'He has his reasons.'
Valena was standing with Stefan and Raymond near the entrance to the salon. She hurried forward to assist her mistress with her cloak.
Colin beat her to the task. He put the cloak around Alesandra's shoulders, took hold of her hand, and then walked outside, dragging her behind him. She had to run to keep up with his long-legged stride.
Raymond and Stefan followed behind. The two guards climbed up the rack to sit with the driver. Colin and Alesandra sat across from each other inside the carriage.
He locked the doors, then leaned back against the cushions and smiled at her.
'Why are you frowning?' he asked.
'Why are you acting so peculiar?'
'I don't like surprises.'
'Do you see? That was a peculiar answer.'
Colin stretched out his long legs. She adjusted her skirts and moved closer to the corner to give him more room.
'Do you know what Sir Richards wants to talk to us about?' she asked.
'We aren't going to see him,' Colin explained.
'But you said…'
'I lied.'
Her gasp made him smile. 'You lied to me?'
She looked incredulous. He slowly nodded. 'Yes, I lied to you.'
'Why?'
Her outrage made him want to laugh. She was such a delight when she was riled. And, Lord, she was certainly riled now. Her cheeks were flushed with a blush, and if her shoulders got any straighter, he thought, her spine might snap.
'I'll explain later,' he told her. 'Quit your frown, brat. It's too fine a day to get upset.'
She finally noticed how cheerful he was. 'Why are you so happy?'
He shrugged his answer. She let out a sigh. The man was deliberately trying to confuse her, she decided. 'Exactly where are we going, Colin?'
'To a meeting with the family to decide what to do…'
She finished his explanation for him. 'With me?'
He nodded. Alesandra lowered her gaze to her lap, but not before Colin saw her expression. She looked crushed. Her feelings had been hurt, he knew, but he didn't know what he'd said to cause that reaction.
His voice was gruff when he said, 'Now what's the matter with you?'
'Nothing's the matter.'
'Don't lie to me.'
'You lied to me.'
'I said I'd explain later,' he countered. He tried to keep the irritation out of his voice when he added, 'Now explain why you're looking ready to weep.'
'I'll explain later.'
Colin leaned forward. He grabbed hold of her chin and forced her to look at him. 'Don't turn my words back on me,' he ordered.
She pushed his hand away. 'Very well,' she announced. 'I was a little upset when I realized why you're so happy.'
'Make sense, damn it.'
The carriage came to a stop in front of the Duke of Williamshire's town house. Colin unlatched the door but kept his gaze on her. 'Well?' he demanded.
She adjusted her cloak around her shoulders. 'It makes perfect sense to me,' she told him with a nod.
Raymond opened the door and held his hand out to assist her. She immediately stepped outside, then turned to frown at Colin. 'You're happy because you're finally getting rid of me.'
He opened his mouth to argue with her. She raised her hand in an unspoken command to keep silent. 'You needn't worry, sir. I'm over my upset. Shall we go inside now?'
She was trying to be dignified. Colin wouldn't let her. He started laughing. She turned and hurried up the steps. Raymond and Stefan flanked her sides.
'You still look upset, brat.'
The door was opened by the butler just as she whirled around to tell Colin what she thought of that rude remark. 'If you call me a brat again, I swear I'll do something most undignified. I am not upset,' she added in a voice that mocked that lie. 'I just thought you and I had become friends. Yes, I did. You were becoming like a cousin to me and I…'
Colin leaned down until he was just an inch or so from her face. 'I'm not your cousin,' he snapped.
Colin's brother, Caine, took over the butler's duty and stood in the doorway, waiting for someone to notice him. He could only see the back of Princess Alesandra. She was a little thing and, he judged, quite courageous. Colin was towering over her, giving her his best glare, but she wasn't cowering away. She didn't seem to be at all intimidated.
'Everyone believes we're cousins,' she snapped.
'I don't give a damn what everyone else thinks.'
She took a deep breath. 'This conversation is ridiculous. If you don't wish to be related to me, that's just fine.'
'I'm not related to you.'
'You don't have to shout, Colin.'
'You're making me crazed, Alesandra.'
'Good afternoon.'
Caine fairly bellowed his greeting so he'd be heard. Alesandra was so startled by the interruption, she grabbed hold of Colin.
She was quick to recover. She pushed herself out of his arms and turned around. She tried to force a serene, dignified expression. The incredibly handsome man standing in the doorway had to be Colin's brother. Their smiles were almost identical. Caine's hair was a bit lighter in shade, however, and his eyes were an altogether different color. They were gray, and in her estimation not nearly as attractive as Colin's more-green-than-hazel color.
Alesandra tried to curtsy. Colin wouldn't let her. He grabbed hold of her arm and nudged her through the opening.
She pinched him to make him let go of her. A tug of war resulted when Colin tried to take her cloak. She kept slapping his hand away so she could retrieve her notecard from the pocket of the garment.
Caine stood behind his brother. His hands were clasped behind his back and he was desperately trying not to laugh. He hadn't seen his brother this rattled in a good long while.
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?'
