A Royal Baby on the Way

‘‘You got through to the phone company on a Sunday?’’ he asked.

‘‘I didn’t call the phone company directly. I was given a special number. They’re going to have to run another trunk line to the house.’’ She paused. ‘‘I’m not sure what that means, but I’m hoping it won’t be too disruptive. Of course, I’ll cover any costs involved.’’

He waved her comment away. ‘‘Don’t worry about it.’’

‘‘All right. The rest of my things will be here on Tuesday. The office equipment, the computer, copy machine and fax will arrive tomorrow. Then there’s the messenger service. They’ll be delivering daily, sometimes twice a day.’’

Mitch leaned back in his chair and tried not to let his dismay show. Just as he’d thought, his life was being pulled in a direction he didn’t want to go. ‘‘You’re not going to start playing polo on the front lawn, are you?’’

Alex glanced up. ‘‘I don’t play polo.’’

Her accent intrigued him. He wanted to hear her say his name softly, but with passion. Down boy, he told himself. Don’t go there.

‘‘If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you some questions about your brother,’’ she said, flipping to another page in her folder. ‘‘You both went to school locally.’’ She read for a second. ‘‘You played sports quite a bit, I see, as did John. Football? That’s different from soccer or English rugby. I’ve actually seen a few games live. It’s a little confusing, but I liked it.’’

He stared at her, then at the papers in her hands. He’d assumed she just had lists of whatever princesses kept lists of, but it wasn’t that at all. Irritation built inside him until it pushed him to his feet and across the room.

‘‘May I?’’ he asked, even as he took the folder from her. He scanned the contents of several sheets. There were detailed histories of himself and his family members, information on the ranch employees and even copies of his last three tax returns.

‘‘What the hell is all this?’’ he asked, tossing it back at her.

Alex grabbed the papers and stared up at Mitch with some surprise. His change from cordial host to hostile adversary startled her. ‘‘Is there some mistake? Did they get something wrong?’’

He planted his hands on his hips and glared down at her. She suddenly felt small and faintly alarmed.

‘‘No. They got everything right.’’

‘‘Then I don’t understand the problem.’’

‘‘That is the problem.’’

She studied him for a couple of seconds, then realization dawned. ‘‘Oh, I see. You’re upset because I have this information. What’s the expression? You consider it an invasion of your privacy?’’

‘‘Damn straight.’’

She drew in a deep breath. It was easy to forget that the rest of the world was different from her reality. ‘‘If you would stop looming over me, I could try to explain.’’

Despite his obvious irritation, he flashed her a quick grin. ‘‘I’m looming?’’

‘‘Rather impressively. I’m tall, and most men are my height or shorter. You’re taller by several inches. I’m not used to that.’’

He sank onto the far end of the sofa. ‘‘We grow them big out West.’’

‘‘So I’ve heard.’’ She closed the folder and smoothed the cover. ‘‘I’m sorry this has upset you. I never thought it would be a problem, but that’s because I have very little privacy of my own. I often forget the rest of the world isn’t like that.’’

‘‘I guess I can understand that,’’ he said.

Alex searched his face. She sensed that he was saying the right words, but that he didn’t really mean them. She wanted him to understand. She not only needed his cooperation to help her find her brother, but she and Mitch were going to be living in the same house for a short period of time. It would be easier if they could get along.

‘‘I know this isn’t anything you expected or wanted. One minute you were living your life and the next I invaded it. I do hope we can find a way to make this work for both of us.’’

His gaze sharpened suddenly, as if her words had a meaning that only he could understand. Then he rose to his feet. ‘‘You’re right. I didn’t ask for you to be here, but you’re here now so there’s no point in complaining. As for making this work, I suggest we try to stay out of each other’s way as much as possible. The ranch is big enough, as is the house.’’ He headed for the door.

‘‘Mitch, wait.’’ She gestured to the folder. ‘‘I still have more questions. I’m not finished with you.’’

He paused and looked her up and down. ‘‘Maybe not, princess, but I’m finished with you.’’

* * *

Alex compared the numbers on the computer screen in front of her to the papers that had arrived earlier that morning by messenger. Donations to the Wynborough children’s organization she ran were up considerably. The new advertising campaign was a success. She made a note to send the publicity director a handwritten thank-you letter, then went to the next item on her list.

She’d been on the ranch four days and finally had things organized. Setting up a remote office had taken longer than she’d expected, but now she was able to stay in touch with the palace and her sisters. Now if only the mysterious John Colton would make an appearance.

She heard the sound of approaching footsteps in the hallway and glanced at the clock on her desk. It was nearly ten, so the visitor would be Betty with her morning coffee.

‘‘You don’t have to do this,’’ Alex said as she rose to greet the other woman. ‘‘I’ve told you, I’m not a real guest here. I’m more of an intrusion.’’

Betty, an attractive woman in her mid-fifties, waved her off with a smile. ‘‘I haven’t had anyone to spoil in ages. Mitch is always working, and there’s never anyone else around to cook for. I like it. Besides, when all this is over, I get to tell all my friends about taking care of a real live princess.’’

As she had for the past couple of days, Betty set the tray with two cups of coffee and some incredibly delicious cookies that she made herself. The two women moved to the sofa at the far end of the study and sat down. Alex enjoyed both the break from her work and the company. Despite Betty’s short gray hair, the woman had a youthful glint in her eyes and a wicked sense of humor. She also knew everything about the ranch.

‘‘Are you all settled?’’ Betty asked.

Alex took a sip of coffee and nodded. ‘‘I was able to get right to work this morning. I’m trying to clear up as much of my work as possible so I can get on with the investigation. What with coming over to America, then moving to the ranch, I’m a little behind.’’ She glanced at the piles of papers on her desk. ‘‘I’m in touch with the palace several times a day. There’s so much to organize.’’

‘‘Almost sounds like you’re running a company.’’

‘‘In a way it’s very similar.’’ Alex pressed her lips together. ‘‘I spoke to my parents this morning. I haven’t done that since moving here.’’

Betty nodded sympathetically. ‘‘Did they accept your story about taking some time to relax at a private ranch resort?’’

Alex nodded. She’d had to come up with a way to explain a different area code and phone number to her parents. Betty had been the one to suggest saying she’d gone away to unwind for a couple of weeks. ‘‘It was horrible. They were both pleased I was taking time for myself.’’

‘‘What’s wrong with that? They sound like lovely people.’’

‘‘Oh, they are, but I’m not used to lying to them. It’s not something I do often or well. I just felt uncomfortable.’’ She took another sip of coffee, then sampled one of the chocolate chip cookies on the tray. ‘‘But I reminded myself it was for a greater good. If we find James, they’ll understand. If we don’t, better that they aren’t troubled by what we’re doing.’’

Betty leaned forward. ‘‘I think it’s very exciting that you’re searching for your long-lost brother. I hope it turns out to be John.’’

‘‘That would be convenient,’’ Alex admitted. ‘‘But there’s only a one-in-three chance of it being him. I want to get over to The Sunshine Home and go through their records. I finally have permission from the current owner. Although, she warned me that nothing that old has been put on computer, so it’s going to have to be a manual search. We’re going to have to find the other two boys who arrived around the same time as John.’’

Alex paused and took another bite of the sweet cookie. ‘‘There’s so much to coordinate. And as if searching for my long-lost brother isn’t enough, I worry about my sisters, especially Serena.’’

‘‘She’s the youngest?’’ Betty asked.

‘‘Yes. She has a wild streak that is going to get her into trouble. And there’s something wrong with Elizabeth, although I can’t figure out what.’’ Alex thought about the conversation she’d had with Elizabeth just that morning. Her sister had seemed distracted again. ‘‘Right now the only one I can count on is Katherine.’’

‘‘I’ve seen their pictures in the paper. They’re all very pretty young women. I’m surprised you all aren’t married.’’