Rachel scoffed. “Hardly. Whoever has the title has to oversee the trust dealing with that monstrosity. I honestly don’t need the hassle.” She gestured to the house, with its many turrets, ornate chimneys, and carved detail.
Harvard had to agree. Even a cursory read through of their website had made him feel overwhelmed. With thirty bedrooms, countless social areas, and staff quarters, the vast limestone structure would definitely require a lot of upkeep. But he had to admit it was impressive. It glowed in the distance, lit by carefully placed lights and surrounded by two hundred acres of pristine gardens. Yeah, it was something out of a fairytale book.
“Did you grow up in there, or did you always live in the guesthouse?”
“We stayed in the manor until I was about eight, then we moved to the guesthouse, and the family seat became a fulltime tourist destination.”
“That’s a shame,” he muttered, trying to imagine what it must have been like to live in a house so vast you could have your own wing and not see each other for days.
“Not really.” She turned the car toward the private corner of the grounds where her parents’ home sat. Something Harvard knew from spending a little too much time on Google Earth. “It was cold and dusty. So. Much. Dust. Even the staff couldn’t keep on top of it, and Mother never wanted to hire on more people. She said there were enough strangers in her home as it was. Of course, when the trust took over the place, they upped the staff numbers and dealt with the dust. I hate dust.”
“Yeah, I’m getting that.”
“And we were forever shouting for each other. No matter who you needed, they were never in the same part of the building as you, and the intercom system wasn’t always reliable. It would have been easier if we’d been allowed cell phones, but Mother refused to let us have them until we turned twelve—something about developing brains and radiation.”
Harvard grinned at the thought of a house so big you had to phone your family to find them. “Was there anything good about living there?”
She thought hard for a second. “It was great for hide-and-seek. Although quite often, the games were unintentional.”
As he burst out laughing, the guesthouse came into view. If he hadn’t seen the other house first, he would have thought this one was the mansion. It was built out of the same pale limestone as the main house, but was less ornate in design. There were three rows of windows, the top row being much smaller—probably where they stashed their servants. Wide sweeping stairs led up to the double front doors—which currently stood open.
And standing in the doorway were Rachel’s parents.
Her mother, Lady Francesca Ford-Talbot, the seventh Countess of Ponterley, beamed at them as she practically bounced on the spot with clear excitement. Meanwhile, her father’s body language screamed, “Oh shit.”
Harvard couldn’t help but grin. This was going to be even more fun than he’d anticipated. “Remember, you agreed to marry me. Which means we’re in love. So, act like you adore me and can’t keep your hands off me, and everything will be fine.”
The look she gave him would have made a lesser man lose control of his bladder. “After this is over, I will make you suffer.” Not waiting for a reply, she climbed out of the car.
Harvard took a second to admire the way she smoothed down her dress. The black knee-length sheath had an asymmetrical neckline that was too damn tempting for a man who was supposed to be on his best behavior. And those signature black heels of hers? They slayed him.
Shaking his head to clear the daze of lust Rachel induced, he climbed out of the car and went to meet the parents.
Chapter Three
“Darling!” Her mother held out her arms to Rachel as soon as she stepped from the car. The countess was always impatient when she was excited. And in her mother’s mind, Rachel bringing home a man was definitely cause for excitement. Even when that man was purely a work colleague, which her mother knew full well.
Rachel narrowed her eyes in suspicion as she strode up the steps to wrap the slender woman in a hug. Unlike her friends, Rachel’s family didn’t do air-kisses. No. They did proper hugs. It had been the source of much humiliation as a child. “There’s no need to pretend when we’re alone,” she said.
“Nonsense,” her mother whispered, as though there was someone to overhear. “Your lovely gentleman told Roger it would be best to stay in character at all times. It’s thrilling. I haven’t had this much fun since the sixties.”
And that there was exactly the reason Rachel had suggested keeping her mother in the dark.
Breaking the embrace, she stepped back and felt a hand come to rest on the small of her back. She stiffened before remembering she was supposed to be familiar with Harvard’s touch. Forcing a smile, she set about getting the introductions over.
“Mother, this is Michael Carter. People call him Harvard. I have no idea why. Michael, this is my mother, Lady Francesca Ford-Talbot.”
“Michael, or should I call you Harvard?” her mother exclaimed. “I’m utterly delighted to welcome you to the family. It’s about time Rachel settled down. I can’t wait to get to know you better.” And with that, she enfolded Harvard in a hug.
As her father groaned and looked skyward, Rachel glared at him. This whole thing was his fault. He, more than anyone, knew his wife had a wicked sense of humor that would get them all into trouble.
“Call me whatever you like,” Harvard said when her mother released him. “I’m sorry we weren’t able to meet before this.”
Great. Apparently, they were all pretending, even when there was absolutely no need.
“Please, don’t apologize.” Her mother shot Rachel a chastising look. “It isn’t as though Rachel lives in my pocket. If it weren’t for these monthly dinners, I’m not sure when I’d see my daughter.” She took Harvard’s arm. “Do you know, you’re the first man she’s ever brought home? And I do mean ever. Although, there was her friend Harry, but he doesn’t really count as it was never a romantic relationship. I very much hope you’ll be a good influence on her and make sure you both visit more often once you’re wed.”
Okay. That was it. Rachel had known from the start that taking part in an undercover op with her family was a bad idea, but if her mother was going to use the situation to make digs all evening, she was going home.
She turned back toward her car, but her father caught her arm. “We’re suffering through this together,” he muttered to her as he strode into the house, taking her with him.
“This is all your fault,” she told him. “You’re the one who came to Benson Security and demanded I take part in the investigation. And now look what’s happening. Mother is taking advantage of the situation to drive me crazy.”
Her mother smiled over her shoulder. “Come along, you two. Everybody’s waiting.”
Rachel tripped on the rug, and her father’s hold tightened on her arm. “Everybody?”
“Oh, yes.” Her mother sounded dangerously pleased with herself. “My only daughter is getting married. That calls for a celebration. I’ve invited the whole family.”
Any second now, Rachel’s head would explode. She felt the pressure build as she glared up at her father. “And you couldn’t send me a text to let me know what she was up to?”
He looked pained.
“No, he couldn’t,” her mother said. “I swore him to secrecy. If you’d got even a whiff of there being a party, you would have made an excuse not to come.”
“So, you decided to blindside me instead?”
“Yes.” Her mother was clearly delighted. “I’m thrilled it worked. Now, come along. It isn’t every day your daughter brings home a fiancé that her mother hasn’t even met.”
“She does know this isn’t real, right?” Rachel whispered to her father.
“Yes, she does, but she’s decided to use our unusual circumstances to make a point.”
The point being that Rachel was too distanced from her family and not settling down fast enough for her mother’s l
iking. “If she doesn’t calm down, I won’t visit for a year after this is over.”
Her father clutched his chest as though in pain. “Don’t even joke about it. The woman would hunt you to the ends of the earth if you did that, and she’d drag me along with her. And then we’d all suffer. Isn’t one heart attack enough for me? Do you really want to give me another?”
“Whatever,” Rachel grumbled, “but I’m definitely making Harvard pay.”
“That I can live with,” he said.
The interior of the house wasn’t what Harvard had expected. He’d obviously seen one too many English historical dramas because he’d thought the place would be wall-to-wall burgundy flocked paper and ornate moldings. He’d imagined darkly painted portraits of previous generations and antique furniture with the kind of spindly legs that a man his size would worry about breaking.
Instead, the walls were cream and the floors a polished wood, strewn with tasteful throw rugs. There were a few pieces of contemporary art, most of which he recognized as being the work of well-known British artists. The furniture was sleek, solid and modern. The kind that would entice a person to sit awhile and relax. In fact, it was exactly the type of house Harvard would have liked for himself.
“The stuffed animal heads, suits of armor and bad Renaissance paintings are all in the main house,” Francesca said with a twinkle in her eye.
“I was that obvious?” Usually he was good at hiding what he thought. His life had depended on the skill on more than one occasion.
“No, it’s the reaction most people have if they haven’t been inside Talbot House first. It was a good bet you were thinking the same. When Roger saw Talbot House, he told me it was magnificent, but he had no desire to live in it. As soon as we were married, he had plans to get us out of there. And he was right. It was a terrible place to live, but a wonderful place to share. If buildings had feelings, I’ve always thought the house must be happier now that it’s being fully used. And I do love it when we host a wedding there. It brightens the place up.”
Harvard liked her reasoning. He also liked the woman. It was clear Rachel took after her mother in looks. They shared the same height and lithe figures, the same creamy skin and dark hair—although, given her age, he suspected Francesca’s color had more to do with regular visits to a top-class hair salon than any genetic predisposition. Yeah, there were a lot of similarities. But it was the differences that intrigued Harvard most.
Where Francesca had a mischievous glint in her eye, Rachel’s eyes were mostly filled with irritation. Where Rachel was distant, Francesca was friendly and welcoming. Where Rachel preferred her own company, Francesca was known for her social events. Having met Rachel’s older brother and their dad, Harvard was beginning to wonder where exactly Rachel got her personality from. It was just another piece in the puzzle that was Rachel Ford-Talbot. And he loved it.
“Here we are,” Francesca said when they stopped in front of the double doors at the end of the hallway. “Ready?”
“Absolutely.” He returned her conspiratorial smile.
“In case anyone is interested, I’m not ready,” Rachel snapped.
“No, darling.” Her mother released her hold on Harvard. “No one’s interested.” With that, she threw open the doors and stepped inside. “Here they are,” she called above the chatter of a roomful of people. “The guests of honor. Rachel and her fiancé, Mr. Michael Carter, from America.”
The large entertaining room was decorated in complementary pastel shades, broken up with faded floral prints. Artfully arranged couches and tables provided plenty of opportunity for guests to make themselves comfortable. And there were a lot of guests in the room. It was filled with family members he recognized from the research Benson Security had done on everyone connected to TayFor. They cheered, applauded, and whistled at Francesca’s announcement. Harvard wrapped an arm around Rachel’s waist and pulled her to his side. She stood stiff as a board and scowled at everybody.
He leaned into her, as though nuzzling her neck, and whispered, “You’re supposed to be happy you’re with me. You look furious.”
“I am,” she said through gritted teeth. “This is not a small family dinner.”
“No, it isn’t. And you need to stop freaking out and roll with it.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek, inhaling her hothouse scent before smiling at her family.
“I. Do. Not. Freak. Out.” She forced the words out.
“Excellent.” He smiled at her. “Then we’re good to go.”
Rachel scowled at him, took a deep breath, and addressed the room. “Please, don’t get up. I know you’re all deliriously happy for me, but there’s no need to interrupt your evening to congratulate us straight away. I’m sure we’ll have a chance to chat with all of you over the next few hours.” The woman was lying through her lush red lips.
There was laughter and one murmur of, “Typical Rachel, taking charge as usual.”
“Right,” she said to Harvard, “that should stop us drowning in well-wishers for the time being, but it won’t last long.” She let out a heavy sigh. “We’re going to have to mingle. You should know, I’m keeping tally, and you will be held accountable for every single little thing that irritates me during this nightmare.”
“Do I get to keep a tally of all the things that irritate me, so I can even the score once this is done?”
She barked a laugh. “You can try.”
“Don’t tell me you two are having relationship problems already?” Rachel’s older brother, Jonathan, sidled up to them. The look of pure delight on his face screamed that he was more than enjoying her predicament, and like her mother, he planned to milk it for all it was worth.
“Go away, Jonathan,” she told him. “I can only deal with one idiot at a time.” She pointed at Harvard. “I already have my quota for the day.”
Of course, he didn’t go away; instead, he grinned at Harvard. “Insults are how Rachel shows her love. Welcome to the family.” He held out a hand, pretending it was the first time they’d met and that he wasn’t fully aware of their fake romance and the investigation. “If you could pop out a couple of kids as soon as possible, that would keep the heat off me for a few more years.”
“We’ll do our best.” Harvard looked highly amused.
Rachel just glared at both of them.
Jonathan wasn’t intimidated. She’d long been aware that her ability to intimidate didn’t work on immediate family, and she hated it. What was the point of having a superpower if it only worked with some people?
“Has Mother told you all the childhood stories about our Rachel?” Jonathan asked with a wide grin.
“Be careful what you say, Johnathan,” she warned. “Payback’s a bitch—called Rachel. I know where all your skeletons are hidden. Don’t forget it.”
“You don’t scare me,” the idiot said. “I was there when Mother brought you home from the hospital, and all you did was poop and wail. And I was also there when you used to take a stuffed rabbit everywhere because you were scared of Talbot House. Don’t even get me started on the times you lost it. I swear you woke ghosts with your screaming.” He looked at Harvard. “I was always the one who had to hunt the damn thing down, and do I get any appreciation? No.” He beamed at her, clearly enjoying himself. “She still has it, you know. The bunny.”
Harvard chuckled, and Rachel elbowed him. It was like elbowing a tree.
“I wish Sebastian were here,” Jonathan said of their younger brother, who was off researching in Borneo. “He could tell you about the time he was dragged along when she bought her first bra. It traumatized him for years. A preteen boy shouldn’t have to suffer the lingerie department at Selfridges. Especially seeing as Rachel only wanted a bra so she could beat Cousin Samantha in the race to get one first. Oh!” His face lit up. “I must tell you about the time she made Seb and I spray tan her. We all ended up looking like Oompa-Loompas. Mother wasn’t happy at all. Father found it quite funny though. Took forever for that stuff to fade.”
“That’s it,” Rachel snapped at them. “I need a drink.” She shrugged out of Harvard’s hold, ready to head straight across the room to the bar her mother had set up.
“Rachel,” Harvard called after her, “can you get me my usual?”
His sparkling eyes told her he found it funny that she had no idea what his usual was, and she couldn’t exactly shout back across the room to ask him.
Instead, she inclined her head and smiled sweetly. “Of course.” She turned toward the bar, hoping they had pink umbrellas for the drinks, because Harvard was getting all of them.
Harvard watched her walk away, graciously accepting congratulations from family members as she weaved through the crowded room. Her dress clung to the curves of her ass as her hips swayed. Man, she made his mouth water. Even when she was plotting to poison him.
“You’re keeping her safe, right?” Jonathan said, his eyes on Rachel too. “I mean, I know this isn’t exactly a dangerous assignment, but some of the jobs Benson Security have taken over the years have gone downhill fast. I worry about her.”
“I won’t let anything happen to her,” Harvard assured her brother. “Now, is there any chance you could introduce me to some people? There’s no way in hell Rachel’s going to do it.” He glanced over to where she was talking with another one of her cousins. “I figure I have about half an hour before she sneaks off and leaves me stranded in Surrey.”
Jonathan gestured around the room. “Who do you want to meet first?”
“Everyone who’s on the board and works for TayFor.”
“We call those people the partial board.” He nodded. “Of course, I work there, as do Mother and Sebastian—when he’s in the country. Sebastian isn’t a member of the board yet, as he’s under thirty. That’s the age we inherit our company shares, which gives us a place at the table. But, of course, you know all this. And your investigation has already cleared us, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation in the first place.”
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