Debutantes Don't Date
Kristina O'Grady
At the stroke of midnight…One minute Grace Lancaster is an overworked event manager organising 2013’s New Year’s Eve ball… The next she’s kissing a rather gorgeous man at the Regency themed party. Everyone’s entitled to an out-of-character New Year’s kiss, right? Except Jasper Mossman, Earl of Bingham, isn’t at a costume party - he’s a real-life gentleman from 1813…And, it seems, kissing a man in Regency London has consequences!What Grace considers normal behaviour scandalises Regency society and so far she’s provided the irrepressible gossips of the ton with a season’s worth of conversation! In a scramble to protect her reputation, as well as his own, Jasper insists that they marry for the sake of her honour. Marrying Mr Darcy might be a 21st century girl’s dream – but the reality is far from romantic. Corsets are uncomfortable, no running water is disastrous! Grace had always planned on falling in love before she got married, but when Jasper takes her in his arms she just might believe she’s finally found her very own Prince Charming.
At the stroke of midnight…
One minute Grace Lancaster is an overworked event manager organising 2013’s New Year’s Eve ball… The next she’s kissing a rather gorgeous man at the Regency themed party. Everyone’s entitled to an out-of-character New Year’s kiss, right? Except Jasper Mossman, Earl of Bingham, isn’t at a costume party - he’s a real-life gentleman from 1813…
And, it seems, kissing a man in Regency London has consequences!
What Grace considers normal behaviour scandalises Regency society and so far she’s provided the irrepressible gossips of the ton with a season’s worth of conversation! In a scramble to protect her reputation, as well as his own, Jasper insists that they marry for the sake of her honour. Marrying Mr Darcy might be a 21
century girl’s dream – but the reality is far from romantic. Corsets are uncomfortable, no running water is disastrous! Grace had always planned on falling in love before she got married, but when Jasper takes her in his arms she just might believe she’s finally found her very own Prince Charming.
Debutantes Don’t Date
Kristina O’Grady
www.CarinaUK.com (http://www.CarinaUK.com)
KRISTINA O’GRADY
has always loved telling a good story. She took up writing at a young age and spent many hours (when she should have been doing her math homework) writing romance stories in a book she hid in her sock drawer. She still remembers the first romance book she ever read. She was without anything to read (oh no) while on vacation with her family and bought a book in the small shop in the hotel lobby. It involved an Earl, a horse and, of course, a Lady with a very bad fever. Since then she has been hooked on the Regency era.
Kristina grew up on a cattle ranch in Western Canada and although has been told many times she should be writing about cowboys, she can’t seem to leave the fantasy of Dukes and Earls alone. She worked in the Oil and Gas Industry for several years first as a labourer, machine operator, crew foreman, technician and eventually as an environmental consultant. She loves getting out in the fresh air and enjoying the peace of nature. In mid-2000 Kristina met her own knight in shining armour/cowboy who swept her off her feet and across the world to New Zealand, where she now lives on a sheep and beef farm with her amazingly supportive husband, three gorgeous young kids, seven working dogs and one very needy cat.
Contents
Cover (#u51224341-431f-53eb-bdd1-30ee37c251f8)
Blurb (#ud2c47e03-3fa9-5b04-893d-9fb4b7c184d8)
Title Page (#uc6dbfe4a-a1a7-5f16-95ff-bacc807f298f)
Author Bio (#ubf7abea5-ef25-5972-8f49-0d9bd59933bb)
Acknowledgements (#u36bc86c0-1a8d-578f-9d3a-6aa3e14b3b7a)
Dedication (#u4ff84b74-395f-55f8-9d0a-f8e060df54e1)
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
I would like to thank all the people who helped me bring this book together. You know who you are; all the babysitters, cheerers, readers, writing partners/critiquers, friends and family. Thank you all so much, I don’t think you could ever know how much your help and support means to me.
A special Thank You to RWNZ for your fantastic writing support, to Harlequin’s SoYouThinkYouCanWrite 2013 contest for passing my manuscript along to Carina UK and finally to my editor, Victoria Oundjian.
To Gramma Lee, for inspiring me to write in the first place.
To Carl Block and Doug Moss, for the motivation to follow my dream.
And to Mick, because I love you.
Chapter One (#uca52f632-a519-58aa-a558-34083d6046ce)
The Duke and Duchess of Kensington’s Manor
New Year’s Eve
London, 2013
“For crying out loud, woman, take a break already! This party’s not going to come apart if you take ten minutes.”
Grace Lancaster’s headset vibrated with her boss’s gruff voice. There was so much to do before midnight; she really didn’t want to stop. She knew from experience that as soon as she did, some disaster would strike. And with this being the biggest account she’d ever handled, she couldn’t afford to listen to her boss’s advice. And why did he always yell into his headset microphone? He did the same thing with his cell phone; it drove her absolutely nuts. She reached up, turned down the volume and rehearsed a little lie in her head before responding.
“Thanks, Ron. I’ll take a break after I do one more check around the room. Oh and Jane,” she said to her assistant through her headset, “could you check the refreshment room for me? A little old lady told me the crab cakes have run out; we have to keep to the theme so we need them. And the Duke wants to speak to you, Ron. He mentioned something about a bonus.”
She knew the mention of a bonus would keep Ron off her back for a little while, and that part wasn’t a lie; neither was the thing about the crab cakes. It was just in the part about taking a break that she stretched the truth. She watched the crowd flow around her. They were all dressed in costumes from the Regency era. The Kensington Kings and Queens New Year’s Eve Ball was an annual event and this year’s theme was the early 1800s. The Duke and Duchess of Kensington had been putting this ball on for generations. In fact, the ball itself dated back to the Regency period. Of course then it wasn’t a charity event, but a ball for high society, all the Lords and Ladies of the ton would vie for an invitation. Nowadays, you had to pay for the privilege of attending, and it wasn’t cheap: at over £3,000 a plate, the charity that was supported always made a hefty profit for the night.
Surprisingly, Grace was able to take a quick break just before midnight; she figured she might as well take one now as getting one after 2014 rolled in would be impossible. She grabbed a flute of champagne from a passing waiter and downed it quickly before replacing her glass with another. The bubbles tickled as they slid down her parched throat. She didn’t usually drink and she definitely didn’t like sparkling wine, but she was so thirsty she couldn’t help but have another glass. She could feel the alcohol make its way through her bloodstream. She leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes for a moment to relax.
She felt a bit ridiculous dressed in full costume of Regency England, especially with her event manager’s headset on, but then again everyone else was dressed up so she fitted in with the rest of them. There were even several Prinnys, the Prince Regent, present, all dressed as flamboyantly as possible. She thought she looked quite respectable with her simple but elegant dress. She loved the puffed sleeves and high waistline. The style suited her body type and she was happy she’d found this costume yesterday at a second-hand store. It was too bad she couldn’t wear this kind of clothing every day instead of her business suit and stilettos.
She reached up and took her headset off for the first time in seven hours. As she set it on the small table next to her, she noticed something sparkling on the floor under the table. She bent down to pick it up. She didn’t have anything sparkly on her costume so it must have fallen off someone else’s dress. She would put it in her bag and take it to the Duchess in the morning. Just as her fingers clasped the object, the power cut out and the room plunged into darkness. Amid the screams she could hear the clock striking twelve.
***
The Duke and Duchess of Kensington’s Manor
New Year’s Eve
London, 1813
Lady Anne Higgins waited beside her mother, Lady Alderton, for Lord Bingham to come and escort her for a set. Her mother had already turned away three suitable gentlemen in her confidence that Lord Bingham would walk her out for the first dance. Lady Anne didn’t think he was even here yet.
“Anne, darling,” said her mother in a low voice, “I heard a rumour today from Lady Bishop that Lord Bingham is planning on speaking with your father tomorrow to ask for your hand. About time he did. I can’t understand why he didn’t ask for your hand when you first came out. He does need an heir, as we all know, and it has been arranged, I just don’t see why there is the delay.”
“Really, mother, I don’t see how Lady Bishop would know if or when Lord Bingham is going to marry.” Lady Anne turned her head and tried to pretend she was somewhere else.
“Of course he is going to marry, darling. He can’t make you wait much longer. It is your third season after all. He won’t want to wait until you are too old to bear children, so it must be soon that he will ask.” Lady Anne knew her mother was getting nervous for her. If Lord Bingham didn’t offer for her soon, she would be on the shelf and then she would never attract a suitable husband. “Where is that man? He should be here to escort you to the floor.” Lady Alderton craned her neck around trying to see if her future son-in-law was anywhere to be seen. “Oh, here comes your brother.”
Lady Anne watched as her brother, Robin Higgins, Baron of Wester, came towards them. Even though he was dressed in the latest fashion, he looked bedraggled as though he had been in a scuffle. He didn’t appear to be bleeding or bruised, so he couldn’t have been fighting. Besides he wouldn’t have wanted to mess up his pretty face, she thought cynically, he had probably just been drinking again at his club. She loved her brother dearly, but she knew he wanted something otherwise he would never seek her and their mother out.
“Hello, fair ladies. You are shining more brightly than any other belle here tonight.” Robin bowed formally over each of their hands before flashing his signature smile at them. “I was hoping you’d saved me a dance, dear sister. What do you say? Will you twirl around the floor once with your dear older brother?”
Lady Anne smiled in spite of herself. He was always able to charm her. “Of course, dear brother, I would like nothing more.” She placed her gloved fingers on his arm and followed him out onto the dance floor where the other dancers were waiting for the set to start, glad at least to be away from her mother.
“I needed to get you away from mama. I have a favour to ask,” Robin whispered in her ear just as the music started so that she spent the rest of the dance waiting for the inevitable. Just as she thought, he wanted something.
As the dancers caught their breath, Robin whisked her out the door into the garden. “Follow me, Anne. We won’t be disturbed down here.” Anne followed closely, trying not to trip on a wayward branch or stone. It was dark in the garden and cold. She shivered and regretted not being able to retrieve her wrap before venturing outside. His Grace should invest in some more lights. Maybe she should mention it to the Duchess next time she saw her, although she supposed that the dark corners of the garden provided some privacy for couples seeking some air.
Anne’s thoughts about lights and dark garden corners disappeared when Robin opened his mouth. “I have decided when Lord Bingham marries you, I’ll put half of your monthly allowance into investments on your behalf.” He held his hand up and waved it around when she opened her mouth to protest. “Now now, don’t thank me. It’s the least I can do for my little sister. I wouldn’t want to see you not being looked after when you leave father’s care, now would I? I’ve already had my man draw up the papers. I’ll bring them around first thing in the morning for you to sign. Well, maybe not first thing, eh? I think that I will go off to my club and celebrate your good fortune. Take care, sis.” Before Anne could say anything at all he kissed her cheeks and turned and walked away from her. He left her alone in the garden! He was going to invest her money was he? She’s like to see him try! He must have run out of money again. He was always living far above his means. Father had cut him off last year after having to bail him out one too many times. Now he was after her money! It wasn’t as though Lord Bingham wouldn’t look after her himself. And besides, she had plans for that income. Oh, he made her so mad!
Lady Anne looked around her. It was so dark in the garden she could barely make out the path back to the house. Wonderful! She’ll probably twist her ankle heading back.
Jasper Mossman, Earl of Bingham, surveyed the room. He wasn’t sure why he was even here tonight. He’d already picked the next Countess. He just hadn’t informed the lady as yet.
The ball was a huge crush. He could barely move for all the people here. Invitations to the Duke and Duchess of Kensington’s New Year’s celebrations were always coveted by the ton. As an earl, he of course was invited. One did not forget to invite Lord Bingham to events. Mothers were always in high hopes of their daughters becoming the next Countess.
Jasper could see Lady Anne Higgins standing next to her mother on the outskirts of the dance floor, more than likely waiting for him to escort her out for a set. She was lovely with her blonde curls and flowing dress, a smile always on her lips. Her mother? Lady Alderton waved enthusiastically in his direction. Jasper turned in the other direction. If it wasn’t for her mother, he would have asked for Lady Anne’s hand by now. He just couldn’t endure that woman. He shuddered at the prospect of having her as a mother-in-law. Maybe he could move Anne and himself to the estate in the country, that way her mother wouldn’t visit that often…but then again when she did visit, she would stay for days, weeks or months even. Umm, maybe they could move to the Americas. God, it was giving him a headache and he hadn’t even married the girl yet.
Ah, there was Eaglestone coming through the door now. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be an absolute bore after all. Jasper watched his friend Philip Blade, Baron Eaglestone make his way down the congested steps into the ballroom until a loud collective gasp across the room caught his attention.
What the devil? He turned towards the commotion near the refreshment room. Some silly chit was making a spectacle of herself; her skirt was almost up to her waist! And it didn’t appear as though anyone was coming to her rescue.
“What’s the world coming to when a lady’s mamma can’t even keep her daughter’s stockings out of view?” Philip said when he made his way to Jasper’s side. “Good thing Lady Anne would never act in such a disgraceful manner, eh Bingham?” Philip nudged him with his elbow and winked.
“What’s that, Philip?” Jasper peeled his eyes from the enchanting display to look at his friend. “Sorry, I got a bit distracted,” he grinned.
“I was just saying Lady Anne would never behave like that in public.”
“More’s the pity,” Jasper mumbled. “You’re right about that. Remind me, why am I offering for her again?”
“‘To carry on the succession’, of course. ‘We Lords must all do our duty one day’,” Philip quoted in his father’s stern voice. “Lucky for me, I am still expected to have my fun, while you, my old friend, must take up your duty at once.” Philip laughed.
“You’re only two years my junior.”
“That may be, but I’m still free to have my fun. You, my friend, are not. And if you don’t mind, I think I’ll go and partake in some of the fun that is expected of me. You should go and enjoy some too, before you become betrothed tomorrow.”
“I haven’t asked her yet, and maybe I won’t,” although they both knew he was talking rot. “Besides, who is to say that Alderton will even agree to the match anyway?”
“If you ask, he will agree,” Philip stated deadpan. “He won’t get a better offer. Besides, it is expected. Your parents arranged it with him after all. I think he would be more surprised if you didn’t ask. Word is Lady Anne has been groomed to marry you and only you. You can’t disappoint her, now can you?” he said with a wink and another nudge.
Disappoint her? No. Disappoint himself? Aye well Jasper felt more and more disappointed every passing year. His world was closing in on him and there was nothing he could do about it. The responsibility to his family and his line pressed down on his shoulders as a tremendous weight. He’d felt it since his father died, but lately it was dragging him under. He put on his best smile and said, “You know me, my friend, I never disappoint the ladies.”
Philip watched as his friend walked away, knowing that Jasper would behave as he always did: properly. He never partook in anything even remotely scandalous. Not since Eton, anyway. Not since his parents were taken from him and the responsibility of the Earldom was placed squarely upon his shoulders. Not that the truth of the matter stopped the rumour mill. There had been more rumours about Lord Bingham and his exploits than humanly possible; or humanly desirable for that matter. Really, who thought up the one about Jasper visiting five different brothels every night, Sundays included? No one who actually knew his friend, that was for sure.
As the crowd swallowed Jasper, Philip wished his friend would misbehave just once.
***
Grace stumbled slightly when the lights went out at midnight and she dropped the object in her hand. “Damn.” She hoped it didn’t break. She didn’t get a good look at it before the lights went off, but it felt like a brooch or a pin. Getting out from under the table wearing a costume was becoming a bit of a battle. With her bum pointed high in the air and her head still stuck under the table she elicited shocked gasps behind her when the lights flickered back on. She tried to scramble to her feet, giving her growing audience a glimpse of more than they bargained for, before she tripped on the skirt of her gown and fell hard back onto her bottom and whacked the back of her head on the table. This was ridiculous. A few glasses of wine should not make her so off-balance. It never had before, although she has never had a ‘few’ glasses so close together…but still. The room felt sideways, as if the world had been tipped off its axis. The lights in the room were oddly dim and her mind was fuzzy. She was suddenly confused and unsure where she was. Tears burned her eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks which would cap off her moment of humiliation.
Through the crowd of people gathered to see her indignity, a hand reached for hers. “Need help, my lady?” She might not be able to see straight, but she could see the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on. My God, he looked like Ryan Gosling in ‘The Notebook’. Oh she hoped it wasn’t him. She had a rule against dating celebrities.
He was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. His eyes crinkled as he smiled down at her and the slight dimple in his right cheek stole the breath from her lungs. The fact that the hand held out to her belonged to him was a dream come true and she grasped hold of it firmly. As soon as she made contact with his skin awareness shot up her arm and forced a gasp from her lips.
The mystery man helped her up and tried to straighten her skirts by running his hands up and down her body. Desire flowed through her along the same path as his hands. All she could do was stare longingly up at his mouth, and her tongue darted out to moisten her suddenly very dry lips. More gasps sounded around them, jerking her back into reality. She looked around her before grabbing hold of the man’s hand and she pulled him along behind her through the crowd, away from the gaping mouths and the shocked faces. She led him to an alcove, cleverly hidden behind a couple of pillars and a partly closed drape.
Grace pushed the drape aside so they could enter and turned to face the man she had just dragged through the ballroom. What the hell had she done? She had been so consumed with getting away from the incensed looks that she didn’t even think of what the poor man must think of her. Ha! As if he was poor! He oozed money and privilege; his clothes, although a costume, were obviously of the highest quality and were tailored to suit his body. Actually, they fitted him like a glove. She couldn’t stop herself from running her eyes up and down every glorious inch of him and mentally peeling his perfect clothes off his body.
She often rubbed shoulders with these types of people through her work but she never looked at them. She hadn’t looked at any man for three years. She didn’t have the time or the inclination. But right now, with her brain fuzzy and the room slightly off its axis, she couldn’t think of the reason why she never looked and why she definitely never touched. There was only one thing she could think of as she gazed up at this gorgeous man in this closed-off corner; it was as though they were all alone in the world. Even with the sound of the ball surrounding them, they were in a cocoon. What the hell, she would be gone in the morning and no one would ever know.
She stepped closer and grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him into her lips. He jerked with the initial shock and then relaxed completely into Grace’s overheated body. He grabbed her hips and hauled her body closer, pressing himself to her heat. He took her over, consuming her until she was at the point where she tried to crawl into him. Grace could feel his erection against her belly as she hiked her leg up to wrap around his thigh. One of his hands grabbed her ass and pulled her tighter to him still. The other made its way up her skirt. Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and grabbed handfuls of his hair. Moans were forced from her lips as they embarked on a dance entirely different to any the ball was intended to provoke.
Whatever he had been expecting when he followed her into the alcove it was not this! He waited for her to say something once they arrived, but no words had come from her lips. But when she stepped towards him with a look in her eyes that he recognised but was surprised to see in a ballroom, he couldn’t believe his luck. This little woman was just what he needed before he tied himself to ball and chain. The girl’s lips melted into his and opened willingly to his tongue. She had kissed before, he was sure of that, as he ran his hands up and down her body, pressing her closer to him. She did not shy away; instead she pushed her body further against him and tried to get closer. No innocent would behave thus. She must have kissed before!
Blood roared in his ears as his whole body throbbed with need. The woman hiked her leg up onto his waist and his fingers involuntarily found the hem of her dress and slid up her smooth leg. His lips trailed kisses along her jawline to just under her ear so he could taste her intoxicating skin. The hand under her skirt slid past her knee and closer to her heat. He felt her tongue slide against his ear and shivers cascaded through his body. He heard an outraged gasp. It took a moment to realise that the sound did not come from the lady in his arms but from the entrance to their hiding spot. Jasper jerked his lips away from her sweet silky neck so fast that he gave himself whiplash swinging his head towards the opening in the drape and to the woman who stood there with her mouth hanging open.
Mrs Hillary Barrett watched with interest as a little raven-haired woman pulled Lord Bingham from the spectators. She wondered who the young lady was that made such a commotion. Her friends would dine out on this gossip for a week; she had never seen him follow any female willingly anywhere, besides his sister of course.
Hillary followed them closely, watching as the couple disappeared behind the pillar. She looked over her shoulder to see if any of her cronies had spotted this little rendezvous. Seeing all her lady friends were still discussing the spectacle the young woman had made, she rubbed her hands together with glee. She may just find the scandal of the year! This may be even better than seeing the young woman with her skirts around her ears. She rounded the corner into the alcove and stopped as a gasp was torn from her lips. This was even better than she thought!
Jasper wrenched his mouth away from the vixen and turned to see the one and only Mrs Hillary Barrett, the ton’s biggest gossip, staring at him with outraged shock.
“Lord Bingham! What on earth do you think you are doing with that young lady?”
Jasper looked down at the beauty in his arms. Her body was plastered against his, her glossy hair spilling down his left arm. Somewhere along the way her hairpins had fallen out. Her heaving breasts pressed to his chest, her clothes were slightly askew and her leg was still wrapped tightly around his thigh as though she was trying to climb him. He belatedly realised one of his hands was on her backside, pulling her closer to him, and his other hand was up her skirt just shy of her heat. He let go and dropped her like a hot poker. He turned to face his adversary, shoving the unknown woman behind him to keep her from Mrs Barrett’s prying eyes.
“Forgive me, I was just getting myself acquainted with my new fiancée, Mrs Barrett. I was just so happy with her answer I seem to have got carried away in the happy moment. If you would be so kind as to give us a minute, I would be happy to introduce you to my bride-to-be as soon as we have put ourselves to rights.” He smiled so sweetly that she blushed.
“Of course, my dear, I would be the last one to deny a new couple their happy moment.” She turned and ducked out of the alcove.
“Well, that was embarrassing,” the woman he was just making love to said once the curtain twitched back to its resting place. “I can’t believe she just barged in like that.”
Oh God, she was American, his sister was going to love this. “I can’t believe I fell for this. No one else has ever managed to do it, but you got me.” He turned towards the dishevelled beauty who was frantically trying to fix her dress. No matter what she did, it still kept gaping in the front, showing off the creamy tops of her breasts. He stared as her nipples played peek-a-boo with the lace of her bodice.
“What? What do you mean, I got you? Do you think someone put me up to this as a joke?” She looked up in disbelief from her ruined dress. “It’s terribly embarrassing getting caught kissing someone in the corner, but I assure you it was no practical joke.” Exasperated, she threw her hands down. “I can’t fix this blasted dress! Now what am I going to do? I can’t go back out there looking like this, not tonight.”
“Here, let me,” and, with experienced hands, he adjusted her dress so her breasts were no longer in danger of falling out. Jesus, it was hard to concentrate with this woman around. How in the hell was he going to get out of the mess she created? “This certainly is not a joke!” He stepped back and ran his hands through his hair. “I now must do the honourable thing…and to the wrong woman too! God damn it, what a mess. Where is your father? I must speak to him immediately.”
“My dad is dead. Did you just tell that lady I’m your fiancée?” Her beautiful mouth dropped open and then broke into a smile as she finally registered what he had said earlier. “Fast thinking, but are you crazy? At least that old lady won’t be too worried now, will she? But you don’t even know me, I could be some psycho for all you know.”
Jasper scrubbed his face with his hands and thought maybe he was the crazy one. He should just walk away from this fortune-hunter and leave her to the wolves. Who cared about her reputation? It was all but ruined from her display earlier anyway; his reputation would survive, men got away with so much more. But looking down at the confusion evident in her eyes, he couldn’t just leave her there. Besides, if he was honest with himself, she was not the only one to blame in this predicament. He suspected he couldn’t walk away from the passion he still felt for her. His hands still tingled where he had accidently brushed against the warm skin of her breast while he was setting her dress to rights, for God’s sake. How could he walk away from that? His passion for her was immediate and so intense he, for the first time ever, had forgotten where he was and what the consequences would be if he was caught. And caught he was.
“Do you have a brother I could speak to then?”
“No. My whole family died in a car accident three years ago.”
“Car accident? Oh, you mean carriage. I’m so sorry to hear that. You have my deepest condolences.” He could relate to losing loved ones and he didn’t wish that emptiness on anyone.
“They crashed on the interstate just before Christmas, three years ago. The road was covered in ice.” Tears welled up in her eyes and he could read the terror on her face as she relived it.
A strange protectiveness washed over him as he watched the sadness spread across her face. He couldn’t help but step forward and pull her into his arms. “You have no family, but all is well now, you have me. I’ll look after you, don’t worry. Stay here, I will go and find my sister.” He gently kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back,” and then he ducked from the alcove.
Jasper pushed his way through the crowd, trying to locate his sister Victoria. She was his voice of reason whenever he did something rash. He hadn’t gone to her for quite some time; he thought he was all grown up and could look after himself. How wrong he was. If there ever was a need for her advice, now was it. Heat from his sudden desire stilled pulsed through his veins. The protectiveness he felt towards the mystery woman overwhelmed his senses until he couldn’t think properly. He hadn’t even asked her name before he left her there.
“Damn.” Several outraged gasps rose from the group of ladies next to where he came to an abrupt stop. “I do beg your pardon.” He nodded in the ladies’ direction, turned around and went back the way he had come. He shouldn’t have left her there all by herself. Busybody Barrett would have cornered her by now.
“Ah, Lord Bingham, a word if you please.” It was the father of Lady Anne, the woman he was supposed to marry; Richard Higgins, Earl of Alderton.
“Oh. Ah, umm, Lord Alderton, about our appointment tomorrow, umm, something’s come up. I won’t be able to make it.” Jasper stumbled with an excuse to un-ask the man’s daughter for her hand. Thank God he hadn’t actually asked her yet.
“Oh, my boy, I hope it’s nothing serious.”
Jasper choked on a cough. “No, my lord, nothing I can’t handle. But speaking of which, sir, I must run.”
Before Jasper could escape however, Lord Alderton caught his arm. “Oh none of that ‘sir’ stuff, my boy. Call me Dick; we’re practically family now, aren’t we?” Lord Alderton winked and slapped him on the back affectionately.
Damnation!. “Ah, I really must go now, Alderton…Dick.” Jasper quickly turned and lost himself in the crowd before he could dig himself into an even bigger hole than he already found himself in.
“Jasper.” He stopped when a hand touched his arm and he heard a voice he recognised. “What is going on? What’s this about you going off with some girl?”
Jasper let out a sigh of relief. “Oh thank goodness it’s you. I need your help, Victoria.”
Grace closed her eyes, took a deep calming breath and counted to three as she exhaled. When she opened her eyes a figure came around the pillar, but it wasn’t who she was expecting. It was Mrs Hillary Barrett.
“So you are the gel that has snared him at last, are you?” the nasty old lady blurted as soon as the curtain fell back in place.
Grace’s hackles rose. “I don’t know what you mean. All we were doing was kissing.” As if it was any of her business anyway, the old battle-axe.
The older woman sucked in her breath. “You’re American? It’s just like you upstarts to come over here and steal our men.” She made it sound like Grace had the pox or something.
“Excuse me? You have no right to insult me or my country. You probably haven’t even been there, so what would you know what we Americans are like? Besides, it’s none of your business anyway.” Where was that guy, it was just like a man to keep her waiting here by herself. Was he even coming back? “I’m sorry, but I have to be going now.” She pushed past the strange old lady with her head held high and into the overcrowded ballroom. Enough of this nonsense, she had to get back to work.
Grace wandered around the ballroom trying to locate the rest of her team, but without her headset she couldn’t hope to locate them in this crowd. She looked at her phone and saw that it was 12:30 a.m., January 2014, a half hour since the lights went out and she hit her head…and dragged a man into a corner to have her wicked little way with him. A giggle escaped her lips. What had come over her? She would never behave like this on a normal night.
She needed to get some air and clear her head. She was about to escape into the garden when a voice whispered in her ear, “I thought I told you to stay where you were?” The man that made her hot just thinking about touched her arm and said, “Come with me. My sister is waiting in the library.”
“I would really like to meet your sister, I would. But I have to get back to work. Maybe I will see you before I go?” Her heart thumped wildly. She rubbed her hands on her skirt to get rid of the moisture. She wished she hadn’t drunk so much champagne…or hit her head on the table. This night was getting so confusing. She may have been able to figure out what was going on if she had kept away from the alcohol. Actually she wouldn’t be in this mess at all if she had managed to stay sober. She knew she shouldn’t have taken a break.
“Sorry, what kind of work are you in?” It would be just his luck if he had made his intentions known to a prostitute.
“I’m an event manager. I organised tonight’s event.”
“I don’t think that the Duchess of Kensington will take kindly to you saying that out loud, even if you did organise it all. She won’t want word to get out that she was unable to arrange her own ball.” The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled down at her. “Besides, everything is running smoothly, the place is packed. It is a crush! A success, don’t you think; so what more can you do here? Come with me and meet my sister and we can talk about what to do next. And I can see Mrs Barrett talking to her crones over there and it’s only an amount of time before they notice us.”
He pointed across the room and sure enough she could see the old battle-axe deep in conversation with some older ladies. Mrs Barrett did look like she was scanning the ballroom as she talked. The man was right; it would be only a matter of time before she spotted them.
“Come, let’s sneak out here.” He grabbed her hand and led her out the door into the garden and around the side of the balcony to the door of the library where his sister was waiting for him to explain how he had become engaged to the wrong girl.
Chapter Two (#uca52f632-a519-58aa-a558-34083d6046ce)
The first thing Grace noticed upon entering the library was the candles. There were no lights. The chandeliers hanging from the vast ceilings had candles in them. There were light bulbs in there earlier this evening; she had checked to make sure they were all in working order before the ball commenced. What the hell was going on???
The library housed a large desk, comfortable-looking chairs, a large man leaning against the mantle and an elegant woman sitting primly on the settee. Upon their entrance from the terrace, the woman rose to welcome Grace.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Jasper?” she said when it became evident that Jasper had lost his manners somewhere outside. “You must forgive me for being so bold as to do it myself then, but under the circumstances I am sure you will forgive my impertinence. I am Lady Harrison, but you may call me Victoria. This is my husband Neal, Lord Harrison,” she said gesturing to the man at the fire. He only raised his glass and nodded in her direction by way of greeting. “You must be the woman who has convinced my dear brother to marry. How nice to make your acquaintance.” She turned to Jasper then before Grace could make a reply, “Would you care to explain to me how you have managed to become engaged to this girl? It is my understanding that you are supposed to be offering for Lady Anne tomorrow.”
“Yes, I know that, Victoria, but I can’t offer for her now can I?”
“I don’t know, Jasper, you tell me. Why can’t you? What exactly have you done? And do you mind telling me why the gossip mill is working full-steam tonight? About our family? Again!”
“Victoria, you know none of those rumours are true.” Jasper pleaded with his sister as though this conversation had played many times before.
“So you’re telling my you will be offering for Lady Anne tomorrow, as planned then?”
“Well, uh, no, I can’t exactly do that.” Jasper looked in Grace’s direction. “Something’s come up.”
“Humph, I thought so.”
Lord Harrison stepped forward and bowed to Grace. “I don’t believe you have had a chance to tell us your name, my dear?”
“Oh, hello, it is very nice to meet you. I’m Grace Lancaster.” She grasped his outstretched hand and shook it before turning her attention back to the chandeliers.
“Of the Lancasters?” all three of them asked at the same time and she felt her skin prickle across her back as three sets of eyes focused on her.
Grace tore her attention from the chandelier long enough to answer. “I guess so. I do have some relatives in England, but I’ve never met them.” Her great-grandfather had gone over to America sometime in the last century, but she couldn’t remember when.
“And you’re an American?”
“Born and raised.”
Grace missed the look Jasper and his sister exchanged.
This might prove interesting. Old Lancaster was here tonight. Jasper needed to get this sorted out before the head of the Lancasters found out one of his relatives had been found in the arms of his business rival, if he hadn’t already. They each owned shares in opposing banking institutions; at the moment Lord Lancaster’s bank was having better returns but Jasper hoped to turn that around by the end of this financial year.
“Jasper.” Victoria motioned him to join her over by the mantelpiece next to Neal. “Something’s not right here.”
Neal nodded. “With whom did she come to the ball? You say her family’s dead?” Neal looked Jasper straight in the eye and Jasper was once again reminded how successful his brother-in-law was on the continent.
Shaking off Neal’s gaze, Jasper nodded. “Still, she wouldn’t be here by herself, would she? You’re right, Victoria, something’s not adding up.”
Miss Lancaster was still looking at the lights with a puzzled frown on her face. Had she never seen a chandelier before? Good God, she was a fortune-hunter. You would think she would’ve gone to Lancaster himself if she needed money, but if she was of the American line…? How on earth had he got himself into this mess?
“I suppose I should bring Ol’ Lancaster into this conversation? I saw him here earlier tonight.”
“I saw him leave a while ago.” Victoria laid her hand on his arm before he could turn towards the door. “The Duchess said his knee was bothering him again. She indicated he was traveling to his country estate in the morning so if you think we should discuss this with him, we should go to his townhouse now. But he may have retired for the night already.” Victoria removed her hand from his arm and put it to her forehead. “Oh, this gossip is going to run for months. A Lancaster, Jasper? Couldn’t you have been bewitched by anyone else?”
“Too late for that, Victoria, what’s done is done. But you will have to find her chaperone, Jasper.” Neal turned towards the lady in question and raised his voice. “Miss Lancaster, with whom did you arrive this evening?”
“Hmmm?” She relinquished her inspection of the lighting, and turned towards them. “Oh, I came this afternoon with the rest of the crew. Long before any guests arrived. Speaking of which, I do need to get back to work.” She walked towards them and stuck out her hand. “It was lovely to meet you all, do be sure to enjoy the rest of your evening.” She had plastered a perfect smile on her face, as though she was used to pacifying difficult guests.
Her hand stayed outstretched for a moment too long before Neal stepped forward to claim it. Something clenched in Jasper’s stomach as Neal brought her hand to his lips. Miss Lancaster’s face coloured and Jasper wondered if she always blushed so easily.
Neal didn’t release her hand, but used it to lead her to the settee. Jasper bristled when Neal took the seat next to her. He left his sister to look after herself and made his way over to them and sat in the chair nearest Miss Lancaster.
He should’ve known better.
Victoria cleared her throat and raised her eyebrow at him.
Damn. He extricated himself from his seat and gallantly offered it to Victoria. By the time he had fetched another chair from the other side of the room, the conversation was well on its way again.
“…escort? No, I didn’t pay anyone to come with me, and if I did, I wouldn’t tell anyway.” Her laughter filled the room. The musical sound shot straight to Jasper’s groin and in that moment he decided he would do anything to make her laugh again.
She opened her reticule and after a moment of intense searching she pulled a small, smooth metal case from its depths. She opened the case and handed them each a piece of paper. Jasper looked at the card in his hand.
A calling card.
Sinclair Functions Ltd.
Parties with a differenceSenior Party Planner Grace Lancaster (212) 527-8636 g.lancaster@sinclairfunctions.com (mailto:g.lancaster@sinclairfunctions.com)www.sinclairfunctions.com (http://www.sinclairfunctions.com)
“You plan parties?” Victoria asked after a moment.
“Yes. But not just parties. We plan weddings, balls, like this one, conferences, birthday parties, engagement parties, expos, anniversaries, you name it, we can organise anything you like.”
“I’ve never heard of a ‘party planner’ before.”
“You haven’t? That’s weird. Surely you’ve watched The Wedding Planner?”
“Miss Lancaster, who exactly did you come with tonight?” Neal was obviously tired of this absolutely bizarre conversation. “I need a name.”
“Well, my boss is here. Ron Sinclair. You can ask him. You can even ask the Duchess of Kensington if you like. She’s the one who hired us for this function.” The tone of her voice changed. She was also getting tired of the conversation. “I really need to be going now. I thank you for your time and your help with my wardrobe malfunction, Mr…? Sorry I didn’t catch your name.” Her eyes bore into his and Jasper’s stomach clenched again and something lower stirred back to life.
“Jasper. You can call me Jasper.” Somewhere far away he heard Victoria gasp and say his name.
“Well. Thank you. But I need to go. Have a wonderful night.” She rose and headed to the door.
“Wait.” Jasper jumped to his feet; she couldn’t just walk away from him. “I need to know. Why me? Why did you single me out?”
“What d’you mean?”
“Why did you take me into the alcove tonight? Was it for my money? Or was it revenge?”
“Revenge? I don’t think so. I don’t even know who you are. Look, this has been a slice, but I really need to get back out there.”
That couldn’t be right. Surely she knew who he was? “I’m terribly sorry, Miss Lancaster, allow me to properly introduce myself. I’m Jasper Vincent Colin Mossman, Earl of Bingham. But I’m sure you knew that when you singled me out.”
Seriously? What was wrong with these people? Had they all had a turn or did madness run in their family? Whatever it was, it was seriously freaking her out! Why were they so desperate to meet who she came with? They were behaving as though she’d committed a heinous crime. Granted, Ron wouldn’t be too impressed she’d kissed one of the guests, but did he really need to know? The way these people were behaving, she’d be lucky to get off lightly. She might as well kiss her dream of living in Paris goodbye.
God, her head hurt. She must’ve hit it harder than she thought. When would this night be over? All she wanted to do was curl up in her hotel bed and sleep for a week. But she couldn’t do that. Not yet. Not until this blasted party was over. Ron didn’t expect it to wind down until at least sunrise.
God, this was so embarrassing. If she knew she’d be involved in an interrogation, she wouldn’t have led him into the alcove. No kiss was worth this…no matter how good it was. She could feel her face redden at the memory.
But what she really wanted to know was what was up with those lights? She examined the chandelier again. Maybe if she stood on a chair she could get a better look. She glanced at the trio of weirdos and thought better of it. They’d probably call the cops on her. How did candles end up in those chandeliers? It created a certain ambience, she would give it that, but who would have replaced the real lights with candles? Especially without her knowing? Maybe it was an optical illusion; lights designed to look like candles. Now why hadn’t she thought of that? She made a mental note to find them for her next event.
Now that she’d sorted that out she could bring her mind to the task at hand. She needed to finish this conversation so she could get back to work. This had taken up far too much of her time, and there was still so much to do before the end of the night. What was it ‘Jasper’ was going on about now?
“Sorry, what was that?” She hated to ask.
“I asked why you chose me as your target tonight.”
Grace looked at the man she had jumped, practically raped even. His clothes moulded to his body, showing off his muscular chest and broad shoulders. Her eyes travelled down over his trim waist to his tight pants. They didn’t leave much to the imagination. She knew her face would be the colour of her favourite underwear, she always blushed so profusely. God, this conversation was not happening. She was going to have to tell him the truth and in front of his sister too. He just wouldn’t let it go, would he? If at all possible her face got even redder.
“Well, you see, the thing is, I haven’t had a relationship for a long time and I seem to have had too much to drink tonight. I couldn’t stop myself, you were just too good-looking and you rescued me from that awful crowd. Besides, it is just this once and if I wasn’t in a foreign country I would never have dared do what I, we, did, but I will never see you again, so I thought it would be safe. I actually can’t see what all the fuss is about. It was only a kiss.” She stopped abruptly. She tended to babble when she got nervous; it was a habit she found hard to break.
“A kiss that the biggest gossip in all of England just happened to see!” He ran his hands through his hair. His head must hurt from pulling his hair so much. “We’ll have to be married. There’s no other way to avoid a scandal.”
Grace finally really looked into the three pairs of eyes boring into her. “What kind of party is this?”
Chapter Three (#uca52f632-a519-58aa-a558-34083d6046ce)
The girl was a sure candidate for Bedlam.
Or a good actress. Watching her one would think she was surprised, outraged even, at the consequences of being caught by Mrs Barrett. That’s what worried him most. The fact that she might not be acting. Because if that was the case, he’d be stuck marrying a mad woman. He should have picked Lady Anne after all. At least she never cried or tried to run away from him. This girl was currently trying to break past Neal to get to the door. Hell fire, she could scrap. Another worrying thought. He definitely wasn’t envious of Neal as he dodged her flying fists. She looked as though she knew what she was doing. Jasper winced in sympathy as she connected a right to Neal’s eye.
Who was she? He certainly didn’t believe she had planned this ball.
Enough of this. “I’m going to get the Duchess.” It was past time she was brought into this.
Once he was out of the library he did his best at smoothing the scowl from his face, but he wasn’t sure how successful he was because by the time he found the Duchess of Kensington men and ladies alike were making way for him as though he was Moses and they were the Red Sea.
The Duchess of Kensington pursed her lips at his request to accompany him. She must have heard the rumours already. In the end, she gave a nod, excused herself from her friends and placed her hand on his arm and allowed him to escort her from the room. They didn’t say a word to each other. Jasper had the distinct impression she knew what she was needed for.
At last the Duchess of Kensington was on her way. This would be sorted out in a matter of minutes.
Grace sat back down on the settee and placed her hands in her lap, pretending they didn’t throb from just moments before drawing blood with them. Really, it was all that man’s fault. If he’d just let her leave, he wouldn’t be sporting a black eye, bloody nose and split lip.
No one spoke. Lady Harrison sat in a chair across from her and Lord Harrison dabbed a hanky at his lip. They all watched the grandfather clock at the far wall. It was exactly twenty minutes before the door of the library opened.
Grace’s heart fell. The lady Jasper brought with him was not the Duchess of Kensington. This lady was short and slightly dumpy, although her costume was exquisite. She wore a blue silk period dress with a sliver lace overlay. But the best part of her outfit was her blue shoes playing peek-a-boo as she walked. Grace wondered if she’d had it especially made for the ball or if she rented it from a costume shop for the night. The Duchess of Kensington, whom she had been meeting with all week, was tall, slender and blonde. This lady was grey-haired and past her prime; Grace could see her wrinkles from here. And since Grace had talked to her about an hour or so before the kiss she knew the Duchess didn’t have nearly as charming a dress on as this lady.
Grace rose from her seat as the elderly woman made her way towards her. The lady was so proper that Grace couldn’t decide whether she should bob a curtsy or not. Maybe she was related to the Queen. You never knew at these types of events who you could run into.
“Miss Lancaster, may I present the Duchess of Kensington?” Jasper watched her face closely for her reaction. He wouldn’t have been disappointed by the shock that ricocheted through her body. Her mouth was stuck in the open position. But there was no way she could manage to close it, until she realised this must be the Duke of Kensington’s mother. She shut her jaw with a snap.
“How do you do, your grace? It is so nice to meet you. I have really enjoyed working with your daughter-in-law, organising this event.”
“Eh? I’m not aware of having a daughter-in-law. Who is it that you have been conversing with, Miss Lancaster?” The elderly lady leaned in close with a quizzical eye.
“The company I work for, Sinclair Functions Ltd, has been working closely with Jane, Duchess of Kensington to put together this fantastic fundraising event this evening. And I must say it has been an absolute pleasure to organise such an amazing…um…event.” Everyone in the room was staring at her as though she had lost her mind completely. “Is there something amiss?”
“Once again I must reiterate that I have no daughter-in-law and that I have never heard of a ‘Jane, Duchess of Kensington’. I think, my dear, you are confused and that it’s best if you sit down.” The lady led Grace back to her seat and sat next to her. “Lord Bingham!” the lady commanded. “Go and find my butler, Harvey, and tell him I require his services in the library, please.” She patted Grace’s hand. “Lady Harrison, fetch that blanket by the fire, will you, dear? And Lord Harrison, make yourself useful and fetch us all a glass of sherry.”
The world had stopped. Grace could feel herself falling. Everything was spinning around her. All she could think was ‘am I going crazy?’ Her vision narrowed, everything lost focus and her world slowly turned to black.
Chapter Four (#uca52f632-a519-58aa-a558-34083d6046ce)
Conversation and laughter quieted to an eerie silence as the foursome emerged from the library. Mrs Barrett had made certain the scene she had been privy to was spread to all her dearest friends. Of course she was shocked, simply shocked, she would say, at Bingham’s behaviour. She couldn’t say anything at all about the American however. Americans are very crass, don’t you know?
Everyone in the room stopped to watch the foursome leave the ball. Once the door shut behind them the room burst into animated conversation with the ladies whispering and giggling behind their fans and the men smiling knowingly to each other. The infamous Lord Bingham had finally been brought down by a woman.
Lord Bingham escorted Grace past the throng of spectators, his hand warm upon her back. She welcomed his support as she passed each curious face, so much so that she found herself leaning into his side. But she stopped dead when the front door opened before them.
What was going on?
The street was lined with horse-drawn carriages. The streetlights held flames, not the steady glow of light bulbs. Snow lay thick on the ground and smoke from many fireplaces filled the air. This was not the London she knew. She had arrived here this afternoon in a cab, and the streets had been packed with noisy cars and trucks. Where were they now?
“Miss Lancaster?” Lord Bingham’s voice was warm against her ear. “Come, our carriage is waiting.” He led her down the steps of the Manor and handed her into the carriage. He followed her in and settled himself beside her. Lord and Lady Harrison were already seated across from them.
She gazed out the window of the carriage and saw the streets filled with more carriages and carts and horses. She looked across to the other seat at her companions. She studied their clothes. She didn’t think they were wearing costumes like she was. She could feel the zipper against her skin. Lady Harrison’s dress had buttons down the back; she noticed them when she was led from the library. This was all too much for her to take in.
Grace frantically dug into the purse attached to her wrist. She fumbled for her cell phone and desperately tried to get a signal. It was no use. There was no signal. Things were not right here. In fact they were very, very wrong! She felt the panic begin to rise in her throat again but before it could overtake her, the carriage stopped and the coachman opened the door to reveal a grand house.
“Welcome to our home, Miss Lancaster,” Lady Harrison said as she turned to welcome her guest down from the carriage.
Grace felt her mouth fall open; she had never seen such a huge house. In the dark it was magnificent, all lit up. Looking all the way up to the roof hurt her neck. She had read all about Mayfair in the romances she used to read, and she always pictured town houses all stuck together, but to actually be here and see these grand houses for herself was something else entirely.
As Lord Bingham led her up the steps with his hand once again on the small of her back, a distinguished-looking gentleman opened the door of the house.
“Good evening, Hoskins, this is Miss Lancaster,” Lady Harrison said to her butler once he had closed the door behind them.
The old man turned his eye to her and bowed at the waist. Grace expected to hear him creak as he straightened but for such an elderly man he seemed agile enough. “Pleased to meet you, miss.”
“It is very nice to meet you too, Mr Hoskins.” She managed a small smile and shook his hand.
“Miss Lancaster will be staying with us for a little while, please have Mrs Walters make up the blue room. We will retire to the drawing room. Have Matilda bring some tea please.”
“Of course, my lady. And Miss Lancaster’s maid? I’ll direct her to the blue room to unpack the Miss’s things.” Hoskins glanced around looking for the obviously missing items.
“Um. We seem to have misplaced Miss Lancaster’s maid and luggage. Perhaps Polly could stand in for the time being and something should be arranged for Miss Lancaster to retire into tonight. I’m sure everything will be sorted out by tomorrow.”
“As you wish, my lady,” Hoskins bowed again before turning to carry out his instructions.
“Come with me, Miss Lancaster,” Lady Harrison said as she linked arms with Grace and pulled her down the hallway. “We need to have a little talk without you interfering, my dears. We’ll see you in the morning,” Lady Harrison called with a grin over her shoulder to the men still standing in the entrance way before shutting the drawing room door behind her.
“It seems to me, Miss Lancaster, that we have a mystery to solve, don’t you think?” Lady Harrison spoke as soon as they both were seated on the floral sofa.
Grace ran her hand along the upholstery. The gold thread shimmered in the candle light, the silky fabric rustled under her hand. She didn’t want to talk to this lady, all she wanted to do was go back to her hotel room, crawl into bed and go to sleep. She was sure if she could just wake up from this crazy dream, everything would be OK.
“Miss Lancaster?”
“Yes.” Grace finally looked up into Lady Harrison’s eyes. “I don’t know what’s happening. Everything is not as it should be. You’re not as you should be. I need to find my boss and my crew. Something is not right.”
“You’re right. Things are not right. Something has happened to you, something that is unexplainable. But, we need to figure out what it is; otherwise I fear my husband will throw you into Bedlam. So, let us start at the beginning. What is the last ‘normal’ occurrence you remember?”
For a moment Grace couldn’t breathe; her throat closed at the word Bedlam. Did they still have such a place? “I remember having a few drinks during my break, I remember the lights going out and I remember hitting my head quite hard on the back of a table, I remember your brother rescuing me from all the eyes of guests who were outraged at seeing more than they should’ve when I was trying to get up. I remember taking your brother into the alcove and kissing him, I remember that nosy old lady and your brother telling her we were going to be married, I remember the library and you and your husband and some old lady who thinks she’s the Duchess of Kensington but isn’t.”
“I didn’t know you hit your head.” Lady Harrison ignored everything else Grace had said, except that.
“Yeah, I don’t really remember why I was under there to begin with, maybe I dropped something? But I do remember cracking my head on it.”
“How did the lights go out?”
“What do you mean, how did they go out? There must have been a power cut.”
“A power cut? What is that? I’m not familiar with the term.”
“You know, the electricity went out. There was no electricity going through the power lines.”
“No. I still don’t know what you mean. What is electricity?”
Grace refused to accept the conclusion her brain was rapidly coming to: that this was not 2014. Grace pulled her cell phone from her handbag and held it out to Lady Harrison to test her theory. “Have you ever seen one of these?”
“What is that?” Victoria said as she held out her hand as though she was reaching for a snake. “May I have a look?”
Grace handed it over reluctantly, unsure what Lady Harrison would do. She gingerly held the phone in her hand and turned it over and over, peering at it so closely her nose was almost touching the screen.
“Here, let me show you.” Grace couldn’t stand the tension any longer. She reached over and turned it on.
Chaos erupted.
Lady Harrison screamed, dropped the phone and jumped onto the sofa. Hoskins ran in welding a fire poker, looking for an attacker. Grace managed to scoop the phone into her bag before anyone noticed and calmly informed Hoskins that it was only a mouse that ran across the floor and under Lady Harrison’s seat. Hoskins cast a suspicious look at Grace, not quite trusting the newcomer, but Lady Harrison had calmed down enough to come down from her perch and with an anxious look at Grace, she apologised to Hoskins for frightening him so.
“I’m not quite sure why I acted like a frightened young miss; the poor little mouse caught me unawares. Have Mrs Walters bring one of the cats up from the kitchen tomorrow morning, will you, Hoskins?”
“Of course, my lady,” he said with a bow and left the room with the fire poker still clenched in his fist.
Once he had shut the door, Lady Harrison once again arranged herself on the sofa and smoothed her skirt. “First things first, tell me what that thing was?”
“So you really haven’t ever seen one?” Her heart sank. This was not good
“No. Never. Could you tell me what it is? I would love to know. I’m fascinated by phenomena that can’t be logically explained.”
This at least Grace could answer. “It’s a cellular telephone but it’s commonly known as a ‘cell phone’. Where I come from we use it to communicate with our friends, family and people at work. We can look things up on the internet and I can even send a tweet.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, too much information? Sorry. Umm, let me think.” Grace rubbed her forehead and tried to come up with an easy way to explain the phone. “OK, I will try to explain it without confusing you too much. Keep in mind that I’m not exactly sure how this all works either, at home you just go to a store, buy a phone, charge it up and use it.”
“Are you telling me that everyone has one of these ‘cell phones’?”
“Well, most people do, yes. Everyone I know does, but I am sure that not everyone has one. There are some places that still can’t pick up any signal.”
“Signal?”
“In certain places around the country, around the world even, there are towers that send out signals the cell phones pick up. If you happen to be too far away from a tower, you can’t pick up the signal and then your phone won’t work. Here I’ll show you.” Grace pulled the phone back out of her bag to show Lady Harrison the signal bars. “See these lines? When I’m close enough to a tower I have four bars, but see how they are not filled in? That is because there is no tower.”
Grace’s voice broke on the last word. Tears and panic clogged her throat, but she managed to ask a very important question. “What year is it?”
“1814,” Lady Harrison said with confidence.
“This can’t be happening.” Grace laid her head in her hands.
Lady Harrison moved closer to her on the settee and gently rubbed her back for a moment before asking, “What year did you come from?”
Grace raised her head and looked her square in the face. “How did you know?”
“Tell me, who in 1814 would be carrying a cell phone in their reticule and have a job organising parties? So, what year did you come from?”
Part laugh, part sob caught in her throat as she answered, “2013. The lights went out at midnight, and when they came back on, everything was different. What the hell happened?”
“I don’t know.” Lady Harrison paused before adding, “This may be the wrong time to ask, but you aren’t still wearing the same fashions in 2013 as we are now, are you?”
Grace burst out laughing in spite of her predicament and she felt the tension leave her body. “No. We are definitely not wearing the same fashions. You don’t want to know what women get around in in my time. The ball I was at before I was sent here was a costume party. This dress is just something I found in a small theatre shop in town which rents costumes.”
“Oh, thank goodness, I would hate the thought of wearing the same clothing for the rest of my life.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll be wearing whalebone corsets and high-necked gowns in a few years from now, very different from today’s fashions. Oh, wait, umm, that might be a long time from now, I think I’m thinking of Anne of Green Gables and that is in the early 1900s. Oh God, I don’t know, I guess you will just have to wait and see.”
“Well, as long as I’m not wearing this dress that makes me look like I’m with child, I’ll be happy. Whoever thought to dress a female figure in this is beyond my comprehension.” Lady Harrison spent a few moments looking mournfully down at her dress before she asked Grace something Grace couldn’t answer. “Well, I think after this, we are close enough for you to call me Victoria. I never have liked stuffy titles between friends.”
“Thank you. Please call me Grace. No one ever calls me Miss Lancaster.”
“I would be honoured to call you by your Christian name.” Victoria gave her a smile. “Do you know how you arrived here, Grace?”
Tears stung in her eyes and she shook her head. “And no, I don’t know how to get back either.” She would do almost anything for a tissue to blow her nose.
“Grace,” Victoria said, handing her a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, “listen to me. I think if you don’t know how to get back to where you came from, the best thing to do is to accept Jasper’s proposal and marry my brother. He really is not all that bad and besides, you seemed to get along with him well enough tonight, if what he says is true.” She smiled gently. “Did you really get caught by Mrs Barrett?” At Grace’s nod, she continued, “I wish I could’ve seen the look on her face!”
Grace tried to dry her eyes but the thought of being forced into marriage – even if it was to the sexiest man she had ever met – caused tears to seep from the corners and wash her face.
“We will have to come up with a plausible story as to why you are here with no maid or luggage, but I’m sure I can think of something. Not to mention your confusion at the ball…hmmm, let me see. It’s wonderful you hit your head.” Victoria paused when she caught Grace’s look. “Very well, not wonderful, but convenient. We can send for a doctor and say you are confused because of the knock and when he is here, you can ‘recover’ and all will be well!” Victoria clapped her hands in excitement. “But there is still the issue of your lack of maid and chaperone, not to mention clothing.”
Victoria paused again to think but Grace was too amped up to hold her tongue. “I don’t want to marry your brother.”
Grace was grateful Victoria didn’t look insulted as she knew she would need all the friends she could get.
“I don’t know what else you can do, dear. With Mrs Barrett seeing the two of you and all, you won’t have many prospects, at least not desirable ones, come for your hand. And as much as I would love to keep you, my husband would never allow you to stay here if you refuse my brother. You could, of course, go to Lord Lancaster, but if you’re from America, that might not be for the best. I fear if you don’t marry Jasper, you won’t have anywhere to go.” She grasped Grace’s hand. “Please stay.”
Grace took a deep breath. Victoria was right, she had nowhere else to go. If indeed this wasn’t a dream, she would have to marry someone. She didn’t fancy wandering the streets of London with nothing but the dress she wore. It was freezing out there.
She decided there was nothing she could do about it right now. “And my maid? What are we to do about her?”
“You just leave that to me. I think for now what we both need is a good night’s sleep. But first I must call for the doctor. Do you think you could manage a swoon again?”
Chapter Five (#ulink_e5d90a86-fa6b-527e-8f0f-5a1fb22bced2)
Coffee sprayed from Robin Higgins, Baron of Wester’s nose, across the table and onto his breakfast, soaking the newspaper he was reading. No. This cannot be, he thought. The engagement notice in the gossip column had the right man but that wasn’t his sister’s name next to it. Lord Bingham was supposed to propose to his sister: everyone knew that. Not to…Miss Grace Lancaster, whoever the hell that was! This was not right! This couldn’t be right! It had to be a misprint.
What happened after he left the ball last night? He was sure when he left Anne she was aware of the situation. He needed that money. Desperately. He should send his breakfast back. He couldn’t afford it. He couldn’t eat now anyway with the knot forming in his stomach. The creditors would be knocking on his door when they found out there would be no money coming in. He’d been able to persuade them not to break his legs for another week or two only because of his sister’s anticipated betrothal. Everyone was expecting that money.
By God, he’d even gone to his favourite club to celebrate last night. He couldn’t remember how much more money he’d lost in the gaming halls. It hadn’t seemed to matter at the time, he was confident Anne would worm a proposal from Bingham.
He brought his cup back up to his lips. Ick, the coffee had gone cold.
This wouldn’t have happened if Anne had been more forthcoming. She should have hurried Bingham along ages ago. Actually everything would have been fine if this Miss Lancaster hadn’t shown up last night. Robin fiendishly wished she had never been born. If she would only disappear back to where she came from, everything could go back the way it should be and he could once again count on that money. Hmm. Robin took a big drink of his cold coffee. Maybe he could make her disappear.
“Willis!” Robin shot to his feet and called for his footman; at least his father still paid for his servants. Robin wasn’t sure if he resented that or not. On one hand at least their wages were paid so they stayed on, but on the other hand, if his father could pay for that, surely he could spare a few bob for his own son?
“Bring me my curricle.” He was off to see Rupert Caine, the man he owed the least amount of money to but who was by far the most dangerous of the lot. Maybe he could help Miss Lancaster disappear.
Bright sunlight streamed through her window and across her face. A maid had just opened the curtains.
“Good morning, miss. Lady Harrison says it is time that you got up.”
Grace cracked an eye open and moaned. Her blood beat a tempo against her temples; it felt like little men trying to escape the inside of her skull, and her eyelids were gluey with sleep. She knew she should’ve stayed away from the champagne last night.
She sat bolt upright in her bed. Last night! She looked around the room. This was not her hotel room so that must mean that it wasn’t a dream. Oh no.
The maid kept on chattering and didn’t take any notice of the panicked sounds coming from Grace’s direction. “What is it you would like for your breakfast? I brought up some toast and tea, but if you prefer chocolate, I can fetch some.” The maid took a deep breath and opened her mouth again as if to pour more words out. Grace quickly filled the small pause before she was bombarded again.
“I would like some coffee please, if it is not too much trouble? Milk, no sugar please.” She desperately hoped that it was not too much to ask. Her head was fuzzy and she was having a hard time putting together the pieces of last night. She blushed bright red when she thought of the kiss. My God, could she really have done that? She attacked the poor man! Surely she wasn’t remembering it properly…it couldn’t have been as bad as that.
“Coffee, miss? Are you sure?” The maid gave her an odd look.
“Yes. Coffee.” Grace really tried not to growl, but from the look on the maid’s face, she didn’t hold out much hope.
Grace waited for the maid to slide out the door before she threw off the covers and jumped out of bed. Damn, she forgot to ask her name. How rude. Oh well, she had more important things to think about this morning, like how she was going to get back home.
The room she was in was beautiful…and huge. She didn’t have the energy to look around when she was shown up here late last night. The furnishings gleamed in the sunlight now shining through the window. Grace smiled at the antiques furnishing the room. They were gorgeous. The detail carved in the wood was far better than her Ikea dresser and standing wardrobe. There was really no comparison.
An army of maids must be working here to keep a spare room in such good condition to be used at the drop of a hat. Grace ran her fingers along the dresser and found not a trace of dust. She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out at what must be the back yard. The fresh snow from last night covered everything, leaving interesting lumps and bumps hiding under its softness. She tried to pick what bumps might be hedges and bushes and which ones might be bench seats.
Now that she was awake and out of bed, her head was beginning to clear, making it easier to put together the pieces from last night.
Victoria had called the doctor, as she said she would, and Grace had played her part as best she could and everything was going quite well until Grace suffered an attack of giggles when the doctor was announced. He looked like a young version of Santa Claus. His cheeks were even rosy from the cold night air. Grace half expected him to pull handmade toys from his black doctor’s bag. He instead placed a hand on her forehead and told her to shush.
The doctor had kind eyes as he examined the back of her head where she had hit it. He gave her a smile and ordered her to be put to bed for a night’s rest. Grace was able to regain some of her ‘memory’ before he left and he seemed to think she would be fully recovered in a few days.
Grace wasn’t sure what story Victoria had come up with but by the time she was safely in her room everyone seemed to accept that she had no escort or maid or clothes and wouldn’t be expecting any of those to arrive.
There was a quiet knock on the door and the maid returned with her coffee. The aroma warmed her soul even before she took a sip of the hot, rich liquid.
“Lady Harrison has sent some things for you to try on. It’s a pity all your lovely clothes were lost when you arrived. She told Hoskins what happened. It must have been so scary, travelling all that way only to arrive with nothing and nobody. It’s a miracle, that’s what it is, that you’re even here with us today.”
What had Victoria told them?
“I was sayin’ to Polly, I was, we’s lucky you’re here, what with the fire aboard the ship and all. Lucky, that’s what I says.”
There was another knock on the door and another maid came in, again, without Grace telling her to enter.
“Kamy, Cook needs you in the kitchen.” Once the first maid left the second introduced herself. “I’m Polly, I’m to be your personal maid. If there’s anything you need at all, you just ask me.”
“Oh. Thank you, Polly, that’s very kind. My name’s Grace. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Thank you, miss.” Polly turned towards the wardrobe. “Now, should we get you ready for breakfast?”
Chapter Six (#ulink_8299c7dd-9264-5cec-9271-6dea00d9359b)
It took a while to find him but Robin finally located the man he was looking for in the dark part of London. Gentlemen generally avoided this part of town but if he was ever going to see Bingham’s money he needed to act fast and he couldn’t trust anyone to do it for him; besides, he couldn’t pay anyone to fetch the man he sought and, since losing his money, he’d found his friends to be few and far between.
Rupert led him down a dark alley away from prying eyes and curious ears. He was beginning to question his own intelligence for following him, when they reached the back of the alley and Rupert focused all his attention on him.
“You got me money?”
“Umm no. But I know how to get it.” His eyes drifted to his feet no matter how hard he tried to look the man in the eyes.
“You dare come ’ere without me money?”
Robin’s eyes flew to Rupert’s face at the violent outburst.
“I’s gonna tear ye apart.” Rupert stepped close enough to grab Robin’s collar and Robin closed his eyes, waiting for the impact of Rupert’s fist. “Ye really are a pansy, aren’t ye, boy?”
Robin cracked one eye open to see Rupert laughing down at him. “I am not a pansy, but seeing as I owe you money and cannot pay it, I was going to take what was coming to me like a man.” Robin stood as tall as he could but gave away his false bravado with a loud sniff. He straightened his jacket and smoothed his hair. His hands were shaking so badly he did more damage to his appearance than good.
“What’s this grand plan ye have then?”
“Getting rid of one Miss Grace Lancaster.”
“Of the Lancasters?”
“How do you know the Lancasters?”
“Everyone knows ’em. Ol’ Lord Lancaster has done a lot for us blokes down on the wharf…besides, his son owed me a lot of money,” he added with a smirk.
The blood drained from Robin’s head and pooled at his feet when he saw the gleam in Rupert’s eyes as he rubbed his hands together. Things had not ended well for Colin Lancaster. “Well, we need to get rid of her. She’s managed to weasel a betrothal out of my sister’s intended. He is the one who owes us the money.”
“Huh?” Rupert stood staring down at him with a look that Robin couldn’t quite read. “You sure about this, boy? They be no going back, you know? Once it’s done, it’s done.”
Robin wasn’t a short man himself, but at the moment he felt like one of those little people he saw at the fairs, as he craned his neck to look the other man in the eyes. “That’s exactly what I want; for it to be done. There’s no other way.”
“Right then, leave it to me, boy, no one will know she ever existed.”
Robin nodded and turned to go but he paused before he reached the end of the alleyway, Rupert’s last words ringing in his ears.
“I’ll do this favour for ye for double my normal fee plus another fifty per cent on top of the bill you already owe me; for your stupidity. Now get out of here before I decide to take it out of your hide!”
Robin fled to the sound of Rupert’s cracking knuckles and his menacing laugh.
***
What was he going to do about Anne? Jasper mulled this over as he walked the two short blocks to his sister’s house. He was glad when she married Neal they didn’t move too far away. He liked to have his family close by. Now he would have a family all of his own when he married Grace…there was a thought.
And what about Grace? Her lips had glowed and her checks flushed after that wonderful, disastrous kiss they shared. If only Lady Barrett had not seen them. Although if they hadn’t been interrupted he imagined things would have become a lot more heated than they had. Either way he was not sure he would be able to walk away from any lady he’d compromised so thoroughly. There must have been something in the water last night. He’d never behaved that way before. He’d always thought of the consequences before he did anything. Maybe it was a good thing they’d been caught before it had got even more out of control.
But he worried at her reaction to their conversation in the library. She seemed genuinely distressed when the Duchess arrived. He could have sworn she honestly thought she’d organised the ball herself. Did he believe what the doctor said and accept that her behaviour was due to hitting her head? If that was the case, what about the kiss? Did she even know what they’d done?
And Lady Anne? He just wished she hadn’t been left wondering where her engagement went. Damn. He’d just passed his destination. Turning sharply on his heel he walked back the way he’d come and stalked up the steps to the door.
Hoskins opened the door well before he reached the knocker. “Good Morning, my lord. Lady Harrison is in the breakfast room with Miss Lancaster.”
“Thanks, Hos. I’ll show myself in.”
***
Grace savoured the tangy sweetness of the grapefruit as it slid across her tongue. She was apprehensive about how the food would be and worried that it wouldn’t be very fresh, but this was divine. The fruit had been picked from the conservatory this morning, just for her. Well, not just for her but just for breakfast and Lady Harrison hadn’t touched the other grapefruit on the sideboard, so maybe it was just for her. A small sigh escaped her lips just as Lord Bingham walked into the room. He looked directly at her with an expression in his eyes she couldn’t read and she felt her face flame with a blush. Really, it was not as if she was moaning about him! Her face got hotter with the thought.
“Jasper! Come and join us, won’t you?” Victoria smiled up at her brother and waved a hand holding her fork at an empty chair at the table.
“I’ve already breakfasted hours ago, sister dearest. But, I was hoping to steal your companion away for a few moments, if I may.”
“You may have already had breakfast, my lord, but I have not. You can wait until I am done, thank you very much.” There was no way Grace was leaving her grapefruit, and the eggs looked nice too. Oh, and the bacon. She must go and have another look at what all was on offer. She knew she was putting off what needed to be done and she knew she was being rude to the only person who could help her, but she felt it was the only way she could keep her distance. Besides she needed to talk to Victoria again first.
“Of course. I will enjoy a coffee while I wait until you are free.”
Infuriating man! How dare he dismiss her rudeness as if it never happened? And Victoria wanted her to align herself with this man? She might as well get it over with; she’d lost her appetite anyway. She pushed her chair back from the table and winced at the sound it made as it scrapped the tiled floor. “I’m free to see you now, My Lord.”
Jasper paused in pouring coffee into his cup and raised a brow in her direction. “As you wish. Victoria, may I use your drawing room?”
“Of course you may.” She smiled at her brother and then turned to Grace. “Remember what I said.”
As if she could forget.
Grace followed Lord Bingham down the hallway to the drawing room near the front door. Even after Mrs Walters gave her a tour this morning she was awed at the grandeur of this home. She was amazed it was so clean. Everything sparkled, even the rooms that were so obviously not in use. She couldn’t even keep her one-bedroom apartment this clean. She was so busy gazing at the crystal chandelier, she didn’t notice Lord Bingham stop at the doorway.
“Ouf.” Strong arms wrapped around her body and his scent invaded her nostrils. Suddenly she was back at the ball and her body melted into his.
Jasper tightened his arms and planted his feet so he didn’t topple over. He tried to move his hips back so the bundle in his arms wouldn’t feel his sudden desire. She was having none of it. Her prickliness earlier at breakfast melted away and she became the woman who seduced him last night. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her lips begged to be kissed. Well, he was a gentleman after all, and if that was what the lady wanted…
“I thought you would have more sense than making love in full view of my staff, Bingham. And you miss, if you intend to stay under my roof, you will act with some restraint and decorum.”
Lord Harrison’s voice had the effect of a bucket of cold water on Grace. She leapt out of Jasper’s arms, tripped on the hem of her borrowed dress and landed soundly on her bottom on the cold marble floor. Tears sprang to her eyes, partly from the pain but mostly from the humiliation of being caught again; and being made to feel like a slut. Good Lord, this whole time-warp was going to take some getting used to. Really, who thought a kiss was an act of sin?
“You keep this up much longer, Bingham, and you will need to procure a special licence.”
“Thank you, Neal. I will be sure to heed your advice.” Sarcasm dripped from his lips. “Come, Miss Lancaster, I believe we have a few things to discuss.”
She was so glad to see the door shut in Lord Harrison’s face that she almost broke out in giggles. She managed to cover them with a cough that lasted so long Jasper stepped towards her to smack her back.
“Are you quite well? Now then, Grace, I may call you Grace, can I not? I think we are past formalities.” A cheeky smile spread on his face.
“Of course,” she snorted.
“Good, call me Jasper.” He raised his hand and almost brushed a wayward strand of hair from her eyes but turned to pace the room instead. “Maybe Neal’s right. Maybe we shouldn’t have a long engagement. There’s really no reason to wait; my family consists of Victoria and you say you no longer have one.” He turned to face her. “What do you say? We get married in a week?”
“A week?” she squeaked and collapsed into the nearest chair. She couldn’t get married, and certainly not in a week’s time! For the second time in five minutes hysteria set in, but this time instead of laughter there was a body-numbing panic. What if she couldn’t figure out how to get home before then? What if there was no reason that she time-travelled? What if she just disappeared without a trace, anyone she married would be frantic for her. She couldn’t marry someone and then disappear into thin air. But…she couldn’t not marry this man either. As Victoria had pointed out last night, she had no other option. Victoria’s evil husband would just as soon throw her out of his house on her ass as look after her. If it wasn’t for Victoria and Jasper’s protection, what would become of her? Would she end up on the street? It was not as if event managers were in high demand in the 1800s was it? She knew if she didn’t at least pretend to be engaged to Jasper, Victoria wouldn’t be able to protect her and Jasper wouldn’t want to. She would be out on her ear in no time. Oh God, she would have to become a prostitute. The thought of selling her body to the unwashed men of this time made her skin crawl. Eww, yuck.
Jasper watched as the panic filled her wide eyes. Her face became so pale he was afraid she might faint. Surely the thought of marrying him wasn’t that bad? He knew of several women who’d sell their souls to become the next Countess of Bingham. “Are you perfectly well?” he asked.
Grace shook herself out of her daydream, looked him in the eye and opened her mouth to accept…nothing came out.
“Come.” Jasper pulled her to her feet and led her over to the sofa, gently pushed her down and sat next to her. He rubbed her hands briskly in between his to try to get some blood flowing. “Grace, Grace, are you feeling better now?” At the slightest nod of her head Jasper continued. “If getting married to me is scaring you, you need not worry. I will look after you. I’m very well off you know, you will never want for anything and I will never hurt you. Grace, are you listening to me? I know you were confused last night after you hit your head, but surely you feel better now. I’m sorry if you don’t remember the event that caused us to get in this situation to begin with, but going by our reaction to each other, I believe we’ll get along very well together.”
Grace marvelled at how sweet he looked sitting next to her. His eyes were filled with concern as he continued to rub her hands. He was going to rub the skin right off if she didn’t respond soon. She took a deep breath, looked him in the eyes again and crushed his ego. “I am honoured you would ask me to marry you, I really am. But I can’t marry you. Not because I don’t think that you are a good man, but we just met. I don’t want to rush into anything.”
“Rush anything?” Jasper jumped off the sofa to his feet and frowned down at her, his hands on his hips. “Every time we are in the same room as each other we are rushing it! If we rush it any more, you are going to be with child!” The last point he punctuated with flailing hand gestures.
Grace calmly got to her feet. She didn’t like being looked down on, even if she was vertically challenged. “Don’t be ridiculous. We need to have sex before we can make a baby. And we certainly haven’t done that yet, have we?”
“S…s…sex! What kind of woman are you to utter such a word?!”
“Really Jasper, keep your voice down.” Victoria swept into the room and firmly shut the door behind her. “You don’t want Neal coming down from his study do you? Now sit, both of you, I have an idea that just might work.”
Chapter Seven (#ulink_efae3674-0a34-532a-b5c6-4ced2bf4bcd2)
Robin arrived home to find some of his creditors at his door. It was as though they were having a conference on how best to thrash him. He overheard them fighting over who got to have him first. He wasn’t about to wait around to find out who the lucky one was. He ducked around a corner before they saw him and hid behind a tree further down the street. Curtains flicked at his neighbours’ houses as the residents there tried to see what he was up to, but he wasn’t about to satisfy their curiosity.
The minutes ticked by as he waited for the men to leave. He looked at his pocket watch constantly until he resorted to playing a game with himself to see how long he could go without pulling the watch from his pocket to look at the time. He only made it up to five minutes once.
He forced himself to wait for an hour before cautiously emerging from his hiding spot.
Luckily the men had gone.
His butler opened the door as he approached. “There were some men here to see you, sir. I did not admit them but they did congregate on the steps for a time. They left their cards. I have put them on your desk in your study.”
“Thanks, Harold.” Robin made his way to his study, but not to see who had called, he already knew their names; he was going to pour himself a drink, if he could find a bottle with some liquor still left in it, that was.
“Well, what is it?”
“Patience, Jasper, stop glowering and sit down would you?” Victoria selected the chair nearest the fire, leaving Grace and Jasper to sit where they were before. “Grace, from our conversation earlier,” Victoria started and Grace’s heart skipped a beat; surely she wouldn’t tell Jasper about the time-travelling, would she? He’d have her committed and she had heard Bedlam was not a nice place to visit. “I gather that you don’t want to rush into anything, for reasons of your own,” Victoria continued. Grace let out a sigh of relief.
“But you, Jasper, want to be engaged to the girl you ruined so your honour stays intact. Yes? Am I right so far?” At both their nods, she continued, “Well, why don’t you have an extended engagement, for as long as you both need, and at the end of it, you either marry or you both go your own way? The ton will soon forget this scandal when the next one arrives. What do you think? If you do go ahead with my plan at least Grace has some time before Neal throws her out and we don’t want him to do that do we, Jasper?”
Jasper and Grace looked warily at each other. “I suppose that would work,” Grace ventured. “What do you say, engaged for now?”
Jasper hoped that when he asked someone to marry him, it would have been met with a bit more enthusiasm. “I do think that we need a time limit, don’t you? Otherwise this could go on for years.”
“Don’t be ridiculous Jasper. Of course you won’t be engaged for years; months maybe, but not years. No one is engaged for years, well, except for you and Lady Anne of course.”
“Victoria,” he ground out, “we were not engaged.”
“True. But everyone thought you were, or at least that you were going to be engaged and that is essentially the same thing, is it not?” She waved her hands around vaguely. “It is neither here nor there now though, is it? What I’m saying is of course you have to come to a decision someday, you just don’t have to come up with that decision right now.”
“I don’t see why we need to worry about it now, Jasper,” Grace said. “Why don’t we just pretend for now and see how it goes? You never know, I might find someone else and let you off the hook,” she joked with a laugh.
Jasper didn’t like the sound of that. He briefly saw red when he thought of another man’s arms holding Grace. She was not replacing him with someone else.
“I think we need a time frame. We can’t drag this on forever.” He didn’t want to analyse the feeling gripping his gut, but he knew he didn’t like the thought of anyone besides him kissing Grace, and holding her soft supple body, and feeling her naked skin against…he was going insane. That was the only explanation for the visions entering his mind. How was he going to handle keeping his hands off her? “A month. We can wait a month.”
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