The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding (Millworth Manor) by Victoria Alexander Page A
Authors: Victoria Alexander
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know I don’t make it a habit to dance with men I have not been properly introduced to.”
“Understandable.” He nodded and led her onto the floor. “Then this will be a new experience for you. For both of us really. We should think of it as an adventure.”
“As adventures go, I’m afraid this one is rather minor.” Although there was something to be said for dancing with a handsome stranger. “Surely you can think of something better?”
“I wish I could.” He took her in his arms and they moved to the strains of a sedate waltz. “But one has to start somewhere. With adventures, that is. One step at a time, you know.”
“I suspect you’re right.” She shook her head. “I’ve always rather fancied adventure although I’ve never been an especially adventurous sort myself.”
“You don’t need to be.”
She drew her brows together in confusion. “I don’t?”
“Of course not.” He skillfully led her through a turn. He was right—he was good. “You’re a beautiful woman with hair the color of fine mahogany, flashing emerald eyes, and an air of confidence and assurance about you. You are an adventure.”
“Oh.” She had no idea what to say. It was perhaps the nicest compliment she had ever received. And it had been some time since she’d had such a compliment. She wasn’t used to being at a loss for words and promptly changed the subject. “Forgive me but I am a bit confused. You said you didn’t know anyone here but your father. There are a great many American friends of the groom’s in attendance. I assumed you were one of them.”
“I’m afraid not.” He shook his head. “I have met him, the groom that is, but I didn’t realize that until I arrived.”
“Now I am even more confused.”
“As are we all.” He smiled. “My story is long and convoluted. One I promise not to bore you with.”
“But I do so enjoy a long and convoluted tale.” She tilted her head and studied him. “Is it a good one?”
“That remains to be seen.”
“Well then, does it end well?”
“The ending too is yet to be determined.”
“How very interesting,” she murmured. What an enigmatic sort this American was. “Will you be staying in England long?”
“I’m not sure.”
“My goodness.” She stared up at him. “Are you being deliberately vague?”
He laughed. “Not really. My life is something of a, oh, a question mark at the moment, I would say. I can’t answer your questions because I don’t have the answers.”
“I see. Well, do you have a name?”
“I do.” He smiled. “But, in the interest of elevating our dance from a minor adventure to something more interesting, maybe we should postpone introductions for now.” A firm note sounded in his voice. Whatever his story was, whoever he was, it was obvious he did not wish to discuss it further. How very intriguing. “And at the moment, I would much prefer to talk about you. You seem to be running things here. Are you a friend of the family?”
She nodded. “The bride’s younger sister, Dee, or rather Delilah, Lady Hargate that is, is my oldest and dearest friend. My mother and I organize social events including weddings although my mother is not here today. I planned this one.”
“It looks as though you’ve done an excellent job.”
“It has turned out nicely.” She couldn’t keep a note of pride from her voice.
“So this is, well, a business enterprise for you?” Doubt sounded in his voice.
“When my father died, my mother and I found ourselves at loose ends.” The well-rehearsed story flowed easily from her lips. “Mother was well known for the elaborate parties she gave and she trained me well. It began, and indeed it remains, more of a hobby than anything else. Something to fill our idle hours. Although we do charge for our services. There is nothing that says prosperity in society more than paying outrageous sums for something you could probably do yourself.”
He nodded. “Yes, of
“Understandable.” He nodded and led her onto the floor. “Then this will be a new experience for you. For both of us really. We should think of it as an adventure.”
“As adventures go, I’m afraid this one is rather minor.” Although there was something to be said for dancing with a handsome stranger. “Surely you can think of something better?”
“I wish I could.” He took her in his arms and they moved to the strains of a sedate waltz. “But one has to start somewhere. With adventures, that is. One step at a time, you know.”
“I suspect you’re right.” She shook her head. “I’ve always rather fancied adventure although I’ve never been an especially adventurous sort myself.”
“You don’t need to be.”
She drew her brows together in confusion. “I don’t?”
“Of course not.” He skillfully led her through a turn. He was right—he was good. “You’re a beautiful woman with hair the color of fine mahogany, flashing emerald eyes, and an air of confidence and assurance about you. You are an adventure.”
“Oh.” She had no idea what to say. It was perhaps the nicest compliment she had ever received. And it had been some time since she’d had such a compliment. She wasn’t used to being at a loss for words and promptly changed the subject. “Forgive me but I am a bit confused. You said you didn’t know anyone here but your father. There are a great many American friends of the groom’s in attendance. I assumed you were one of them.”
“I’m afraid not.” He shook his head. “I have met him, the groom that is, but I didn’t realize that until I arrived.”
“Now I am even more confused.”
“As are we all.” He smiled. “My story is long and convoluted. One I promise not to bore you with.”
“But I do so enjoy a long and convoluted tale.” She tilted her head and studied him. “Is it a good one?”
“That remains to be seen.”
“Well then, does it end well?”
“The ending too is yet to be determined.”
“How very interesting,” she murmured. What an enigmatic sort this American was. “Will you be staying in England long?”
“I’m not sure.”
“My goodness.” She stared up at him. “Are you being deliberately vague?”
He laughed. “Not really. My life is something of a, oh, a question mark at the moment, I would say. I can’t answer your questions because I don’t have the answers.”
“I see. Well, do you have a name?”
“I do.” He smiled. “But, in the interest of elevating our dance from a minor adventure to something more interesting, maybe we should postpone introductions for now.” A firm note sounded in his voice. Whatever his story was, whoever he was, it was obvious he did not wish to discuss it further. How very intriguing. “And at the moment, I would much prefer to talk about you. You seem to be running things here. Are you a friend of the family?”
She nodded. “The bride’s younger sister, Dee, or rather Delilah, Lady Hargate that is, is my oldest and dearest friend. My mother and I organize social events including weddings although my mother is not here today. I planned this one.”
“It looks as though you’ve done an excellent job.”
“It has turned out nicely.” She couldn’t keep a note of pride from her voice.
“So this is, well, a business enterprise for you?” Doubt sounded in his voice.
“When my father died, my mother and I found ourselves at loose ends.” The well-rehearsed story flowed easily from her lips. “Mother was well known for the elaborate parties she gave and she trained me well. It began, and indeed it remains, more of a hobby than anything else. Something to fill our idle hours. Although we do charge for our services. There is nothing that says prosperity in society more than paying outrageous sums for something you could probably do yourself.”
He nodded. “Yes, of
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