Colin let out a snort. "I'll wager she was sorry to see you leave," he said dryly.
"Shall we get back to our reason for being here?" Caine suggested. He stood up and walked over to Alesandra. "May I have a look at your list, please?"
"Yes, of course."
Caine took the notecard and went back to his seat. "It isn't complete," Alesandra explained. "There are ten names on the list now, but if you want to add another one or two, please do so."
"I believe we should go ahead and start without Gweneth," her guardian announced. "Caine, read the first name and we'll put the man under discussion."
Caine unfolded the sheet of paper, scanned the contents, and then looked at his brother.
"Get started, son," his father insisted.
"The first name on the list is Colin," Caine announced, his gaze directed on his brother.
"Yes, but I've scratched him off," Alesandra explained. "Do you see the line through his name? Please go on to the names I haven't scratched through."
"Hold on," Caine said. "I want to know why he was marked off, Alesandra. Did you put his name on the list or did my father suggest Colin?"
"I gave her his name," his father answered. "She hadn't even met Colin when we started the list. I believed it would be a sound match, but now I can see it wouldn't wash. They aren't suitable for each other."
Caine was of the opposite opinion. The sparks flying between Alesandra and Colin were close to igniting, and each was desperately trying not to acknowledge the reason behind his or her frustration.
"How did you come to the conclusion they weren't suited?" Caine asked his father.
"Just look at the two of them together, son. It's plain for anyone to see. Alesandra's looking terribly uncomfortable and Colin hasn't quit frowning since he sat down. It's apparent they don't get along. And that, you see, is an important ingredient for a sound marriage."
"Could we get on with it, Caine?" asked Colin.
"Colin, do you have to be so irritable?" Alesandra asked.
He didn't answer her. She turned her attention to Caine. "He's been ill," she reminded his brother, using that as her excuse for Colin's surly mood.
"It's this topic," his father interjected with a frown in Colin's direction.
"If Colin agreed to marry you, Alesandra, would you have him?" Caine wanted to know.
"He has already declined," Alesandra explained. "And he wouldn't be acceptable anyway."
"Why not?" Caine asked.
"Will you let it go?" Colin demanded.
Caine ignored his brother's protest. So did Alesandra. She frowned while she thought about her answer. She didn't want to confuse Caine but she didn't want to have to go into a lengthy explanation either. "He isn't acceptable because he wouldn't touch my inheritance."
"Damned right I wouldn't touch it."
"There, do you understand now?"
Caine didn't understand anything. The look on his brother's face told him not to prod further, however. Colin looked ready to grab somebody's throat and Caine didn't want to be his victim.
"Isn't there a better way to handle this situation?" Caine asked then. "Alesandra should be allowed to take her time…"
"But there isn't time," his father interjected.
"I do thank you for your concern, Caine," Alesandra added.
"Go ahead, son. Read the second name on the list."
Caine gave up. The second name had also been crossed through. Caine moved to the third name. "Horton," he read. "The Earl of Wheaton."
"I met him once," his father announced. "He seemed like a decent chap to me."
Caine was nodding agreement when Colin started shaking his head. "What's wrong with him, Colin?" his brother asked.
"He's a drunk. He won't do."
"He's a drunk?" his father asked. "I never realized that about Horton. Cross him off, Caine," he added with a scowl. "I won't have her wed to a drunk."
"Thank you, Uncle Henry."
Colin could feel himself getting ready to explode. It took all he had to keep his temper under control. In truth, he didn't understand why he was so agitated. He had made the decision not to marry Alesandra, but, damn it all, the thought of anyone else touching her didn't sit well with him.
As though it were the most natural thing in the world to do, Colin leaned back against the cushions and put his arm around Alesandra's shoulders. She instinctively moved closer to him. He could feel her trembling, knew then she hated having to go through this ordeal as much as he did.
Caine was right. There had to be a better way.
His brother drew his attention when he read the next name. "Kingsford, the Earl of Lockwood."
"Gweneth suggested Kingsford," his father announced. "She was taken with his polite ways."
Colin shook his head. "He might be polite, but he's also got a reputation for his sadistic pleasures."
"Good God," his father muttered. "Sadistic pleasures, you say? Mark him off, Caine."
"Yes, Father," Caine agreed. He read the next name. "Williams, the Marquess of Coringham."
"I suggested him," his father explained. His voice reeked with fresh enthusiasm. "He's a fine fellow. I've known the family for years. Comes from good blood, Harry does."
Caine was having difficulty maintaining his serious expression. Colin was already shaking his head.
"Harry's a womanizer," Colin announced.
"I never realized that about Harry," his father muttered. "Gweneth and I need to get out more often. I'd pick up on these things if we mingled more with society. All right, then, he won't do. We aren't marrying her to a future adulterer."
Caine stared at Colin when he called out the next name on the list. "Johnson, the Earl of Wentzhill."
He hadn't gotten the man's full title out of his mouth before Colin started shaking his head.
And so it continued. Colin found something wrong with every man mentioned. By the time Caine had gotten to the last name on the list, the Duke of Williamshire was slumped in the corner of the settee, his hand to his forehead, looking thoroughly defeated. Caine could barely contain his amusement. His brother was having difficulty coming up with a suitable vice after Caine had read the last name, Morgan Atkins, the Earl of Oakmount, and Caine was dying to hear what he had to say about him.
"I've met Morgan," Alesandra announced. "He came to Colin's house to discuss a business matter. He seemed very nice."
Alesandra's voice lacked conviction. She was having trouble hiding her unhappiness now. She hated what was happening. She felt out of control of her future and her destiny. Just as horrible to her, she was beginning to feel like a charity case.
"I can't give you an opinion of Morgan," Caine remarked. "I've never met him."
"I've met him," his father said. "I liked him well enough. Perhaps we could invite him over for… Why in God's name are you shaking your head now, Colin?"
"Yes, brother," Caine interjected. "What's wrong with Morgan?" ,
Colin let out a sigh. He was having difficulty finding anything wrong with the man. Caine wasn't helping him concentrate. He started laughing.
"This isn't amusing," Colin snapped.
"Yes, it is," Caine contradicted. "Let's see now," he drawled out. "So far we've discarded nine possible candidates because of drunkenness, averice, gluttony, jealousy, perversion, greed, lust, and so on, and I'd really love to hear your reason for finding Morgan unsuitable. I believe you've used up all the seven deadly sins, Colin."
"What are you suggesting, Caine?" Colin demanded.
"You don't like any of them."
"Damned right I don't. I'm thinking of Alesandra's happiness. She's a princess. She deserves better."
That last remark told Caine everything he needed to know. He now understood why Colin was in such a foul mood. It was obvious to Caine that his brother wanted Alesandra, but in his mind he had decided he wasn't worthy enough. Oh, yes, that was it, Caine decided. Colin was the second son and therefore hadn't inherited land or title. His obsession with building an empire was all part of his quest to achieve recognition on his own. Caine was proud that his brother was an independent man, but, damn it all, that pride would force him to let Alesandra slip away.
Unless he was forced into marriage, of course.
"But what about Morgan?" his father asked again. "What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing," Colin snapped.
His father was beginning to smile when Colin added, "If Alesandra doesn't mind bowlegged children."
"For the love of…" His father slumped back against the cushions in defeat.
"Is Morgan bowlegged?" Caine asked Alesandra. He was feeling quite proud of himself. He'd been able to ask that question without even cracking a smile.
"I must confess I didn't notice his legs, but if Colin says he's bowlegged, then he must be. Will I have to have children?"
"Yes," Colin told her.
"He won't do then. I don't wish to have bowlegged children."
She turned to look up at Colin. "Is it a painful condition?" she asked him in a whisper.
"Yes," Colin lied.
The discussion continued for another hour. Caine and his father both took turns tossing out names of possible husbands and Colin found something wrong with every one of them.
Caine was thoroughly enjoying himself. He pulled the footrest over, stretched out, and propped his feet up so that he'd be more comfortable.
Colin was becoming more and more agitated. He'd removed his arm from Alesandra's shoulders and was now leaning forward with his elbows on his knees while he waited for his father to think of another candidate.
The longer the talk continued, the more upset Alesandra became. She hid behind her mask of serenity, but her hands were clutched into fists in her lap.
Just when she thought she couldn't stand to hear another name offered, Colin leaned back and covered her hands with one of his.
She didn't want his comfort, yet she clung to his hand.
"Alesandra, what do you want to do?"
Caine asked her that question. She was too embarrassed to tell him the truth, to admit that more than anything she wished she could marry a man she loved. She wanted the kind of marriage her parents had had, but that wasn't possible.
"I thought I wanted to become a nun, but Mother Superior wouldn't let me."
There were tears in her eyes and for that reason no one laughed. "And why wouldn't she let you?" Caine asked.
"I'm not Catholic," Alesandra explained. "It's an important requirement."
He did smile then. He simply couldn't help it. "You wouldn't have been happy as a nun," he predicted.
She wasn't particularly happy now, but she didn't believe it would be polite to mention that.
"Alesandra, why don't you go and find Gweneth," her guardian suggested. "You haven't met Jade yet, now have you? Go and introduce yourself to Caine's lovely wife."
She acted as though she'd just been given a reprieve. The look of relief on her face was there for all of them to see.
Alesandra had stood up before she realized she hadn't let go of Colin's hand yet. She quickly pulled away, and then left the room.
The three men stood up until she'd left the salon, then resumed their seats. Colin dragged the footrest over, propped his feet up, and leaned back.
"This is damned difficult for her," he muttered.
"Yes," his father agreed. "I wish there was time for her to adjust to her circumstances, but there isn't, Colin."
Caine decided to turn the topic. "I'm curious, Father," he remarked. "How did you meet Alesandra's father?"
"It was at Ashford's annual bash," his father explained. "Nathaniel and I took to one another right away. He was quite a man," he added with a nod.
"And so are you to take on responsibility for his daughter," Colin remarked.
His father's expression underwent a dramatic change. He looked terribly sad now. "No, you've got it all wrong," he said. "There is something neither one of you knows and I imagine now is the time for me to confess my sins. You're going to find out sooner or later."
The seriousness in their father's voice told both sons the matter was of grave importance. They gave him their full attention and waited for him to compose his thoughts.
Long minutes passed before he spoke again. "I got into trouble just after your mother died, Caine," he explained. "I hadn't met Gweneth yet and I had started drinking—quite heavily, as a matter of fact."
"You? But you never drink," Colin argued.
"I don't drink now," his father agreed. "I did back then. I gambled too. The debts, they piled up, of course, and I kept fooling myself into believing I would win back enough to cover my losses."
Colin and Caine were too astonished to say anything. They stared at their father as though he'd suddenly turned into a complete stranger.
"This is a difficult confession for me to make," he continued. "No father likes parading his sins in front of his sons."
"The past is over," Colin told him. "Let it go."
His father shook his head. "It isn't as simple as all that," he explained. "I want you to understand. I was almost ruined, you see, and would have been if it hadn't been for Alesandra's father. Everything I'd inherited and worked so hard to build was in the hands of the moneylenders as collateral against the loans. Yes, I would have been ruined."
"What happened then?" Caine asked when his father didn't continue.
"Nathaniel came to my rescue. I was at White's one minute and the next I remember I was back home. I was told I blacked out at the tables from too much drink. When I next opened my eyes, Nathaniel was standing over me, and, Lord, was he angry. I was so hung over all I wanted was to be left alone. He wouldn't leave, however. He threatened me too."
"What was his threat?" Caine asked. He was so surprised by his father's confession he leaned forward and clasped his hands together in expectation.