"Then who the hell did the work?"

"I did."

He shook his head. She nodded. "Don't jest with me, Alesandra. I'm not in the mood for it."

"I'm not jesting. I did do the work. I organized all of your logs, too, and filed them away."

"Who helped you?"

She was highly insulted by that question. "No one helped me. I'm very good with figures," she told him. "You have my permission to write to Mother Superior if you don't believe me. I made a second set of books for her so the banker would give her… Oh, dear, I probably shouldn't have mentioned that. Mother Superior called it a sin, but I didn't believe it was. It wasn't larceny, either. I only changed the numbers so she could get the loan."

Colin had an astonished expression on his face. She guessed he found her confession shameful. She quit trying to explain herself and took a deep breath. "As for your ledgers," she continued. "Transferring numbers and totaling your columns didn't require special training. It wasn't difficult, just tedius."

"And the percentages?" Colin asked, still not certain he believed her.

She shrugged. "Anyone with half a mind could figure out percentages."

He shook his head. "But you're a woman…"

He was going to add that he couldn't imagine where she'd gotten the training for book work, but she wouldn't let him finish.

"I knew that would come up," she cried out. "Just because I'm a woman, you assume I couldn't possibly understand anything but the latest fashions, isn't that right? Well, sir, you're in for a surprise. I don't give a twit about fashions."

Colin had never seen her this riled. Her eyes had turned into blue fire. He thought he might like to strangle her. But he'd kiss her first, he decided.

Caine came to her rescue. "And did the mother superior get her loan, Alesandra?"

"Yes, she did," Alesandra answered, her voice tinged with pride. "Mother didn't know the banker was looking at the second set of books, of course, or her vows would have forced her to confess. The nuns all follow very strict rules. She didn't find out until it was too late. She'd already spent the money on a new chapel. So it all worked out quite nicely."

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.