Millionaire's Woman

Kate followed Jack to the main room and stopped in her tracks. Spring flowers in a shallow creamware bowl sat between the promised dishes of canapés on the big rosewood table, but the sight that brought a smile to her face was the pile of large suede cushions stacked either end of the sofa.

Jack’s lips twitched. ‘Forster isn’t the only one who can take advice,’ he said smugly. ‘You mentioned something about cushions and a flower arrangement, I believe?’

She gave a snort of laughter. ‘I wasn’t serious, Jack!’

‘Now she tells me. What do you think? The official colours, I was informed, are caramel and mocha.’

‘You bought them here in town?’

He nodded as he removed the cork from a bottle of champagne. ‘And I ordered the flowers the same time as yours, but Molly did the arranging.’

‘Your Molly’s quite a star, isn’t she? But she looks so young!’

‘After catering college she couldn’t find a job which paid enough, so she answered my advertisement. She’s saving to open a place of her own one day.’ Jack filled two glasses and handed one to Kate.

‘Then I hope you pay her well!’

‘I do. And will pay more like a shot if someone tries to steal her from me.’ He touched his glass to hers. ‘Let’s drink a toast to my first dinner party.’

‘I’ve eaten dinner here before,’ she reminded him.

‘That was just family supper with Dad. Tonight’s entertainment is more ambitious—a first at Mill House.’

‘Why now?’

Jack shrugged. ‘I decided it was time to repay hospitality at home.’

‘You may regret it,’ Kate said ruefully. ‘After tonight, according to Anna, Lucy Beresford will be convinced we’re a couple.’

‘Don’t worry,’ he said casually. ‘At the Maitland party I told her that we’d known each other in the past. As far as she’s concerned, I’ve merely invited an old friend to make up the numbers.’

‘Thanks a lot!’ Kate chuckled. ‘More flattery like that and I’ll get above myself.’

Jack grinned and offered her the canapés. ‘Lucy needn’t know your support was vital to calm my nerves.’

‘Nerves, my foot!’ Kate bit into a delicious combination of shrimp and meltingly light pastry. ‘Yum, these are delicious! Molly made them herself, of course?’

‘As you say, she’s a star—and, don’t worry, I’m paying her a bonus; Hazel, too.’ Jack looked at his watch. ‘The others should be here any minute.’

‘Let’s wander into the hall, then. My sole reason for being here is to see the reaction when your guests arrive.’

‘Is that true, Kate?’

She sipped some of her drink and threw a smile at him over her shoulder as she strolled across the hall to the fireplace to look up at the portrait. ‘No, of course not.’

He followed her and stood so close she felt his breath on her neck. ‘Am I forgiven for last night, Katie?’

‘No forgiveness necessary or required, Jack.’ She turned to smile at him as tyres crunched wetly outside. ‘Show time.’

A peal on the doorbell brought muffled barking from Bran in the boot room as Jack went to admit his remaining guests, Hazel following to collect umbrellas and raincoats. ‘Good evening, everyone,’ Kate heard him say. ‘Welcome to Mill House.’

The Beresfords came in first, George balding and fifty-something with twinkling eyes, his wife forty going on eighteen in a pink prom dress. Lucy’s eyes widened as she took in her surroundings, then narrowed in swift speculation when she saw Kate standing near the fireplace.

‘How nice to see you again,’ she said, rushing to join her. ‘Isn’t this the most marvellous house? What a romantic driveway, Jack.’

Kate said the appropriate things and turned to kiss Anna. ‘You look ravishing in your new blue, Mrs Maitland.’

‘Thanks, friend. Clever of you to wear black with this background,’ Anna murmured. ‘What a place!’