'I do.'
'So do I,' Caine interjected.
'Neil wouldn't be so stupid as to bury his victims on his own land,' she said.
'We believe he's probably the culprit,' Caine said. 'We don't believe he's clever.'
She grabbed hold of Caine's hand so he would give her his full attention. 'But that's just it,' she argued. 'He's been clever until now, hasn't he? Why would he bury either woman on his own land? It doesn't make sense. You're forgetting something else, too.'
'What's that?' Caine asked.
'All of you are assuming there are only two women. There could be more.'
'She's got a point, Caine,' Colin agreed. 'Sweetheart, let go of my brother.'
She realized she was squeezing Caine's hand then and quickly let go. She turned her attention to the director. 'What are your other plans?'
'Neil will certainly be charged,' he announced. 'It's just a start, Alesandra. Like you, I'm not completely convinced he's the one. I don't like conveniences.'
She was satisfied with his answer. She excused herself from the table. Caine stood up and pulled her chair back for her. She turned to thank him. She was surprised when he put his hands on her shoulders and leaned down. Before she could ask him what he was doing, he kissed her on her forehead.
'Congratulations, Alesandra,' he said. 'Jade and I are both very happy over the news.'
'What news?' Sir Richards asked.
She let Colin tell him. She smiled up at Caine. 'We're both very happy, too,' she whispered.
Richards was shaking Colin's hand when she started toward the entrance. A sudden thought made her stop. She turned around to look at Colin again. 'Don't you still wonder why three women in your family were chosen? You did throw Neil out,' she reminded him. 'Would that make him angry enough to seek revenge?'
Colin didn't think so. She left him with Caine and Richards to mull over the possibilities and went upstairs. Flannaghan was waiting for her in the study. His younger sister, Megan, was waiting with him.
'Here she is,' Flannaghan announced when Alesandra walked inside.
'Princess Alesandra, this is Megan,' he announced. 'She's eager to see to your needs.'
Flannaghan nudged his sister in her side. She immediately stepped forward and made an awkward curtsy. 'I would be happy to serve you, milady.'
'Not milady,' Flannaghan instructed. 'Princess.'
Megan nodded. She looked very like her brother. She had the same coloring, and her smile was almost identical to Flannaghan's. She looked up at her brother with true adoration, and such devotion warmed Alesandra's heart.
'We're going to get along just fine,' she predicted.
'I'll teach her what she needs to know,' Flannaghan announced.
Alesandra nodded. 'Where is Kate? I thought we had agreed she would start helping me with the correspondence tomorrow?'
'She's still packing up her things,' Flannaghan explained. 'Have you mentioned my sisters to your husband yet?'
'No,' Alesandra answered. 'Don't worry so, Flannaghan. He'll be as pleased as I am.'
'I've put Megan in the last bedroom along the hallway upstairs,' Flannaghan said. 'Kate can have the room next to hers if that is all right.'
'Yes, of course.'
'It's a fine room, milady,' Megan blurted out. 'And the first I've ever had all to myself.'
'Princess, not milady,' her brother corrected again.
Alesandra didn't dare laugh. She didn't want to undermine Flannaghan's position.
'We'll start your training tomorrow, Megan. I believe I'll go along to bed now. If you need anything, ask your brother. He'll take good care of you. He certainly takes good care of Colin and me. I don't know what we would do without him.'
Flannaghan flushed over her praise. Megan looked properly impressed.
Colin laughed when she told him about the additions to their staff. He was quick to sober, however, upon hearing his ill-paid butler was the sole support of both Megan and Kate. He'd known Flannaghan's parents were both dead-Stems had told him so when he'd implored Colin to hire his nephew, but he hadn't mentioned the two sisters. No, he hadn't known, and he was thankful Alesandra had taken the sisters in. He increased Flannaghan's salary the following morning.
Flowers arrived for Alesandra that afternoon. Dreyson had sent them with a note filled with sympathy over her tragic loss.
Alesandra was arranging the flowers in a white porcelain vase while Colin scowled over the note. 'What's this about?' he asked.
'Albert died.'
Colin burst into laughter. She smiled. 'I thought you would be pleased.'
'It's damned callous of you to laugh, Colin.'
Caine stood in the entrance of the dining room, scowling at his brother. He turned to Alesandra to offer his sympathy and only then realized she was smiling.
'Isn't Albert a good friend of yours?'
'Not anymore,' Colin drawled out.
Caine shook his head. Colin laughed again. 'He never existed,' he explained. 'Alesandra made him up so Dreyson would take her stock orders.'
'But he gave me sound advice. Damn it, I'm going to miss him. I…'
'Alesandra gave you
Caine looked astonished. Alesandra gave her husband an I-told-you-so look before turning back to his brother.
'Dreyson was far more willing to talk to me about investments because he believed I was sending the information on to Albert. Now he'll talk to Colin whenever he hears of good opportunities. He would be very upset if he found out Albert never existed and for that reason I beg you not to say anything.'
'Why bother with a middleman?' Caine asked, still not certain if he believed her or not.
'Because men like to talk to men,' she patiently explained.
'Why are you here?' Colin asked, switching the topic then. 'Do you have more news?'
'Yes,' Caine answered, drawn back now to his reason for calling. 'They found Lady Roberta's body about fifty yards away from Victoria 's grave.'
'Dear God,' Alesandra whispered.
Colin put his arm around his wife's shoulders. 'Were there any others found?'
Caine shook his head. 'They haven't found any so far but they're still looking. Neil's being charged with the second murder. He sent a request through his barrister to talk to Alesandra.'
'It's out of the question.'
'Colin, I think I should talk to him.'
'No.'
'Please be reasonable,' she pleaded. 'Don't you want to make certain he's the one?'
Colin let out a sigh. 'Then I'll go and talk to him.'
'Neil doesn't like you,' she reminded her husband.
'I don't give a damn if he likes me or not,' Colin replied.
She turned to Caine. 'Colin threw him out,' she explained. 'I can't imagine he would want to talk to him now.'
'You'd be surprised how a man changes in Newgate Prison,' Caine said. 'I imagine he'll talk to anyone he thinks might be able to help him.'
'You aren't going, Alesandra,' Colin told her. 'However,' he hastened to add when she tried to argue with him again, 'if you write down your questions I'll ask Neil whatever it is you want to know.'
'I already have a list,' she replied.
'Then go and get it for me.'
