*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much. I also thank-you for your patience. It has been a long crazy week that kept me from writing then I was having uploading issues. I just thank-you for your patience.
"Good morning, Your, I mean, Alexandra," said Carlisle as Alexandra made her way into the dining room with her husband to have breakfast with him before the events of the day separated them once again.
"Good morning, Carlisle," she said with a smile as he bowed to her and she nodded her head in return. Roman took her by the hand and led her to her seat at the table. Roman pulled the chair out for his wife and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek as she took her seat before he took his seat at the other end of the table.
"Mr. Reigns," nodded Carlisle. "May I get you two anything? Your breakfast should be along shortly and we have had the food tested."
"I would love a cup of tea," answered Alexandra, "and Roman will have the same."
"Thank-you," said Roman with a nod before Carlisle left the dining room to prepare their tea. "Are you going to ask him about your brother; Prince Henry?"
"Yes, I am not sure he knows about him? I want to know why I don't remember having a baby brother or why my papa never mentioned to me that he had another child with my mother. It is strange he just disappeared one night and no one has done anything to search for him or find him."
"Maybe he is passed on," responded Roman. "I would think if your brother was alive out there that they would still be searching for him and not stopping until he was found."
"I do not understand, Roman," she said to him. Alexandra had been up most of the night trying to understand her Papa's reasons for never mentioning she had a baby brother and trying to understand why she did not remember her mother increasing. Alexandra was 3 years old when her mother passed away. Reading her journals brought more mystery into Alexandra's life. There were three years of her mother's life missing, nowhere to be found, she still didn't understand her mother's mysterious illness and now she was concerned about her baby brother that she had never met. She had her suspicions that Victoria had ordered for her brother to be taken from his nursery so he could not push her down the line, the only person standing in her way was Alexandra and now Alexandra's unborn child had become a threat to Victoria's rule. Alexandra was going to stop at nothing to prove that her aunt caused her mother's death, she didn't know how but she was going to make the discovery. "Everything I ever believed about life and knew about life is completely erased. I should have never read my mother's journals. I am more confounded than I was before they were in my grasp."
"I'm sure you will find answers, My Love. Has the orphanage sent word on their decision on Emma and her parentage?"
"Yes," responded Alexandra as Carlisle entered their dining room and gave them each a plate with eggs, cold ham and poured them each a cup of tea before living the dining room again to give them their privacy. They lacked privacy due to Alexandra being the queen, they barely received privacy outside of their bedchamber as a guard was always standing outside the door, a guard was with them at all times except during the breakfast and dinner hours where they enjoyed a meal together, peacefully and alone. "Emma's parents were killed at sea years ago," she said before taking a bite of her ham. "A band of pirates attacked their ship, they raided the ship for jewels and coin, they killed every man on board and took the women captive. Emma's mother was found murdered ashore along with many other women taken captive. Emma has been in the orphanage since she was 2 years old."
"That's terrible, a very horrific tragedy," he said. "That poor little girl," he said with sympathy in his voice. "I want to give her a life that she can be happy with. I want to give her joy."
"What better joy than to be the daughter of a Queen and a Prince," Alexandra smiled.
"Will they allow us to keep her?" he questioned.
"They are working on the paperwork and she will be ours," she said joyfully. "I'm happy to bring a little girl into the castle. I plan to have tea parties, play dolls and braid her hair. I never knew what it was like to be a mother but I'm going to learn quickly. I always wished I had my mother to grow up with me. I wished for tea parties, a mother to talk to about life's curses and a mother to guide me through life. I never experienced that," she said sadly. "I just want to be a mother to my children and allow them to come first before I worry about the throne of England."
"You'll be a wonderful mother, My Love," he encouraged with a smile as he ate his breakfast with his wife. "Are you going to spend the day at the orphanage?"
"Partly," she answered. "I have to go to the orphanage, check on my shops and my properties. I will be occupied most of the day. What is on your agenda for the day?"
"I wish to accompany you," he said with a smile. "Am I able to?"
"I would like that very much," she said with a smile. "We see each other very little and I am beginning to miss my Gypsy Lover," she smiled.
"I miss you too my Queen," He replied with a soft smile. "Your birthday is quickly approaching," he reminded her. "You will be ten and nine. Is there anything you wish to do?"
"I wish to have a masquerade ball here at the palace to celebrate. You are more than welcome to invite Dean to the celebration."
"I'm sure he will like that very much and a masquerade ball? I thought you detested such gatherings?"
"My pregnancy is reaching the end. It will not be long before I am unable to attend these gatherings so I would love to celebrate my birthday with a masquerade ball, invite villagers, royals and nobles to show England that I want to be as one including the Protestants and the Catholics," she said.
"We will work out the plans," he suggested with a smile. "I want you to have one of the best birthdays of your life," he promised.
"I appreciate it."
Alexandra's and Roman's day was filled with cleaning up the orphanage, giving the children new clothes, new beds, new toys and making the place look happier and less dreadful. They spent the day scrubbing the floors, sweeping the floors and painting the walls to make it more kid friendly and welcoming to children. Alexandra wanted the best for the orphanage and wanted the kids to feel what little joy they were able to and less dread from the loss of their parents. The children were grateful for all that Alexandra and Roman had done for the orphanage. They enjoyed spending time with the children and spending time with Emma getting to know her. Alexandra's heart had a soft side for children, she couldn't wait to have her child and to bring Emma home. She was ready to be a mother. As they finished up their time at the orphanage Alexandra and Roman rode into the village to visit Alexandra's shops to make sure business was running smoothly and the keepers were keeping them up. They collected rent from her property owners and took note of any issues the residents had with their property. Roman could not take his eyes off of Alexandra all day. She had a heart of gold. If he hadn't known she was a Queen he would not believe it. She was involved with the town and the townspeople, she made sure everyone was taken care of and she would give the blouse off her back to a person in need if she needed to. Her heart was full of grace, mercy, love and care. She was the purest and most passionate person he had ever met in his life. His heart swelled for his wife and the pride he had in her could not be expressed in words.
When Alexandra and Roman arrived home, Alexandra bathed and had her abigail dress her in a fitting mint green gown designed with flowers on the skirts. She pinned her long strawberry blonde hair up into a bun before she made her way down to the study where she bumped into Carlisle. "I'm sorry, Carlisle" she apologized.
"No harm done, Alexandra, did you enjoy your day?"
"Yes, it was entertaining and enjoyable," she answered with a soft smile.
"I'm glad," he smiled his soft smile to her.
"Carlisle, I read my mother's journals."
"You did? Already?"
"Yes," she answered. "I read them last night," she said before taking a seat from exhaustion.
"I hope they answered any unanswered questions you may have had," he said as he took a seat beside her.
"Just the opposite, Carlisle, I found even more unanswered questions, none of it makes any sense to me."
"I apologize," he responded, "what has you confounded?" he asked.
"There are three years missing from my mother's journals. She spoke of her pregnancy with me and then that was the final entry until I was three years old. Do you know what happened to those three years?"
"I cannot say, Alexandra, I thought that she wrote in her journal every day."
"She seemed to up until she announced she was increasing with me then all the entries vanished and were picked up three years after I was born."
"That seems odd," he pondered. "I don't know what could have happened to those entries. No one else but your mother and I knew those journals existed. Your father knew of them but I don't think he would have done anything to the journals."
"Has my father ever read them?"
"I do not believe so."
"Have you ever read them?" she asked.
"They were not of my concern. I just put them in a safe place after your mother's death. I never read them."
"The first three years of my life did something happen that would make someone want to make those entries disappear?"
"I know that your mother and Victoria were at odds the first three years of your life. That was when their hatred for one another started to boil over. Your aunt was very jealous of your mother and her relationship with your father. She was also very jealous of you. Your mother and you posed a threat to Victoria. She and your mother were at odds over your birth. Your aunt wanted to harm you from the very beginning. She wanted you out of her way of the throne."
"Do you think that is why those three years are missing from the journals?"
"I cannot say. I wish I had the answers you seek but I do not. Is that the only thing that troubles you?"
"The entire journals trouble me because I can't pinpoint if Victoria is responsible for my mother's death. I believe she is but I need proof. My mother made mention of it but not enough for me to have Victoria's head."
"What do you wish to accomplish by having the truth? Your mother is dead, Alexandra she has been gone for some time. Trying to discover if Victoria had anything to do with it is unnecessary. I know in my heart that Victoria played a part in it and I am sure that you have the same feeling in your heart but without proof how can you execute her?"
"I will find my way to do it, Carlisle. She will pay for every heartache and pain she caused me and my family. I grew up without my mother. I can barely remember who she was, what she looked like, how she sounded, how she smelled, I don't remember. I was robbed of that because someone was selfish and decided to take my mother from me. It is not fair."
"I understand that you're upset but executing your aunt is not going to bring her back, Alexandra. You're going to be a mother, you're married and you're set to be the Queen of England enjoy that don't worry about Victoria."
"She remains a threat as long as she lives," she said. "Until she is dead I am not safe, my husband is not safe and my child is not safe."
"You have taken all the precautions you are able to," he said, "your family is safe."
"For now," she said, "there was something else I stumbled across in the journals. I discovered my mother gave birth to a Prince when I was three years old shortly before she died. I have a brother?"
"Prince Henry," he said solemnly. "The story is traumatic," he said.
"What happened to my brother? Why don't I remember having a brother? The pieces aren't adding up, Carlisle."
"You were young, you were 3 years old, Alexandra. Your brother was not too old when he was taken from the castle."
"What do you mean taken? I find it hard for a Prince to just disappear from the castle where were the guards, where were the nannies? Where were my parents, how did he just disappear?"
"It was late at night, Alexandra. The castle had fallen under attack, guards were fighting off a crowd of angry men that swarmed the castle. Your father locked you in your bedchambers, locked your mother in their bed chambers and went to fight the angry men. When the men were defeated your father went to Henry's nursery and he was gone."
"Just like that? Sounds like it was an inside job. You would have to know your way around the castle to remove an infant Prince from his nursery in such little time."
"Your father believed that for years but no one was able to remove the infant from the castle as we were all busy defending the castle."
"And have they never found my brother?" she asked. "Where is he? Why are we not still looking for the Prince?"
"We searched for years, they spent years looking but they never found him. He disappeared. Your father called off the search after 5 years. He believed that a child in your brother's condition would no longer be alive after 5 years of being outside the castle."
"My brother's condition?" she questioned.
"Your brother was very ill. He wasn't expected to live long. He was ill because of your mother's condition. He didn't look like other children. The doctor told your parents he would not survive long."
"So Prince Henry is dead?" she asked confused by the information she was given.
"We believe so, Alexandra," he answered.
"Why did my father never tell me about my brother?"
"It was a tough loss for your father. He lost his son in a castle raid and then shortly after he lost his wife. He chose not to speak of it. He knew you didn't remember and he didn't want to remind you. Do you know how you're feeling now because you never knew your brother?"
"I'm feeling confused, hurt and lost, everything in this world I have ever known has been a lie. How am I supposed to feel?"
"Your father wanted to keep it a secret, Alexandra. He didn't think it was worth mentioning. He didn't want to upset you by informing you that you had a brother that you will never meet."
"That wasn't his choice," she retorted. "He should have told me. I want to know where my brother is, Carlisle."
"Let it go, Alexandra, your brother is dead."
"He's not dead, was there a body?"
"Not to my knowledge," he said, "but there is no way that after all these years your brother is still alive. You need to leave this alone, Alexandra. It is not safe."
"I am supposed to just go on living knowing I have a brother and not search for him? I deserve to know him, he deserves to know me."
"Alexandra," he warned, "it is not a good idea."
"Carlisle, I am the Queen I will do as I please. I am calling on a search for Prince Henry. I will find him and bring him home where he belongs."
"You're strong-willed like your mother," he sighed, "Alexandra, just this once please listen to me. It is not safe to search for your brother. Leave it alone." But Alexandra did not care to listen. She stood up and excused herself from the study. Despite Carlisle's warning she began a search for Prince Henry.
*A/N: Why do you think Alexandra is so determined to prove that her Aunt Victoria is responsible for her mother's death? Why do you think Carlisle is telling her it's not important? What do you think of Alexandra not listening to Carlisle when it comes to Prince Henry? Do you believe that Prince Henry is still alive somewhere? What do you think of Roman and Alexandra hosting a ball for her 19th birthday? Is it a good idea? What do you think of Alexandra and Roman being able to adopt Emma, do you think they will both make good parents? Please review and thank-you for reading.