“It is, isn’t it? Well, perhaps just to us.” Alice sank down at one of the unoccupied tables, sighing with relief, and propping her feet up on another chair. “But the tourist numbers are increasing, thanks in part to Gunner and Lorina doing that archaeology show.”
“I think I heard about that. There was some troubleabout it....” I tried to remember the gossip I’d seen going around at the time.
“Yes, but that’s all over with. Everyone is fine and well and receiving medical treatment.”
I stared at her, aghast.
She laughed. “There was an issue with one of the men being HIV positive, and he didn’t know, but Lorina tells me he’s doing quite well on the medications.” She stretched her back, and settled into the white wrought iron chair.
I eyed her large belly. “You must be tired of hauling that baby around.”
“You have no idea.” She patted her stomach fondly. “Just another month to go, and then the alien life-form will be out, and I’ll be able to do things like bend. And get out of a chair by myself. I won’t need to call Elliott every time I want to get up.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” the Elliott in question said, strolling out of the building with Alden and their brother Gunner in tow. Gunner immediately went to sit with his wife and daughter, bending over the former to give her a swift kiss, and ruffling the hair of the latter. “I happen to like you needing me to do things. It makes me feel like I have a part in this whole baby process.”
“Oh, you had a part,” she said, poking him in the side. “But that’s best not mentioned in front of others.”
Alden smiled down at me, and said softly, “How are you getting on with Alice?”
“Just fine.”
“Good. I told you she’d like you.” He gave me an awkward pat on the shoulder. I took his hand and bit the tip of his finger, enjoying the brief look of surprise that flashed through his eyes, followed by smoldering heat.
“I never doubted she would,” I said, giving him back his hand.
“Alden, I want you to see the progress we’ve made on the tower since you were last here. We’re thinking of using it as a special honeymoon suite for visitors....”
“Affluent visitors,” Alice called after them. “The affluent part is important.”
The men waved at us, and proceeded down the steps and off to the other side of the castle to inspect the latest renovation work.
“I’m glad to see Alden excited about rebuilding,” Alice said, wiggling in her seat to get more comfortable. “Things sounded pretty dire there for a bit, what with the fire and all.”
“Yes, well, they were dire. Luckily, the Hairy Tit people still wanted that north pasture despite the underhanded business that Barry was pulling, and Alden decided that selling off just a small amount of the land was better than selling it all.”
“Will the money be enough to rebuild Bestwood Hall?”
“No, but Tamarind—she’s the cop who fancied Alden, although he claims she didn’t—she said we might be in for some reward money if the conviction for drug manufacture and trafficking sticks to Barry and Lisa.”
“I don’t think I understand exactly how they were related,” Alice said, slipping on a pair of shades against the afternoon sun. “Was she working with him, or not?”
“Kind of both, actually, although she’s not saying a word other than she was not hired by Lady Sybilla before she arrived at the hall.”
“Then why did she go there? And why was she trying to seduce him if she was married?”
“I suspect it was just her way to get Alden in a position where she could blackmail him into selling the house to Barry, although who knows why she assumed Alden would be that foolish.” I made a face, then grinned. “As for the other, Alden thinks you sent her.”
“He does?” She looked startled. “That’s odd of him.”
“He’s a bit confused about that whole thing.”
Alice looked at me for a few seconds. “You didn’t tell him, then?”
“That it was me you wanted to match up with him? No, I think that would ruin his idea of the serendipity that brought us together.”
“But you didn’t agree to be matched with him,” she protested. “I deliberately didn’t tell Alden about the Hard Day’s Knights people just so he wouldn’t spend time fretting about meeting the woman I’d picked out for him.”
I shrugged.
