London Lace, Series Complete Set

by Catou Martine

  “Because it’s a big secret, and it’s not really mine, but he’ll find out soon enough.”

  Tori shrugged. “All right.” And then a hungry-for-gossip look took over. “Now, go on, tell us everything.”

  So, after swearing them both to secrecy, Eliza told Stella and Tori what had transpired at Evergreen Downs.

  “How did she react?” said Todd between bites of pakora. They sat at a back table at The Mint Leaf late one night after work.

  “Surprised at first, and then a bit confused. I had to explain everything about Melissa and Christine. In the end she thought it was all a beautiful love story and promised to keep mum until everything blows over.”

  “You’re sure she won’t tell Tatum?”

  “She promised she wouldn’t.”

  Todd wiped his mouth on his napkin and took a sip of wine.

  “Maybe I’ll tell him sooner than later. It’s gotten a bit awkward when we meet and he keeps asking me all these personal questions about Melissa. Questions my sister could answer, but I can’t, if you know what I mean.”

  “If they both know, maybe they can help out if the need arises.”

  Todd sat back in his chair. “So long as he’s as supportive as Tori.”

  “You don’t think he will be?”

  “I don’t much care either way, except that I’m trying to get his help to convince the rest of his family to keep Evergreen Downs. Not that they’re the only ones making those decisions. But Tatum’s father, his brothers, and uncles carry some weight when it comes to inheritance planning. Anyway, I don’t mean to bore you with all this.”

  “You really think they’re going to try to sell Evergreen? That would be so sad.”

  Todd sighed. “I understand the economics of parceling up the land, but I’ve got a lot of memories there. I don’t really want to let it go.”

  “But you might have to?”

  “We’ll see. I have an idea. I’ll invite Tori and Tatum down to Devon for the weekend in honor of their anniversary. I’ll make a case for keeping Evergreen part of the family estate. And I’ll tell him about us when I invite him down.”

  “Would telling him the truth about us hurt your case to keep Evergreen?”

  “Eliza, keeping you is more important to me than keeping Evergreen.”

  Eliza stopped in mid-bite. “Really?”

  “Honestly, how many times do I have to tell you how much you mean to me?”

  “Apparently, a lot. Look, Todd, you’ve got to understand that the world thinks you’re going to marry another woman. We’re sitting in the corner of a dark restaurant, and if anyone spots us, we’ll have to make up some story about working together or having an affair, which would create another scandal. The point is, I sometimes think this might all be a dream and I could wake up and no one would know the difference. What if you did decide to marry Melissa?”

  Todd raised his eyebrows. “How much wine have you had? Are you sleep-deprived, or just crazy? You know the situation, Eliza.”

  “I know, I know. You’re right. I’m just being crazy and insecure. And the long hours are getting to me.”

  “My sleepovers aren’t exactly letting you catch up on sleep either.” He winked at her. He was right about that, too.

  “I should take a trip up to Manchester anyways. Dante’s Fire is racing next week. I need to get out of London.”

  “That would allow me to just focus on work for a few days. But when will you be back?”

  “A couple of days. I have this dinner thing I have to be back for with the Selfridges. But then I’ll head back to Devon soon after that. To get ready for the following weekend with Tori and Tatum. You’ll be able to join us won’t you?”

  “I’m not sure. I have to make hay while the sun shines, as they say.”

  She and Carmen were working day and night. They had knocked off early so Eliza could meet Todd for a 10 PM dinner. She stifled a yawn as the waiter cleared her dishes.

  “Surely you can spare one night?” said Todd.

  “It’s so far to go for one night,” said Eliza.

  Todd pouted, staring at her across the table with puppy dog eyes. “I promise to make it worth your while…”

  She smiled as she dug her fork into the cheesecake they had just been served. “All right. I’ll do my best. Maybe the Saturday night?”

  “Great.” He wrangled half her forkful onto his fork.

  “Hey!” She laughed.

  Tasks were piling up at the shop. Carmen and Eliza were exhausted. They could really use some extra help. Eliza had taken to eating carry-out lunch while she ran necessary errands.

  On a late April day, with birds chirping and rhododendron blossoms bursting, Eliza picked up a shawarma wrap in Picadilly Circus and scarfed it down as she walked to the tube station.

  The Devonshire weekend was coming up soon and she had to pick up an anniversary gift for Tori and Tatum. She got off at Knightsbridge and walked over to Harrods.

  At the top of the Egyptian escalator, she bumped into Lady Jocelyn Elliot, the snobby ex-fiancé of Todd’s that Eliza had met at Sandown Racetrack weeks ago. She was bedecked with bags from Burberry and Ralph Lauren.

  “Lady Elliot. Hi.”

  “Oh, Miss Keating. Good afternoon. Fancy meeting you here.” Was she really so surprised? Perhaps she thought Eliza couldn’t afford to shop in a luxury department store. She probably hadn’t heard about Candied Locks’ royal contract.

  “Are you shopping for Sir Todd?”

  “Excuse me?” How much did Lady Elliot know about her and Todd?

  “For the engagement party. Surely you know he’s engaged to the darling Melissa Selfridge?” She grinned waspishly as she rubbed in the well-known news.

  “Oh. Yes.” Eliza nodded. “I’ve heard.”

  Eliza didn’t like the lies necessary to keep up this society charade, even if she was among the few who knew the wedding plans were a ruse. But Todd hadn’t mentioned anything about an engagement party. Was that the ‘dinner thing’ he’d referred to?

  “I’m glad he’s finally settling down,” said Jocelyn Elliot.

  Though, to Eliza, she looked more disappointed than glad. Her lips were drawn tight across her teeth as she fake-smiled.

  “He was so lost and forlorn after we broke up. He slummed around a lot and just wouldn’t get serious with anyone.” She sighed dramatically, and Eliza knew she was waging an underhanded insult but Eliza didn’t flinch. It wasn’t worth letting people like Jocelyn get under her skin.

  “Melissa is a lovely young woman,” said Eliza. At least that was no lie.

  “You know her?” Lady Elliot seemed slightly perturbed.

  “Todd—Sir Montgomery—introduced us once.”

  “Oh.” Lady Elliot furrowed her brow, perhaps wondering where or how that introduction took place.

  “Of course, she’s from a lovely family. Impeccable background. Lord Elliot is great friends of the Selfridges,” Jocelyn drawled on.

  Eliza glanced at the statue of the sphinx behind Jocelyn.

  “I really musn’t keep you, Lady Elliot,” said Eliza, though she really meant that she herself needed to be on her way. She smiled demurely.

  Jocelyn said, “There’s a sale at The Beauty Apothecary, in case you’re interested. Ta ta.”

  That woman just didn’t let up. Eliza pulled out her mobile and sent a quick text to Christine.

  That Jo-Jo is a do-do.

  Christine sent back a smiley face.

  Eliza sighed. In less than two months this farce would be over. What might happen after that, Eliza couldn’t be sure, but of one thing she was certain: both she and Christine would finally be able to relax and feel free to love their beloveds.

  Eliza wandered the aisles of Harrods considering the various objets du charme. Candy, iron, and wood were the traditional options for the 6th year. Was there a way to combine all the items?

  As she perused the shelves she was wondering about Tori’s comments about Tatum wantin
g to spice things up. Maybe she should visit Harmony in Soho and pick up an iron studded collar, a wooden paddle, and some edible thongs. As her mind jumped to the two of them together using such paraphernalia, Eliza felt a tiny surge in her groin and remembered her old crush on Tatum. Since she’d met Todd, that crush had all but died, but her body seemed to retain some memory…

  Her reverie faded when she heard someone say her name.

  “Eliza Keating?”

  She turned and saw a nearly forgotten yet still familiar face. “Annabelle?”

  Eliza and Stella had known Annabelle back in Sheffield, but unlike Eliza and Stella, Annabelle had not been accepted into the London School of Fashion Design.

  Annabelle held a carry-out coffee and a small bag that looked like it contained a muffin or a scone. She looked smart in a working girl kind of way.

  “Wow, I haven’t seen you since Sheffield,” said Eliza, smiling genuinely. “How long have you been in London?”

  Annabelle’s smile was wary as she eyed Eliza up and down. “About six months. I work here.”

  “At Harrods?”

  Annabelle nodded. “In alterations. Nothing fancy like you and your famous hat shop.”

  Eliza heard a trace of envy and resentment in her tone. She remembered Stella saying Annabelle had been pissed off not to get into design school along with them, and that Annabelle may have been the one to leak details of Eliza’s past to the press. It seemed inconsequential now that Eliza and Todd were so happy, but that might explain Annabelle’s wary gaze.

  “You certainly have more talent than that,” said Eliza with sincerity.

  Annabelle smiled at the praise. “Yeah, well, it’s the best job I could find without a diploma. Actually, I have to get back. My coffee break’s almost over.”

  “It’s good to see you, Annabelle. We should get together sometime. You, me and Stella?”

  Annabelle looked at her suspiciously. It made Eliza wonder if she had been the tabloid source, but she was willing to let that be water under the bridge. Who knows? Maybe she’d needed the money. A backroom seamstress job at Harrods probably didn’t pay that well.

  That gave Eliza an idea.

  She reached into her handbag for a card. “Listen, I’ve got a big contract I’m working on. I could use some extra help. If you’re interested.”

  Annabelle looked surprised as she took the proffered card. Reading it, Eliza was sure she caught a fleeting look of hunger in her eyes. And then Annabelle smiled in a way that made her whole face light up.

  “That’s awfully nice of you, Eliza.” Annabelle’s tone sounded genuinely grateful.

  “We all have to look out for each other, don’t we?” said Eliza. She believed people could change, even Annabelle.

  WEEKEND SURPRISE

  The week Todd left for Devon was busier than Eliza had anticipated. Several viewings of her new designs had to be scheduled for her regular customers, as many weren’t permitted to attend the royal viewings the following week. Now that word had got out that she was fitting out the royal party, everyone was trying to order from Candied Locks. Orders were piling up and time was running out. And Eliza still had Melissa’s hat to design. She wanted to make one for Christine as well.

  Eliza realized she might not be able to get away to join Todd at Evergreen after all, not even the one night she’d promised. But she hadn’t told him yet. She didn’t want to disappoint him.

  Thankfully, Annabelle had taken Eliza up on her offer and was now assisting at Candied Locks. Carmen was training her and she was catching on quickly. She’d be a real help with the basic build-ups while Carmen and Eliza focused on the details—the poofery, they called it jokingly when they were alone working together.

  As the week progressed and Annabelle’s skills improved, Eliza began to think it just might be possible to leave work a bit early on Friday rather than Saturday, though she wouldn’t know for sure until the last minute.

  If she could catch the evening train to Exeter, she’d arrive quite late. Todd would insist on Albert coming to get her, or drive to the station himself, and she didn’t want to inconvenience either of them.

  I’ll take a cab, she thought. And Albert can drive me back to the station after lunch the next day. It was such a short turn around, but after these last two weeks, skin time with Todd was something she couldn’t put off any longer. If she were lucky, Tatum and Tori would arrive by lunch the next day and she’d be able to give them their anniversary present, but sadly, she’d have to miss the dinner Marjorie had planned for them.

  As Friday waned, Carmen nudged her out the door. “Annabelle and I will be fine until tomorrow. You go. Have fun.”

  “Where are you going?” asked Annabelle.

  “Oh. Um. Just to dinner with a friend,” said Eliza. No one could know about her and Todd yet.

  Carmen was quick to add, “This friend also happens to be a client, so technically she’s working, too. And…” Carmen continued, “…with Eliza gone you can help me string the pearls for the princesses hats.”

  This was enough to distract Annabelle’s prying curiosity.

  Eliza hopped in a cab to Paddington station only to find her train was delayed by more than an hour. By the time she arrived at St. David’s in Exeter, only a few cabs were on duty and she’d had to wait another half an hour.

  She was glad no one was expecting her until Saturday, because technically, by the time she arrived it would be Saturday. At least she and Todd would have all morning to linger.

  All but a few lights were out at Evergreen by the time her cab pulled up. Eliza was exhausted from the busy week and the travel. She slipped quietly into the kitchen and, rather than wake Todd with her ablutions, she brushed her teeth, washed her face, took off her clothes, and slipped into her red silk robe in the WC off the kitchen. Then she tiptoed upstairs, quiet as a kitten, and followed the upper hall to Todd’s rooms. His door was ajar but his lights were out. Eliza was slightly disappointed but only had herself to blame; she hadn’t told him she was coming down a night early. Well, he would be surprised, and probably happy to be roused by her warm, naked skin.

  It was so dark in the room. Eliza felt her way to the edge of the king-sized four-poster bed. She heard Todd’s light snoring and wondered what he might be dreaming about.

  She dropped her robe by the side of the bed and slipped under the covers. His back was to her and she wriggled close so that the length of her nakedness pressed against him. He was bare up top but wearing pajama bottoms. She hadn’t known him to wear anything to bed before, but then again, they usually ended up naked long before they got there.

  She slipped her hand over his hip, reaching toward his belly, and then lower. He was hard already! She moaned lightly, happy to feel his hardness in her hand and already leaking juices in readiness to take him inside her. He stirred in his half-sleep and started to turn toward her.

  In the dark, he took her in his arms. His lips found hers. He was scratchy with stubble.

  He would have shaved if he'd known she was coming. Next time she’d warn him. But for now she let his roughness roam over her. His tongue dove into her mouth. Even that felt a little different. This half-asleep thing was a bit strange but Eliza also kind of liked it. His cock was half out of his pajamas and pressing into her thigh. She reached down and guided it between her legs, the tip slid across her vulva to her front door. He sighed and she felt his fingers follow the lead of his cock and explore the slippery zone of her parted thighs.

  “Oh, Tori, you’re so wet,” he murmured.

  Huh?

  Eliza’s body was welcoming his but suddenly her mind shut and locked its doors. Todd was dreaming about Tori? The name was like a knife in her heart. What could be worse than this? He was pushing into her now, so close to her opening, almost ready to enter. It’s not like she could turn the slipperiness off once it got started but she did tighten her thighs, which mostly barred his entrance, and the rest of her body tensed as well.

  “What
’s wrong, Tori?” He said is his half-asleep yet fully erect state.

  “It’s Eliza,” she whispered, feeling as if she might vomit. Oh, yes, tossing her cookies was rather likely to happen… How many steps was it to the loo?

  “Eliza?” His voice was curious, a little more wakeful.

  “What are you saying?” said a muffled voice.

  Eliza froze, the skin on the back of her neck prickled. That wasn’t just any voice. It was another voice. Another woman’s voice. Coming from this bed. Had she just interrupted Todd post in flagrante delicto with another lover? Her friend, Tori, no less?

  She felt a convulsion in her sternum. It would be a hundred times more embarrassing if she threw up on him. Then again, he deserved it. She curled into herself, trying to find her strength to flee, but her whole body felt like jelly.

  “Tori?” He was awake now. Worried. Eliza felt a hand on her breast, a light, searching squeeze.

  “What’s going on?” said the woman’s voice.

  Yes, it was definitely Tori’s voice. A bedside light flicked on just as Eliza wriggled away from the hand on her breast.

  For a split second, Eliza found herself staring at Tatum. Then she fell out bed onto the floor. Her mind reeled. She jumped up—naked and screaming. Tatum watched her with a bemused smile. Tori, on his other side, blinked at the scene in front of her. Eliza scrambled to pick up her robe, to cover herself, but she stepped on the hem and fell to the floor again, still screaming, still naked. She clutched the robe to her chest as she ungracefully scrambled to her feet once more.

  Tori started laughing. Uncontrollable fits of giggles. Tatum watched Eliza with a curious smile, his woody still protruding from his pajamas.

  “Did you put her up to this?” said Tatum glancing over his shoulder at Tori. “Apart from the screaming, it’s quite a turn on.”

  Tori was shaking her head while tears of laughter streamed down her cheeks. She dabbed at them with the edge of the sheet.

  Eliza heard footsteps in the hall. Rapid, running, footsteps. She was partially covered now—though her fingers were trembling too much to tie the sash of her robe—as Todd skidded through the doorway and found them all in various states of emotional upset.