Daisy: I’m in London with the earl of crap apologies. Why are you up?
Isabella: Getting ready for bed. Don’t judge. Plane leaves early tomorrow. Also, London??? Crap apologies???
Daisy: Not even. Did you ever mention Jules’s last name to Sebastian?
Isabella: No.
Daisy: K. Maybe Zoe did. Anyway, be safe. Will email you all the details later. K?
Isabella: Fine. *pouts* Better be some juicy ones! Xoxo
Daisy: Night. Xoxo
“At least someone is making you smile,” Sebastian said, and Daisy jerked her head up.
“How did you know Jules’s last name was Westmoreland?” she asked.
Before he could answer, the limo came to a stop. A doorman rushed over and opened the car door. Guess she’d have to ask him again later. She shivered in the cold morning, glancing up at the imposing building. “Is this your house?”
He placed one foot out of the limo, and then paused. “No, I’m headed to work. Henshaw will see you to Number Forty-Eight.”
“You’re just leaving me alone? In a place I’ve never been before? Without friends or family? Or—”
“Christ, Daisy. Calm down. You’re in London, not some third world country.” He got out of the car and bent down slightly. “See you for dinner tonight.” His cold eyes travelled over her. “Consider something different than what you’d usually wear.”
The door shut, while her mouth dropped open. “I’m totally cutting you off from cupcakes and me,” she finally managed, watching through the tinted glass as he walked away.
* * *
That was not well done of him.
Sebastian pressed the button for the top floor and waited, mentally berating himself. Would it have hurt to see her home himself? Or even to have spent the day with her, showing her around London?
She’d talked non-stop about all the places she wanted to go before falling asleep mid-sentence. Tourist traps, the lot of them. However, he could have taken the time with her, playing the part of fantastically-in-love man while actually being a fantastically-in-love man.
However, there was work to be done. The multiple phone calls he’d received had reminded him of that. It was familiar. Purposeful. Nothing had changed there.
Romanov Industries still needed him, even if he had been voted out. He was still the go-to guy. Years of grooming by his father had seen to that.
Perfection, drive, and a firm dedication to the family business were top priorities. Little time spent pursuing anything else, unless it benefitted Romanov.
So, polo matches and football teams were turned from great fun into business deals. Though he did love to win, and win often he did. Consideration, of course, was always given to the princes. Never play better than royalty does, even if you’re on the same team.
The lift doors opened, and he stepped out. “Ah, there you are, Mr. Romanov,” his secretary said, blackberry in hand.
Striding toward his office, he nodded at his office staff. “Cancel my six o’clock meeting with Meldinski. Reschedule for tomorrow at nine,” Sebastian said as they entered his office. The first thing he had done after his father had passed was to move Romanov Industries to this block of Berkley Square. All ten thousand square feet of fully staffed modern and classic office space.
“Very good, sir. I’ll leave you to your tea.” His secretary quit the room.
A butler brought in a tray of tea and scones, placing it on a table near the window. Routine. Efficiency. Thank God for it.
Though as he bit into one, he couldn’t help but compare it to Daisy’s sweets. Maybe he could get her to try making some for him.
He made a noise. Doubtful, since he’d royally mucked things up. The butler would sooner tap dance his way out of Sebastian’s office.
Perhaps he should offer an olive branch. He pulled his mobile out of his pocket.
You may take a nap in any bedroom you choose –S Especially his, he wanted to add, but didn’t.
Less than a minute later came her reply: That’s so generous of you ~D
Yep, he was an ass, and he had to think of an explanation for how he knew Jules’s last name. He was pretty damn sure she wouldn’t go for his Zoe told me, and he suspected she’d already quizzed Isabella about it.
Pocketing his phone, he exhaled.
A discreet knock sounded on his office door and it opened. His best mate, Liam Stewart, strode in with a grim look on his face.
“Sebastian.”
“Hullo, Liam.”
“Cancel whatever plans you have for the next day and a half; we’ve meetings with Liang Technologies and need to prepare.”
Successful negotiations with the Hong Kong based company would greatly improve his standings with the board. “Of course.” Guilt pricked at him like sharp needles of a cactus. He would have to find something for Daisy to do while he closed this deal. “Is Verity in the country?”
Liam shook his head. “Left this morning. Why?”
Sebastian set down his cup of tea. “Thought she could spend time with Daisy, maybe give her a tour of all the tourist traps.”
“I forgot about your fiancée.” Liam poured himself a cup of tea, adding sugar and a lemon. “Have her taken to The Hall, or the dowager’s house. Your mother would be thrilled to meet—”
“Meet my mother? You can’t be serious.”
“Do you want to be president again or not?”
Sebastian clenched his jaw. “My mother has been emailing Daisy, which made my fiancée uncomfortable.” That was putting it mildly. She’d seemed genuinely upset and had handled his asinine response with her usual finesse and sweetness, until he’d refused to hold her hand. Something so simple, yet he’d been so furious he didn’t trust himself to touch her again.
“Shall I have her email monitored?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to say yes, but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t violate Daisy’s privacy or ignore her wishes. “No need. She sent the woman to spam.” A smile kicked up the corners of his mouth. “Imagine, Lady Francesca, eldest daughter of the Duke of Everham, denied entry into an inbox.”
“Then it’s settled.” Liam grinned, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. “When do I get to meet this Daisy of yours?”
Daisy of yours? Sebastian picked up his cup of tea again. He liked the sound of it. His Daisy. “Shall we get everyone together at G.R.’s to celebrate my engagement and successful negations?”
“Positive visualization—I like it.” Liam finished his tea and set it down on the tray. He straightened his tie. “Let me pop down to my office, get the paperwork we need on my end, and meet you in conference room three in about fifteen minutes.”
Sebastian moved to his desk, clicked on Outlook, and began to read his emails. “See you then.” Liam exited the room, the door closing with a soft click.
Ten minutes had passed before he remembered he needed to inform Daisy of his plans. God, she was going to be furious with him, possibly hurt. Although she was already mad enough at him not to even care if she didn’t see him for a couple of days.
Still…
Change of plans. You’ll need to find something to do today, tonight, and most of tomorrow. Dinner with my friends has been moved to Wednesday night at seven-thirty. I have business meetings that cannot be missed. Shall I arrange a tour for you? –S
There. He’d informed her of his plans, and now she could make her own, with any help from him she needed.
Chapter Seventeen
Daisy stared at Sebastian’s latest text. Was he serious? He was going to leave her alone for the next two days? To do what? Oh yeah, take a tour he would arrange for her.
Bless his heart.
No thank you. Have fun at your playdate. Tell the other dictators I said hi and you suck. ~D
Crap. Not he sucked, which he did, but the other guys.
Not you suck, btw. They suck. ~D
>:-S
Whether or not he meant to be funny, she wasn’t sure.
; The maid showed her to one of the six guestrooms in the five-story mansion. Another servant, dressed in a dark suit, brought up her suitcases and set them on a low dresser.
“Shall I unpack for you, ma’am?” the maid asked with a smile.
Daisy returned her smile. “No, thank you. But could you tell me what’s the best way to tour London?”
“Sorry, but I wouldn’t know, ma’am.”
“Thanks anyway,” Daisy said as the maid left the room.
Sighing, Daisy padded to one of several windows overlooking a green square with several huge trees, heavy with green leaves. Men, women, and families walked around. A few gathered in small clusters in the shade of the trees.
Maybe she could join them.
The nap she thought she had to have was replaced by the thrill of being in a foreign land, doing foreign things, and loving every minute of it.
“Conquer the bucket list,” she sang.
After taking care of her most pressing needs, she grabbed her coat and purse, and headed downstairs. Just as she opened the front door, the bodyguard she’d met in Holland Springs intercepted her.
“Where are you going?” he asked, his accent thick. Russian, she’d bet.
She smiled. “To the park across the street, and then who knows?”
“I have to know.” Leather creaked as he crossed his arms.
Her smile faded. “I can’t just explore and see where the day takes me?”
“No.”
“Oh.” She tried again. “But—”
“Mr. Romanov would fire me, if I let you go … exploring.”
Well, she didn’t want to get the man fired, and she understood that here things would be different. Like Sebastian had been. But understanding and actually experiencing were two very different things. “Okay. Well, I guess I’ll figure out my itinerary and give it to you.” So much for spontaneity.
He nodded once. “And clear it with Mr. Romanov.”
Clear it? Like she had to have his approval? She opened her mouth to argue again.
“Mr. Romanov values your safety above his own. He left me here with you, instead of Boris.”
“You’re better than Boris?”
“Da. I trained Boris.”
Though she knew she shouldn’t be swayed by that, she felt the tiniest bit of anger and resentment slip away. “Then shouldn’t he be just as good as you?”
His jaw worked. “I’m still the teacher, and he’s still the student.”
Well, she couldn’t argue with that logic. “It would have been nice to have been told all this ahead of time.”
“Da. Make your plans, Countess.”
“I’m not a countess.” She never would be.
“You will be.” His mouth twitched. A smile maybe? “I’ll take you where you want to go. Mr. Romanov left a credit card for you to use.”
“Okay.” Her heart felt heavy as she jogged back up the stairs and walked inside her room. Pulling out her phone, one that Sebastian had equipped with a new sim card, she began searching for and saving all the places she wanted to see.
Ten minutes later, she’d made her list and texted it to Sebastian, since she didn’t have his email address.
Have fun –S
I will. Your bodyguard’s a riot. ~D
I don’t pay Ivan to be funny. I pay him to keep you safe –S
You paid me to be your fiancée, which meant spending time with you, not your bodyguard. ~D
And why are we still ending our texts with our initials? I know it’s you. You know it’s me. ~D
>:-S
Setting her purse on the dresser, she removed her wallet and stuck it, along with her phone, into her coat pocket. Determined to make the most of her trip, she marched to the door, down the hallway and the stairs, calling out Ivan’s name when she reached the bottom floor.
The enormous bodyguard appeared, sunglasses on, weapon concealed, and leather coat creaking. “Where to first, Countess?”
“The Tower,” she said as he opened her door. “I want to see if they have any vacancies.”
* * *
It was nearly midnight when Sebastian arrived home. He trudged up the stairs, rubbing the back of his neck. For the time being, everything was going according to plan. Liang Technology wanted to do business with Romanov Industries. The details merely had to be worked out. But the devil usually cropped up in those, so he had to be wary and hire his own translators to make sure the agreement would be profitable for both companies.
He blinked, his jaw cracking on a yawn. He needed to sleep and check on Daisy. The report from Ivan said they’d visited the Palace today and the Tower. Though he hadn’t needed one from his bodyguard.
Oh, no.
Daisy had texted him at every opportunity, usually with a picture attached. His favorite was of the Tower, her standing beside it and holding a sign that read, Vacancy. Earls Only.
God love her.
A grin kicked up the corners of his mouth as he made his way down the hall to his room. Perhaps he could find a way to have breakfast with her in the morning.
The soft glow of light from one of his guestrooms caught his attention, and he strode to the door. Knocking softly, it swung open.
“Daisy?” he called out, then stepped inside and found her asleep in bed, arms and legs sprawled. Black lashes fanned her cheeks and all her gorgeous hair confined in a fat braid, bright colors weaving in and out.
An odd pang hit him. He’d missed her, he realized. He’d truly missed spending the day with her. Tomorrow evening, he would make it up to her, and then spend the rest of her stay making it up to her.
Only he had to get through these negotiations first. He rubbed the back of his neck. There was always something interfering with his best-laid plans. He flicked his gaze to her sleeping form, highlighted by moonlight. Or by someone.
Leaning down, he pulled the covers up to her shoulders, turned off the bedside lamp, and tucked an errant curl behind her ear. “Good night,” he whispered.
Daisy made a small noise, her eyes blinking sleepily. “Sebastian?”
Now was his chance. He could apologize properly. “I’m sorry for being such an arse to you. You didn’t deserve it, and I hope you’ll find a way to forgive me,” he murmured.
“Hmpf. You only want my cupcakes. Off with your head,” she said with a frown on her full lips.
He bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing. “I’ll try again later, my queen of hearts.”
She turned over with a huff, presenting him with the back of her head. Though he wanted to kiss her, he refrained. Instead he stood and shoved his hands in his pockets. With a great sigh, he left her room.
* * *
“You’re who again?” Daisy asked, unable not to stare at the woman she’d been summoned to meet in the first floor reception room.
Sweeping off her hat, the tall woman with hair the color of coffee beans smiled. “I’m Kate von Lichtenstein, a close friend of the Romanovs, and I’ve come to take you shopping.”
Dear God, she’d been right. Every woman in England had been named Kate.
“Sebastian sent you to help me pick out a new wardrobe?” Daisy asked. Was she supposed to start dressing like this chick? Not that she would mind, really. Kate’s dress was gorgeous and … Daisy peered more closely at her. Kate looked really familiar.
Unfortunately, Daisy’s mind blanked when she tried to place her face. Mostly because she’d just woken up thirty minutes ago, after a restless night of sleep, and hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. She hadn’t seen Sebastian this morning either. Guess he wasn’t ready to apologize to her again when she wasn’t half-asleep, or explain himself.
Earlier, Ivan had informed her that Mr. Romanov had come home at midnight, then left again at five. His normal hours. There was nothing normal about working a body to death. And for the first time since they’d arrived, a big part of her had felt sorry for him. Romanov Industries was all he had left of his family.
“Not preci
sely.” Kate’s gaze skittered and her smile fell away.
Now this was interesting. “Would Sebastian be happy if I went with you?”
Kate’s shoulders dropped a little. “Not precisely.”
Even more interesting. Maybe Kate could give her some tips about what to wear to dinner tonight. And right now, the last thing she wanted to do was to make Sebastian happy. Although she wasn’t setting out to make him unhappy. Heck, she wasn’t even that mad at him anymore. He’d apologized, and this was his life. She was only his fake fiancée.
“Perhaps this wasn’t such a great idea, after all,” Kate said.
Grabbing Kate’s hand, she gave it a little squeeze. “We’re totally going shopping. Right after I eat breakfast.”
Daisy and Kate made their way down High Street, window shopping, until Kate found the perfect shop and pulled Daisy inside.
“Champagne, please,” Kate called out to the sales clerk, and then she turned to Daisy. “Let me see your ring.”
“It’s a pink and chocolate diamond,” Daisy said, not really knowing how much she should share about her engagement, as she held it out for Kate’s inspection. “Sebastian said he thought I’d like it, because the diamonds around the middle looked like bits of frosting.”
Kate’s assessing gaze found hers. “Did he now?”
“Yes.”
“Lovely.”
Daisy let her hand fall. She adjusted one of her chopsticks and looked around the shop. She blinked, twice. “Kate,” she loudly whispered. “Where are the price tags?”
“The future Countess of Spenserfield has no need to concern herself with price tags,” Kate informed her. She passed her a glass of champagne and held up her glass. “Cheers.”
Belatedly remembering the black American Express card Sebastian had left for her, Daisy smashed her lips together. Yep, she was fitting right in.
Awesome.
Lifting her glass to Kate, she copied her, and then drank the entire thing.
“Would you like another?” Kate asked, jade-colored eyes wide.
Daisy hiccupped. “No.”
“Why do you call him Sebastian instead of his nickname?”
“You get right to the point, don’t you?” Daisy smiled. “Sebastian must love having you for a friend.”
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