservatives. His hair wasn't at all fashionable. It was quite long—shoulder length at least, she guessed—although she couldn't tell the exact length because he had it secured behind his neck with a leather thong. Colin was definitely an independent man. He was tall, muscular in both shoulders and thighs, and he reminded Alesandra of one of those fierce-looking frontiersmen she'd seen charcoal sketches of in the dailies. Colin was wonderfully handsome, yes, but weathered-looking too. What saved him from being unapproachable, she decided, was the warmth of his smile when he was amused.

He wasn't amused now.

“Come in and sit down, Alesandra. We have to talk.”

“Certainly,” she immediately replied.

Flannaghan suddenly appeared at her side. He took hold of her elbow to assist her across the room. “That isn't necessary,” Colin called out. “Alesandra can walk without assistance.”

“But she's a princess,” Flannaghan reminded his employer. “We must show her every courtesy.”

Colin's glare told the butler to cease his comments. Flannaghan reluctantly let go of Alesandra.

He looked crushed. Alesandra immediately tried to soothe his injured feelings. “You're a very thoughtful man, Flannaghan,” she praised.

The butler immediately latched on to her elbow again. She let him guide her over to the brocaded settee. Once she was seated, Flannaghan knelt down and tried to smooth her skirts for her. She wouldn't allow his help.

“Is there anything more you require, Princess?” he asked. “Cook will have your breakfast ready in just a few more minutes,” he added with a nod. “Would you care for a cup of chocolate while you wait?”

“No, thank you,” she replied. “I do need a pen and inkwell,” she added. “Would you be kind enough to fetch them for me?”

Flannaghan ran out of the salon to see to the errand.

“I'm surprised he didn't genuflect,” Colin drawled out.

His jest made her smile. “You're fortunate to have such a kindhearted servant, Colin.”

He didn't reply. Flannaghan came rushing back inside with the items she requested. He placed the pen and inkwell on a narrow side table, then picked up the table and carried it over to her.

She thanked him, of course, and that bit of praise made him blush with pleasure.

“Close the doors behind you, Flannaghan,” Colin ordered. “I don't want to be interrupted.”

He was sounding irritated again. Alesandra let out a little sigh. Colin wasn't a very accommodating man.

She turned her full attention to her host. “I've upset you. I really am sorry . . .”

He wouldn't let her finish her apology. “You haven't upset me,” he snapped.

She would have laughed if she'd been alone. The man was upset, and that was that. His jaw was clenched, and if that wasn't a giveaway to his true feelings, she didn't know what was.

“I see,” she agreed just to placate him.

“However,” he began in a clipped, no-nonsense tone of voice, “I believe we should settle a few pertinent issues here and now. Why in heaven's name did you think I would marry you?”

“Your father said you would.”

He didn't even try to hide his exasperation. “I'm a grown man, Alesandra. I make my own decisions.”

“Yes, of course you're a grown man,” she agreed. “But you'll always be his son, Colin. It's your duty to do whatever he wants you to do. Sons must obey their fathers, no matter how old they are.”

“That's ridiculous.”

She lifted her shoulders in a dainty shrug. Colin held on to his patience. “I don't know what kind of bargain you struck with my father, and I'm sorry if he made promises on my behalf, but I want you to understand I have no intention of marrying you.”

She lowered her gaze to the notecard she held in her hands. “All right,” she agreed.

Her quick agreement, given in such a casual tone of voice, made him suspicious. “You aren't angry over my refusal?”

“No, of course not.”

She glanced up and smiled. Colin looked confused. “I'm disappointed,” she admitted. “But certainly not angry. I barely know you. It would be unreasonable for me to be angry.”

“Exactly,” he agreed with a quick nod. “You don't know me. Why would you wish to marry me if you . . .”

“I believe I've already explained, sir. Your father instructed me to marry you.”

“Alesandra, I want you to understand . . .”

She wouldn't let him finish. “I accept your decision, sir.”

He smiled in spite of himself. Princess Alesandra looked so forlorn.

“You won't have any trouble finding someone suitable. You're a very beautiful woman, Princess.”

She shrugged. She was obviously unaffected by his compliment.

“I imagine it was difficult for you to ask me,” he began then.

She straightened her shoulders. “I didn't ask,” she announced. “I simply explained to you what your father's primary objective was.”

“His primary objective?”

He sounded as though he was laughing at her. She could feel herself blushing with embarrassment. “Do not mock me, sir. This discussion is difficult enough without having you ridicule me.”

Colin shook his head. His voice was gentle when he spoke again. “I wasn't mocking you,” he said. “I realize this is difficult for you. I hold my father responsible for both your discomfort and mine. He will not give up on trying to find a wife for me.”

“He suggested I not say anything at all about marriage to you. He said you tend to develop a rash whenever that word is used in your presence. He wanted me to give you time to get to know me before he explained what he wanted. He thought . . . you might learn to like me.”

“Look, I already like you,” he said. “But I'm not in a position to marry anyone right now. In five years, according to my schedule, I'll be in a strong financial position and will be able to take a wife.”

“Mother Superior would like you, Colin,” Alesandra announced. “She loves schedules. She believes life would be chaotic without them.”

“How long did you live in this convent?” he asked, anxious to turn the topic away from marriage.

“Quite a while,” she answered. “Colin, I'm sorry, but I can't wait for you. I really must get married right away. It's unfortunate,” she added with a sigh. “I believe you would make an acceptable husband.”

“And how would you know that?”

“Your father told me so.”

He did laugh then. He couldn't help himself. Lord, she was an innocent. He noticed she was clutching the notecard in her hands then and immediately forced himself to stop. She was already embarrassed. His laughter was only adding to her discomfort.

“I'll talk to my father and save you that ordeal,” he promised. “I know he put these ideas into your head. He can be very convincing, can't he?”

She didn't answer him. She kept her gaze on her lap. Colin suddenly felt like a cad because he had disappointed her. Hell, he thought to himself. He wasn't making any sense.

“Alesandra, this bargain you made with my father surely involved a profit. How much was it?”

He let out a low whistle after she told him the exact amount. He leaned back against the mantel and shook his head. He was furious with his father now. “Well, by God, you aren't going to be disappointed. If he promised you a near fortune, then he's going to pay. You kept your part of the bargain . . .”