Debutantes Don't Date. Kristina O'Grady

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ 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 difference Senior Party Planner Grace Lancaster (212) 527-8636 [email protected] 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? СКАЧАТЬ