Page 42 of Falling for the Queen Mother

Frederick looked at Cap, his head of security. "Will you coordinate with the appropriate investigative offices to check into it?"

"Of course, sir."

"In the meantime, let's act under the assumption that it was accurately reported then. How do we find out what happened to it between then and now?"

HISTORIANNAME sighed and shook her head. "I honestly don't know. There's not many people who would have had potentially unsupervised access to it, ever. The list will be short."

Cap took the lead. "Can you please get me a list of everyone who has worked for the archives in the last twenty years? Include anyone who visited, but wasn't employed. For instance, and I'm not insinuating anything, but Mr. Dougherty would need to be included in that list. So would Mrs. Woodward Middleton and her son-in-law Prince Jacob if they were ever here. Anyone where there was even the slightest possibility that they would have been left alone."

Alaina tried not to let the shock show on her face. She'd forgotten the Prince Consort of Eastern Novigradia was a trained historian. That was how he'd met Queen Catherine in the first place.

"Of course. I'll run a report as soon as we're done here. I'll also look back through physical notes and double check all of it to make sure there isn't anyone missing." She made a note on her tablet. "The preliminary report will be in your inbox shortly."

"Thank you."

The meeting went on for another few minutes before breaking up.

Alaina waited for the room to clear so it was just her and Nathaniel. "You understand why Cap said what he did?"

He looked shocked. "Of course. Everyone who works here regularly will be investigated, much less those who are only here briefly. I would have been shocked if I wasn't included in that list and would have made certain I was. I know I didn't do anything untoward, but everyone needs to be cleared. Madeleine will feel the same way. She'll insist that she is."

"Good. I thought you would understand, but I wanted to make certain." She leaned forward, her forearms resting on the table. "What does your gut tell you?"

He leaned back, rocking lightly in his chair. "That someone replaced it in the last ten years or so. I have no idea who, but there must be someone who knows about the possible conspiracy from centuries ago and the potentially missing artifacts."

"Do you know everyone on that list?"

"I know everyone who is legitimately on the list, at least by name and reputation. I don't have actual relationships with all of them. There's also the possibility that someone found out another way - either from one of those people letting it slip or putting it together on their own somehow." He pushed all the way back in his chair, his arms above his head as he stretched. "That would be my most likely thought. Someone else found out, on their own, and began looking into it without being a part of any official investigation."

"Any thoughts on who it might be? Is there anyone in the community that has always seemed a bit... off or sketchy or something that might be cause for a closer look?" Alaina knew the historians and archivists were a relatively small, close-knit group of... well, nerds. Not in a bad way, but ones who geeked out on historical facts and lore and loved finding out anything new. She did the same thing, but not with the kind of education and background of Nathaniel and his colleagues.

"No one off the top of my head, but I'm certain we'll figure it out. I'll look at the list once it's available and see if anyone jumps out at me." He moved his chair away from the table and stood. "I don't know about you, but it's been a long day and I think I would like to get some dinner. What do you think?"

Alaina nodded. "That sounds great." She took his extended hand and followed him out of the archives.

Once they were outside of them, he stopped and looked both ways. "I'm not really sure where we should go now."

She laughed and slid her hand into his elbow. "Why don't we go to my quarters and order some dinner?"

"That sounds great, but I don't think I know how to get there from here." He looked one way then the other. "Maybe I'll figure it out soon so I can get there if you're not with me."

With another laugh, Alaina pressed on his arm until they turned. "This way. You'll figure it out."

"I think I could make it to my former suite. That's a start."

"Absolutely." They continued to make their way through the palace toward the family quarters.

As they walked, Alaina pulled out her phone and they ordered dinner through the app. They spent the evening together having a lovely time talking, mostly about the painting and possibilities for what could be going on.

Nathaniel gave her a soft kiss then left for the evening.

Alaina went about her evening routine, preparing for bed. She'd changed into one of her favorite pairs of pyjamas and sat in a chair in her bedroom, her ereader in hand.

Focusing on a novel, even Where I Found You by the very talented Betsy St. Amant, wasn't working for her this evening like it normally did. Usually, a couple of chapters or half an hour with a book and she was able to wind down enough to sleep - at least until she reached the last quarter of the book or so. Then she had a hard time putting it down. She couldn't let herself get to that portion of a book at night. She had to find time during the day to read that part - or ensure she started early enough before bedtime. At least her ereader told her how long she had left in her book.

Instead, she stared out the window and wondered why she was having such a hard time doing something she normally loved.

A knock on the outer door caught her attention. Odd.