Page 21 of If the Shoe Fits (Rainbow Tales #2)

Leo slammed his fist down on the table. The man across from him flinched back in his chair.

“You have to be the one! You're the last record keeper here!” Leo shouted. “Admit it. You stole the Vesmalden family birth records!”

“No, Your Highness. I swear, I don't know anything about that missing book. But I do know that there was an heir recorded within the last twenty years. I remember recording it myself.”

Leo went still. His fist opened. He leaned on it. “You know about Xander?”

“I don't recall the name, Sire. But I remember Duke Vesmalden having an heir. His wife bore him a son. His first wife. It was a shame about her. She went missing, you know?”

“Missing? I thought she died?”

“Presumed dead.” The record keeper let out a shaky breath and sat forward.

“Yes, Your Highness. I most assuredly recall that.

I recall when the Duke took a new wife. He married again specifically to give his son a mother.

I don't believe he bore the woman any love.

He simply couldn't. Not after that amazing creature he was first married to. How can you get over a woman like that? No. Impossible.”

Leo snorted. “He may have been lucky with the first, but the second was bad luck indeed. Especially for his son. Xander would have fared better with no mother at all.”

“So I've surmised, Sire.”

Leo sat down. “If you didn't steal the record book, then who did? We've searched the entire hall. That book is gone.”

“We are not the only keepers ever to be employed here, Your Highness. Several others have come and gone.”

“Son of a bitch,” Leo growled. “I hadn't thought of that. Do you know the others—the ones who no longer work here?”

“I know a few.” The man shrugged. “Perhaps there is a record of the record keepers?” He grimaced. “I suppose one of us would be in charge of it. Oh! Maybe the castle steward would know. He is the one who hired me.”

“Yes, that's a good idea. Thank you so much.” Leo paused and then shouted, “Helpin!” Then his face twitched. “Help. In. Huh. How have I never noticed that? What an appropriate name for him. Almost as if someone named him, knowing he would be helpful.”

“What was that, Your Highness?” Helpin asked as he stepped around a shelf of records.

“Your name. It's as if you were named to be of service.”

“Well, I am the son of the castle steward.”

“The castle steward, you say?” Leo smirked at the record keeper. “So, you were raised to take a position here?”

“Yes, Sire.”

“It seems as if we are both subject to the chance of our births.”

“I believe that goes for everyone, Your Highness. One of us is more subject than the other. ”

Leo snorted. “Yes, I suppose so. Thank you for all you do for me, Helpin. You truly are a great help, and I don't acknowledge it enough.”

Helpin blinked, shared a look of surprise with the record keeper, and then said, “Oh. I . . . it's my pleasure, Your Highness.”

“Could you help me once more? I need to find the record keepers who worked around the time of Duke Vesmalden's death, but who thereafter left our employ. I believe your father hires the record keepers. Perhaps he will know?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I'm sure he will. I will find him at once.”

“Thank you.” Prince Leovar nodded toward the record keeper. “I've found someone who remembers Xander's birth. He recorded it.”

“You did?” Helpin strode over to the record keeper. “You remember the heir of Vesmalden?”

“Not the man in question,” the record keeper said. “I don't remember his name. Only that there was an heir. I recall his mother as well. She went missing, and then the Duke remarried.”

“Dear God,” Helpin whispered.

“I told you Xander was telling the truth.” Leo pointed at Helpin. “This is proof, isn't it? The mere fact that there was an heir and that bitch duchess has never mentioned him is proof of Xander's claim.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Helpin gaped at him. “I admit I thought you were fooled by a pretty face.”

“Is it enough to oust that woman and return Xander's inheritance? ”

Helpin scowled. “I don't believe so. All we have is one man who remembers there being an heir.” He looked at the record keeper. “Do you remember what the heir looked like? Perhaps the color of his hair? Anything about him that could identify him?”

“I'm sorry. As I told His Highness, I only recall that there was an heir. Not his name. Although Xander sounds familiar. It's an unusual name, and I remember the boy having such.”

Helpin sighed. “That's still not enough to convict a duchess of stealing her stepson's inheritance.”

“But this is proof that there was a stepson!” Leo waved at the record keeper.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Helpin said. “And it's enough to justify further investigation into Duchess Vesmalden. It's enough to cast a firm suspicion. Now, even your father would have to support this investigation.”

“At least there's that.” Leo sat back in his chair.

“This is good news, Your Highness.” Helpin frowned at his master's mood. “Why aren't you encouraged?”

“Because I can't return to Xander until I've found a way for us to be together. Publicly.”

“Your Highness.” Helpin shook his head. “Even should you restore the lost heir, you could not have him as a consort. This is not a solution.”

“No, but it would have been a start.”

“Very well then. We shall keep pursuing this until we find a solution. I very much would like to see you happy.”

Leo stared at Helpin. “Thank you, Helpin.” Then he grimaced. “I was just hoping for happiness a bit faster. ”

Helpin rolled his eyes and walked away, muttering something about the impatience of youth.