"I didn't mean you'd actually sell them. We'd use the party to create a buzz. You, me, and Sharmie all wear fantastic hats. People ask where we got them." Sarah grinned. "Easy. We then mention your business."
"I don't have a business."
"Not yet." Sarah wagged her finger. "Don't be so defeatist! This could be your opportunity, your big break, your opening door." She spread her arms wide. "Go for it! Don't let Devon or anyone else intimidate you." She leaned forward, and gave Miranda a big smile. "You know you want to."
Miranda laughed. "Why don't you do the same thing with your clothes?"
"You know, I just might. What the heck? Devon can only kill me once. Actually, the whole lot of them can only kill me once." Sarah thrust the dress at Miranda. "Let's go look at the hats."
"Sarah, I'm pretty sure Devon expects us to leave as soon as Sharmie is well. Don't get your hopes up."
"Pooh! I'm telling you, don't worry about him."
"You said he was a tyrant who controls everything in this palace."
"Yes, that's true, when I'm mad at him." Sarah grinned saucily. "On the rare occasions when I'm not, old Devon is okay."
"How much older than you is he?"
"Let's see." Sarah tapped a finger on her chin. "I'm twenty-eight. Devon is four years older than me, so—there you go! He's already in his thirties!"
It was hard to believe there was only four years difference between them. Devon seemed infinitely more mature, an adult to Sarah's barely-out-of-the-teens vibe.
"When did your father die?"
"I was twenty."
So Devon had been twenty-four. A relatively young age to take on the responsibilities of a dukedom and an entire family.
"Don't you give a thought to Devon," Sarah said with confidence. "I'll get Mumsie to talk with him. In fact, let's go do that right now. This is so exciting! I want to get it all settled."
She grabbed her phone and fired off a text. "Daisy said she's meeting Mumsie in the small sitting room shortly. Let's ambush them in the foyer."
They spotted Daisy on the second floor landing. Sarah gave her a big kiss.
"There's Mum downstairs," Daisy said, pointing over the banister.
"So she is. Mumsie!" Sarah flew down the stairs. "I've had the most fabulous idea! Do say you love it!"
Miranda and Daisy followed more sedately and watched as Charlotte stopped, smiling at her daughter. "You'll have to tell me what it is, darling."
"I'm having so much fun with Miranda. It's like having a sister my own age, which you know I've always wanted. She's a designer, too. Did you know that? She makes the most divine hats! I'm dying to show my friends. Do invite her to stay with us through the weekend so she can attend your garden party."
Charlotte's calculating gaze slid over to Miranda as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "Sarah, I'm sure Miranda and Mrs. Foxglove have a full schedule. You must not act like such an eager puppy all the time."
"But I'm so excited. I was so bored just yesterday, and now I can be happy again and all you have to do is have one little conversation with Devonwood and you know you can convince him of anything."
Charlotte's blue eyes flashed. "I certainly do not need permission from Devonwood to invite someone to stay in my own home."
"Exactly!" Sarah turned and flashed a grin at Miranda. "He won't mind anyway. It's not like he'll be attending the garden party." She giggled. "Although the ladies would have a lot more fun if he did."
"Sarah!" Charlotte's mouth pinched together. "That is not an appropriate way to talk about your brother."
"What? They don't know him. They only care about the title."
"Nonsense. What will Miranda think to hear you carrying on? And furthermore, this is to be a cocktail party, and I certainly intend for Devonwood to perform his duties as host." Charlotte took two steps toward the back of the foyer, only to halt again when the front door opened and Jack bounded in.
"Hello, ladies," he called across the foyer. He strode over, ruffled Daisy's hair, and leaned down to give Charlotte a smack on her cheek.
"Hi, Jack." Miranda felt a momentary shyness in the face of so much golden magnificence.
"What am I," Sarah demanded. "Fish and chips?"
"My very best older sister!" Jack bussed her on both cheeks. "What's the big powwow all about?"
He winked at Miranda. "American phrase, just for you."
"Jack, never mind that." Sarah grabbed his arm. "You're just the person I need. Do say you'll do it. You absolutely must!"
"Do what, Sarah?" Jack's tone was as wary as the look in his eyes. "I'm not asking Devon to increase your allowance."
"Oh, no, this is so much easier. Nothing really."
"Well, what is it?"
"Do tell mother you want Miranda to stay through the weekend. I absolutely must have her at the garden party."
"Oh, Lord, are you having one of those shindigs this weekend?"
"You don't need to be like that," Sarah said pettishly. "I won't miss you if you don't attend."
"Thank God for that." He gave an enormous, fake shudder. "And don't push those friends of yours on me, either."
"My friends have too much sense to look twice at you," Sarah snapped.
"Children." Charlotte raised a hand. "No squabbling. You know that gives me a headache. Daisy, come with me."
With a look back over her shoulder, Daisy followed her mother across the foyer.
"They're going off to do their needlepoint," Sarah said. "Jack, do go and make sure Mumsie agrees to have Miranda stay. It's so important to me."
"You talk her into it then."
"I told Renfryn I'd go into the village this afternoon with him to buy a birthday present, and I'm already late. Please, Jack. What are you going to do all week if Miranda leaves?"
Jack stuck his hands in his pockets as he looked from one woman to the other. "Am I being played?"
"Oh, no," Miranda said, just as Lotter opened the front door. A tall man stood there, his fair hair falling a bit onto his high forehead, his gaze flying straight across the foyer to land on Sarah. His face was narrow, classically handsome, almost ascetic. But his eyes burned with something intense that seemed totally at odds with the rest of his straight-backed, calm demeanor.
"Ren!" Sarah flew across the hall. "Sorry to make you come in. A bit of family business to clean up."
He smiled at her, and his face was transformed. It was a smile such as Raphael might have painted onto an angel.
"Don't fret, Sarah. We have all afternoon." His clipped British voice made the simple words sound rich with possibility.
Miranda ordered herself to start breathing again. For some reason, the little interchange made her feel on edge, as if something were off. Sarah had never mentioned being in a relationship and, even now, her attitude was one of friendly camaraderie. But the man had some sort of interesting reaction to Sarah.
There was no time to puzzle it out as Sarah was waving her over to make introductions.
This, she announced, was their neighbor, the Duke of Renfryn.
The duke bent his heavenly smile on her, and they shook hands. Miranda was thankful she and Renfryn had no chemistry, because she was almost positive something was going on between Sarah and this duke. But she'd have to find out later.
"I must run." Sarah blew a kiss at Jack as she swept out the front door, her hand tucked into the duke's cocked arm. "I'm counting on you."
Jack shook his head at her retreating back. "What is she plotting now?"
"It's not a plot. I'm going to work with her to help her launch a business. We're going to show some of her dresses at the party."
Jack burst into laughter. "Sarah? A business? What dresses?"
"Silly boy." Miranda punched his upper arm lightly. "You must know she's a designer. She does beautiful work."
"If you say so." Jack shook his head. "But she sure as hell doesn't have a head for business."
Miranda sighed. "I'm afraid that's true. I could help her,
but I think Sharmie and I will have to move on tomorrow. We don't exactly have an engraved invitation to stay." She leaned forward and lowered her voice. "It looks like Devon controls everything around here, and you know he doesn't encourage his siblings to stand on their own."
She peeked up at Jack. Had she gone too far?
But Jack was frowning. "Devon doesn't control everything, as much as he'd like to. My mother is still entitled to live in this home for the rest of her life. Well—" He hesitated. "Technically, she's entitled to live in the Dower House, but that place is uninhabitable. Living here is basically the same thing, and, realistically, the only option."
Hmmm, living here was not the same thing, and Charlotte might discover that if Devon ever defied his family's expectations, and brought home a bride. But that wasn't Miranda's concern.
"I'm sure your mother can invite whatever guests she chooses. But that won't be Sharmie and me." She sighed again. "I really wish I could help Sarah, and—" She placed a hand on his arm again, "—and get to know you better, Jack. But I'm pretty sure Charlotte views me as an American interloper who might—shall we say—have a little too much interest in her son."
Tightening her hand on his arm, she looked up at Jack through her eyelashes, and smiled. A bit of guilt pricked her at the light in his eyes, but she couldn't really hurt Jack. Sarah had promised her Jack was immune to flirting. He didn't look immune right now, but hey, that was the point, wasn't it? She needed him to invite her to stay at least through the weekend.
"Americans might not be my mother's favorite people, but I find them fascinating." Jack wrapped an arm around her waist. "One in particular. Let's go out to the pub tonight after dinner."
Damnit. That wasn't the invitation she was angling for.
"I'd love to, Jack. But my time here is so limited. I really feel obligated to help Sarah. She's so excited about her plans for her fashion business."
"Dash it, she can't monopolize all your time! Help her this afternoon."
"I'm planning to sit with Sharmie this afternoon so the nurse can have a break." And she planned to be swimming in the pool when darkness fell, every night until Devon discovered her there.
"Maybe," she added, "we could go out tomorrow night." She glanced up at Jack. "If we're still here, of course."
Jack snapped his fingers. "Consider it done. Sarah and I can't resist tussling with each other, but of course she was right. You must stay for the party."
"What about Charlotte?" She had to nail this down while she could. A verbal invitation from Jack was not sufficient.
Jack grinned. "Haven't you noticed that Mum wants to do whatever it is that I want to do?"
"Spoiled brat." She tapped him playfully on his arm.
"One thing you have to say for Charlotte. She is devoted to her children."
"Which allows you to manipulate her as you wish."
He grinned. "Why not?"
"Do get her official approval so Sharmie and I can make plans."
"I'm sure she and Daisy went into her sitting room to do their stitching, or whatever it is they're so obsessed with. Let's go find her."
The blue and white sitting room was beyond the library. Charlotte was, indeed, sitting there with Daisy, both of them working on, of all things, needlepoint. Their heads were close together, with Charlotte apparently showing Daisy a stitch. Their low voices hummed in the quiet room.
Today, since Daisy wore blue jean shorts and a t-shirt, she looked much more like a twenty-first century girl, except for the needlework in her hands. She raised her head as they approached, and smiled shyly at Miranda.
"Mum," Jack said, "here's Miranda anxious to help Sarah with some plan they've hatched for the garden party."
Charlotte raised her large blue eyes to Jack's face. "Whatever are you talking about, dear? We can't change the party." She didn't even glance at Miranda.
Jack rested a hip against an antique console next to the doorway. "Sarah will tell you the details. But it's nothing to do with changing any of your plans."
"But, Jack, the party is not until this weekend. I've received an excellent report from the nurse. Mrs. Foxglove will be able to travel tomorrow." Charlotte's voice became a shade sharper. "I'm sure we don't wish to interfere with their plans."
"Miranda says it would be okay to stay for a few more days." Jack winked at her. "As you heard out in the hallway, Sarah is really keen on the idea."
Miranda shook her head. He was incorrigible.
"Stop pestering me, Jack." Charlotte bent her head to the needlepoint frame. "My horoscope said today was not a good day for me to be making decisions."
Jack pushed away from the table and strolled over to Daisy. "What've you got there, cutie pie?"
She lifted her work. "I'm making collars for Devon's dogs."
"Oho. A present for Devon. It's not his birthday, is it?"
"No." She folded her prim lips over the word. "I just think he needs a present."
"Well, what are you making for me?" He chucked her under the chin.
She looked up, her face as solemn as a hymnal. "You don't need presents, Jack. You get to live the life you want."
He laughed. "Words of wisdom from a child. Are you telling us Devon doesn't have the life he wants?"
Daisy bent her head and began stitching. "Don't be silly, Jack."
"Bored young men are always silly, doll." He snuck a look at his mother. "Isn't that right, Mum?"
She snapped off a thread. "Why don't you go up to London, Jack? I need you for the cocktail party, but then you'd have a few days before the ball, almost a week. You're sure to find some friends in town."
"I have a better idea." He threw himself into a chair and stretched out his long legs. "I think I'll go to Australia."
Charlotte dropped her needlepoint frame. "You'll do no such thing. Why, whatever would you do in Australia?"
"It's someplace new to see. Who knows, maybe ranching is the life for me."
"I wish you wouldn't tease me like that, Jack." Charlotte picked up her needlepoint, but her fingers were trembling. "You know I need you here. With your father gone, you're the man of the family now. Who's going to keep Godfrey in line? He's getting to be too much for me to handle."
Jack stretched out and stacked his hands behind his head, head to toe the picture of a man of leisure. Only his eyes glinted with shrewdness.
"You must have forgotten Devon, Mum." His tone was mocking. "His feelings would be hurt."
Daisy looked up. "He does have feelings, you know."
Jack shouted with laughter. "Daisy here is wise enough to look after the whole lot of us."
Daisy's clear blue eyes regarded her brother. "You might like Australia, Jack. Maybe Devon will bring me to visit you."
"Would you do that, doll?" Jack winked at her. "You've almost convinced me I should leave today."
"That's enough of that talk, children." Charlotte laid aside her frame and stood up. "You've gotten me too upset to work, Jack. I'm going to take a rest in my room."
She glided over to the door, but turned back just before reaching it.
"Miss Foxglove, we would be pleased if you and Mrs. Foxglove could extend your visit in order to attend the garden party we're hosting this Saturday. I shall send you an invitation immediately."
She opened the door, and disappeared before Miranda could gather her wits.
Jack jumped to his feet and bounded over to Daisy. She held up her hand and they exchanged high-fives.
"Thanks, cutie pie," he said.
"You should go to Australia," she said pertly.
Chapter 12
As they all stood up from dinner, Jack touched Miranda's arm. "You want to go into the village for a pint?"
Her gaze involuntarily flew to Devon. He frowned, and she shivered. Lord, she should give up her idea to tease him at the pool. An idea that had seemed inspired when she was standing in the sunny garden with Daisy was ludicrous when faced with the reality of Devon's overwhelming presence. She'd
better stick to her original plan of annoying him and flirting with Jack.
She smiled at Jack. "That sounds like fun." Guilt pricked her when he returned a boyish grin. She needed Jack on her side, but she really didn't want to make him fall for her.
"Great! Sarah." He called across the table. "You up for a jaunt to the village?"
Sarah's blue eyes swiveled from Jack's face to Miranda's. "Thanks, but I'm going to turn in early tonight." She caught Miranda's eye and tilted her head toward Jack. Miranda got the message. Now was her opportunity to work on Jack to get an invitation to stay. Of course, Sarah didn't know that had already been accomplished.
Miranda nodded slightly, and then her gaze was drawn back to Devon, standing at the head of the table. Yes, he'd been watching them. The frown still marred his brow. Miranda wondered suddenly if he was bothered by his exclusion from the invitation. Apparently, he didn't hang out with his siblings.
"Do you need to check in with Sharmie or anything?" Jack asked.
"Yes. I'll meet you by the front door in fifteen minutes."
A quarter hour later, they rolled down the pebbled drive in Jack's luxurious BMW. A nice car, for an unemployed young man, Miranda thought, but of course there was bound to be family money available.
"Hey, you're still in one piece," Jack said. "How bad was the grilling last night?"
"He's just an ordinary tyrant," Miranda said lightly. She might be steaming inside, but she wouldn't let it show.
Jack laughed. "I saw the smoke coming out of your ears when Lotter took you to see Sharmie. But don't worry. Everyone looks that way when they emerge from Devon's lair."
"Okay." She laughed shortly. "Maybe he did make me a little angry. But it's no big deal." She didn't want to talk about it. She wanted to leave the grandness of the palace behind, clear her head, and—she sighed. And think of a way to defeat Devon.
It always came back to him, and that was a problem. She had to put him out of her head.
The restaurant that Jack took her to wasn't a pub at all, but a cozy spot with lots of glass, shaded little lamps shedding a soft glow, and a pretty young waitress ogling Jack.
"So what did old Devon want?" Jack asked, as they faced each other over a round table the size of a pizza. Jack had ordered a pint of Guinness and Miranda a glass of Pinot Noir. "Better yet, what are you and Sharmie doing at Devonwood?"
Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin' Anthology 2015 Page 120