He finally let go of her. She took a step back and immediately bumped into Caine. She turned around, begged his forgiveness for her clumsiness, and then asked where his father was. She really wanted to speak to him as soon as possible, she explained.
Because she was looking so serious and worried, Caine didn't dare smile. Princess Alesandra was a pretty thing, he thought to himself. Her eyes were a brilliant shade of blue and the freckles on the bridge of her nose reminded him of his wife, Jade. She was actually very beautiful, he realized.
'Jenkins went upstairs to tell my father you're here, Princess Alesandra. Why don't you make yourself comfortable while you wait?'
She thought that was a splendid idea. Caine had obviously been given all the manners in the family. He was very solicitous and polite. It was a nice change from his brother.
Colin stood near the fireplace watching her. She ignored him. She hadn't paid any attention to the exterior of her guardian's town house, but she imagined it was just as grand as the interior. The salon was at least four times the size of Colin's. There were three settees placed in a half circle around the ivory-colored marble hearth. It was a lovely room filled with treasures the Duke of Williamshire had collected from around the world. Her gaze scanned the room, then came to rest on the gleaming object in the center of the mantel. She let out a gasp of pleasure. The replica in gold of her father's castle hadn't been misplaced after all. The reproduction of her childhood home was the size of a small brandy decanter and was exact in every detail to the real castle.
The look of joy on Alesandra's face took Colin's breath away. 'Alesandra?' he asked, wondering what had caused that reaction.
She turned to smile at him. Then she hurried over to the mantel. Her hand trembled when she reached up and gently touched the side of one golden turret. 'This is a replica of my home, Colin. It's called Stone Haven. I lived there with my mother and father.'
'I thought your father gave up his kingdom when he married your mother,' Colin remarked.
She nodded. 'Yes, he did. He purchased Stone Haven before he married her. The general can't touch it, either. It's located in Austria and he won't have any jurisdiction there, even if he is able to take over the throne. The castle will continue to be safe.'
'Who owns it now?' Caine asked.
She didn't answer him. He assumed she hadn't heard his question. He was as intrigued by the castle as Colin appeared to be. The two brothers flanked Alesandra's sides as they stared at the reproduction. 'The detail is quite impressive,' Caine remarked.
'My father gave it as a gift to your father,' she explained. 'He was playing a bit of trickery-good-hearted, of course-and I looked for the castle when I was staying at his country home, but I couldn't find it. I thought it had been lost. It pleases me to see it has a place of honor.'
Colin was about to ask her what she'd meant by her remark that trickery had been involved when they were interrupted.
'Of course it has a place of honor,' the Duke of Williamshire called out from the entrance. 'Your father was my friend, Alesandra.'
She turned at the sound of her guardian's voice and smiled in greeting. The Duke of Williamshire was a distinguished-looking man with silver-tipped hair and dark gray eyes. The sons had gotten their good looks from him, of course, and their height as well.
'Good afternoon, Father,' Colin called out.
His father returned the greeting, then walked into the salon. He stopped in the center and opened his arms to Alesandra.
She didn't hesitate. She ran to him and threw herself into his arms. He hugged her tight and kissed the top of her head.
Colin and Caine shared a look of disbelief. They were astonished by their father's show of affection to his ward. The elderly man was usually very reserved, but he was treating Alesandra as though she were his long-lost daughter
'Has Colin been treating you well?'
'Yes, Uncle Henry.'
'Uncle Henry?' Caine and Colin repeated the name at the same time.
Alesandra pulled away from her guardian and turned to glare at Colin. 'Uncle Henry doesn't mind being related to me.'
'But he isn't related to you,' Colin stubbornly reminded her.
His father smiled. 'I've asked her to call me Uncle,' he explained. 'Alesandra's part of our family now, son.'
He turned to his ward then. 'Sit down and we'll talk about this marriage business.'
She hurried to do as he requested. She spotted her notecard on the floor and immediately went to fetch it. Colin waited until she was settled in the center of the brocaded settee and then went over and sat down next to her.
His bulk crowded her into the corner. Alesandra nudged his hard thigh away so she could collect her skirts from underneath him. 'There are plenty of other seats available,' she whispered so her Uncle Henry wouldn't hear her criticizing his son. 'Do sit somewhere else, Cousin.'
'If you call me cousin one more time I swear I'm going to throttle you,' Colin threatened in a low growl. 'And quit squirming.'
'You're crowding her, son. Move over.'
Colin didn't budge. His father frowned, then took his seat next to Caine on the larger settee facing Alesandra.
'How have you two been getting along?' his father asked.
'Colin was sick all week,' Alesandra announced. 'Am I moving in with you today, Uncle?'
'No.' Colin's denial was abrupt-harsh, too.
His father frowned at his son before turning his gaze back to Alesandra. 'Would you like to move in here?' he asked.
'I thought Colin wanted me to,' she answered. Her confusion was apparent in her expression. 'It seemed an imposition, having to look out for me. He's been acting very irritable today. I believe the cause is anxiety.'
Colin rolled his eyes heavenward. 'Let's get back to the main topic,' he muttered.
His father ignored that command. 'Colin's anxious?' he asked Alesandra.
'Yes, Uncle,' she answered. She folded her hands together in her lap while she added, 'He's anxious to get rid of me. So you can understand my confusion, can't you? A few minutes ago he was ready to toss me on the settee and leave, and now he's telling you I should stay with him.'
'That is a contradiction,' Caine interjected.
Colin leaned forward. He braced his elbows on his knees and stared at his father. 'I don't believe it's a good idea to have her move anywhere just now. There was an incident outside the Opera House,' he added with a nod.
Alesandra interrupted him by nudging him in his side. He turned back to look at her.
'You don't need to go into that,' she whispered. 'You'll only worry him.'
'He needs to be worried,' Colin told her. 'If he's going to take over the responsibility of looking out for you, he'll have to understand what he's up against.'
Colin didn't give her time to argue with him, but turned back to his father. He quickly explained what had happened, added a few pertinent details he'd gathered from his talk with Sir Richards, and ended with his opinion that the threats weren't going to stop until Alesandra was married.
'Or until the general has either won or lost his campaign for the throne,' Caine interjected.
'Hell, that could take a year,' Colin predicted with a scowl.
'Perhaps,' his brother agreed. He turned to his father then and said, 'I think Colin's right. Alesandra should continue to stay with him. He's more experienced in these matters and it would be less dangerous for you and Mother.'
'Nonsense,' his father countered. 'I know a thing or two about protecting my family. I can handle any danger that comes my way. The gossip, however, is something we must address. Now that your mother and I are feeling fit again, Alesandra will have to move in with us. It isn't acceptable for an unattached man and woman to live
