*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated thank-you all so much*
Weeks had passed since Alexandra started her search for her brother Henry. She had received no word as to whether he was alive or not. She hoped that he would be alive, she wanted to meet him, wanted to have a relationship with him but most importantly she wanted to bring him back to the life of royalty and into the castle where he belonged. She had men searching all throughout England and throughout countries surrounding England but they continued to discover nothing or anyone. No one knew who or what they were looking for. They were diving into history of babies found left behind or abandoned somewhere but that was all they were able to do and Prince Henry seemed to exist to no one. Alexandra wasn't going to give up until he was found even if Carlisle kept telling her that he was dead. He had no knowledge of Henry's well-being unless he himself had something to do with his disappearance which Roman was beginning to believe he had. "How long have you known Carlisle?" Roman asked his wife as he helped dress her in her red and black velvet gown.
"He has been around my entire life," she answered as he tightened the ribbons on her gown taking her breath away unable to hide her growing stomach any long. "Too tight," she said.
"I apologize My Love," he said loosening the ribbon. "Do you trust him?"
"I think so," she replied, "do you not trust him?"
"I am starting to believe he may have had something to do with your brother's disappearance maybe even the death of your mother."
"Why would you believe such a thing? Carlisle has never done anything to hurt anyone or gave me the impression he could be capable of such heinous acts. What's your reason?" she asked as he started to brush her long strawberry blonde hair.
"I have just been thinking about him, Alexandra. He stands out and is the only common element in everything. He was your mother's best friend?"
"I wouldn't call him her best friend but I would say that they were close she trusted him."
"And while he had her trust he could have used that against her for your aunt. Just think about the scenario, Carlisle is the only person that knew where the journals your mother had kept were and as you read them you saw that three years had been missing from the journals. If he was the only one that knew of the journals and where they were hidden he would have to know where those three years are. I think he knows exactly where they are and I believe that there was something in there that pointed to him and he wanted to hide all traces and all evidence of being involved in whatever was going on at the time. If no one else knew about the journals don't you believe he would know what happened to those three years that are missing?" he asked as he pulled her hair up into a bun.
"Carlisle is the only person that knew about the journals. Do you believe that he could have those three years or had them destroyed?"
"It seems likely. You believe your mother was poisoned am I correct?"
"There is not a doubt in my mind," she answered as she turned to face him her clear blue eyes meeting his grey orbs. "You don't think do you?"
"I don't think Victoria acted alone, Alexandra. Just think about this after the announcement of your mother's pregnancy Victoria grew jealous, very jealous. She made threats against your mother. Sister or not I do not believe that King Arthur would allow Princess Victoria any access inside the castle to protect not only your mother but you as well. I believe that Victoria needed to enlist help within the castle and why not choose the man closest to your mother next to your father? Carlisle had access to all of her food and all of her drink. He could have easily poisoned her when no one was looking before he delivered it to her. I know poison comes in all different shapes and forms but Carlisle had access to everything your mother came in contact with. I do not believe your father was capable of poisoning his own wife. He seemed to love her deeply."
"He loved her as much as I love you," she said with a soft smile as they took a seat in their bed chambers before the glowing fire. "My mother was my father's entire world after he lost her, he lost a piece of himself, he was never quite as happy as he had been. He was broken by her loss. My father was not capable of killing the love of his life."
"So who was the next person to have all the access to your mother and had her trust as much as your father?"
"Carlisle," she answered, her chest tightening and the pain in her stomach. She was feeling sick with the thought that Carlisle a man that helped raise her and had been there for her her entire life could be capable of helping take away her mother and taking away her brother from her life. "I don't want to believe it."
"I am not saying that it's true but I do not trust him. My gypsy instincts are telling me he is not a good person. I don't trust him. How else would a prince go missing from his nursery in the castle unless it was an inside job? I believe Carlisle helped to poison your mother for Victoria and helped to make your baby brother disappear. Have you noticed every time we discuss Prince Henry or the search for Prince Henry Carlisle tells us there's no need to search for him because he's dead because of his condition? It is as if he wants Prince Henry to be forgotten about. He is adamant about you ending the search for him, why? Then let's remember the three years missing from the journal. Maybe your mother had suspicions about Carlisle and was voicing them in her journal and when he read her journal after her death he destroyed the pages and hid the rest away in the library."
"The thought never occurred to me that would explain the missing pages but what grievance did he have against my mother that he would want to kill her or cause her harm? I do not understand."
"Maybe we need to find a reason but can we trust him around you? Around the baby? Around Emma?" he asked concern lacing his voice. "I think we should hire someone other than Carlisle, I would never forgive myself if something happened to you or our children."
"You're speculating," she said, "you don't truly know if Carlisle helped kill my mother or helped in my brother's disappearance."
"I'm not just speculating, Alexandra, I'm looking at all sides, I'm looking at it all from your aunt's threats, the missing pages of your mother's journal, Henry's disappearance and his adamant behavior about your search for Henry it doesn't make sense, Alexandra. Something is wrong here something is terribly wrong here. And he could have played a part in your father's death as well so what would stop him from hurting you?"
"My father was ill," she responded.
"Alexandra, the doctor could not determine cause for his illness and he experienced the same symptoms of your mother. I think he was poisoned like your mother and what will stop Carlisle or Victoria from doing the same to you?" he asked. "You cannot trust Carlisle," he said. "Not now after everything we discussed today."
"You're correct I do not trust Carlisle what do we do?"
"We find out more information on your mother's and your father's death, we dig more into Carlisle's history in the castle. Most importantly we find those missing pages of the journals and maybe we will discover the truth or discover something."
"And if they are destroyed?" she asked.
"I have no idea, Alexandra but I hope they are not destroyed and you will get more information about Henry from Carlisle," he suggested. "We will pretend nothing is wrong that we don't suspect a thing from Carlisle and live life normally."
"And if he tries to poison me?" she asked, "even though we don't know he had anything to do with either death."
"We will take precautions," he said as there was a knock on their chamber door. "You may enter," he commanded.
Seconds later Carlisle entered into Alexandra's and Roman's bed chambers, "Your Majesty," he said with a bow.
"Yes, Carlisle?" she asked trying to hid her nervousness and her uneasiness from him so that he didn't suspect anything was amiss.
"Lady Emma has arrived," he announced the arrival of their adopted child. A smile grew on Alexandra's face, "she is in the foyer," he announced.
"Thank-you, Carlisle," said Alexandra her nervousness turning to happiness and joy. She and Roman had been waiting weeks for Emma to arrive in their care and to arrive at the castle after all the paperwork was taken care of. "You're dismissed," she said with a soft smile. Carlisle bowed and exited the chambers. "She's here," said Alexandra with excitement making Roman smile with her childlike joy.
"Let's go meet our daughter," he said with a soft smile as he stood with his wife. His body filled with joy and excitement but his heart racing at the thought of now being a father. He had never thought the dream would happen after the death of his wife and their unborn child. He never expected to build his life back up, marry and become a father. He nearly ruled it out with the fear of being hurt again. Roman offered Alexandra his arm and she hooked her arm with his as they made their way out of their bedchambers before descending the spiral staircase made of marble.
Alexandra froze at the bottom of the staircase as she made eye contact with the child she and her husband had adopted. It was uncommon for a Queen to adopt but Alexandra was like no other Queen before her. Emma was beautiful despite her ragged appearance dressed in torn tights and a tight stained plaid gown that was too small for her and her hair dirty and tangled. Her blue eyes shining with joy as a smile reached her tiny lips. "Your Majesty!" she called out with a smile as she ran into Alexandra's waiting arms.
"Please call me, Mum," said Alexandra welcoming her with a tight hug. "Welcome to my family."
"Thank-you," she said softly as she dropped her favorite doll.
"Emma Duchess of Lexington," announced Carlisle with a smile as he watched the interaction between Emma and Alexandra. Alexandra made Emma a Duchess as she would never be labeled as a princess in the eyes of England and she wanted her daughter to have a title in her rank of royalty.
"Hello, Emma," said Roman as he knelt down with his wife and their new daughter. "We've been waiting for your arrival."
"Papa!" she called out as she wrapped an arm around him keeping one arm wrapped around Alexandra in a loving embrace they shared together as a family.
"Let's give you a tour of the palace," said Alexandra as their loving embrace finally broke, she took Emma's hand into hers and led her through the palace showing her the playroom Roman made for Emma as well as the library Alexandra loved as a child and hoped Emma would have the same love for reading. They took her through the kitchen introducing her to the cooks and introducing her to the guards and the men and women working in the castle. Alexandra and Roman took her upstairs to her bedroom that Roman had also designed and set up for her. "And this," said Alexandra opening the door to Emma's bedroom, "is your bedroom," she said allowing Emma to enter before her and Roman.
Emma looked around the room, taking in the sight before her and her blue eyes lit up. She was surrounded by walls painted pink with painted portraits on the wall of flowers and butterflies. The bed before her was made for a princess with a pink satin cover and a white canopy veil surrounding the bed with lots of pink satin pillows holding up teddy bears all shapes and sizes. There was a small wooden table in the room with a tea party set set upon it and many dolls sitting on the chairs surrounding the table. She ran over to the dolls and picked up a beautiful porcelain doll with dark hair dressed in a blue gown and her hair curled falling down to her back. She hugged the doll in her arms as she continued inspecting her bedchambers. The closet filled with beautiful gowns, a jewelry box on the dresser with earrings and different necklaces and a small crown sitting on top of the dresser. "I get to wear a crown?" she asked.
"We'll see," said Roman with a soft smile as he wrapped his arm around Alexandra's shoulders as their daughter took in her new room.
"I love this room, I love this palace," she said with a smile. "I love you," she said to Roman and Alexandra before giving them another hug.
"Welcome home," said Alexandra with a smile. "Let's get you cleaned up," she said with a soft smile, "and put on one of your new gowns," she said with a smile before calling for Emma's abigail to draw her a bath and to give her a bath before dressing her in a gown.
Alexandra and Roman waited for their daughter in their sitting room, reading before she came into the room announced by Carlisle, "Emma Duchess of Lexington."
Alexandra and Roman turned to see their daughter dressed in a beautiful light blue gown falling to her ankles covering the black boots on her feet. Her once dingy blonde hair cleaned and brushed into a tight bun on the top of her head and her face clear of dirt. She was a beautiful little girl and her blue eyes stood out with the blue gown she wore. "Emma," said Alexandra, "you look beautiful."
"Thank-you," she said with a shy smile as she played with her gown.
"You look like a Princess," said Alexandra, "and you know what every princess needs?" she asked before pulling out the small diamond crown that was on Emma's dresser in her bedchambers. "Every princess needs to wear a crown," she said with a soft smile before placing the crown onto Emma's freshly washed hair. She smelled of honey and lavender as Alexandra kissed the top of her head.
"Thank-you, Mummy," she said with a soft smile.
"And this is a special gift for you," said Roman as he handed her a pink amulet on a gold chain. "Welcome to the family," he said before he put it around her neck.
"Thank-you," she said admiring her new necklace. "I'm going to love it here," she said happily as Carlisle handed Alexandra a missive.
"Your Majesty," he said with a nod as he handed her the envelope.
Alexandra tore it open with the hopes of word on her brother but instead as she read the missive in her hands it was anything but happiness. She shivered as she read the bold words; STOP SEARCHING YOU WILL BE SORRY!
*A/N: What do you think of Roman's suspicions of Carlisle? Do you see his point? Do you believe that Carlisle could be responsible for the Queen's and the King's deaths? Is he worthy of their trust? What do you think of Emma being adopted by them? What did you think of their family meeting? Do you think Emma is a good fit for their family? What did you think of the missive delivered to Alexandra? Who do you think it's from? Do you think she should stop her search for Henry? Please review and thank-you for reading.