At noon, the palace doctor arrived. After examining Victoria's pulse, he told Alexander, "My Lord, she is not pregnant."

So Alexander had suspected I was pregnant. That's why he cared.

"Hmm," Alexander said faintly.

That evening, Alexander dined alone. He paused at the fish dish.

"She used to pick out the bones first," he murmured.

He remembered. I always deboned the fish. Victoria wouldn't know that.

The next morning, he summoned the steward. "Have the kitchen prepare deboned fish from now on."

Victoria looked confused. "But I've never asked for—"

"It's my preference," Alexander said.

Victoria's smile didn't waver, but her eyes sharpened. Something had slipped.

I watched her calculating behind those stolen eyes—my eyes.