by Shirley Wine
That thought brought her up sharp.
I am not competing with Davina Strathmore.
A strangled laugh escaped.
While Davina wore Keir’s ring she was the opposition, and a formidable one at that.
Logan’s knock forced Victoria to push aside the disquieting thoughts.
She opened the door and he gave a low whistle. ‘You look stunning. Planning on setting everyone on their ear tonight?’
‘Not likely.’ With an amused laugh she picked up a tiny silver-beaded evening purse from the side table and slipped it over her wrist. ‘I’m so eager to hear The Tin Roof Toms. How did Muriel persuade them to perform here? I read recently that they’re booked solid, months in advance.’
Logan’s chuckle piqued her curiosity.
‘Quite simply, money. I believe she offered them a fee they couldn’t turn down. They accepted, but they countered it with the demand that she donate an equal amount to the Child Cancer Foundation. I did hear her complaining to Dad that they sure knew how to drive a hard bargain.’
A cheerful buzz of conversation echoed up the hallway.
Victoria paused, her fingers digging into Logan’s arm. ‘I need to talk to Keir.’
Logan covered her hand with one of his. ‘To tell him about Connor?’
‘I’m thinking about it.’ She caught her lower lip between her teeth. It was one thing to know she should tell Keir about their son, but it was another thing entirely to actually do so.
‘You need to do more than think.’
‘It’s too late.’
‘It’s never too late. It’s not like Connor is going to just disappear.’ Logan steered her into a corner, caught her hand and squeezed it. ‘Go ask Keir if you can speak to him privately.’
The quiet words beat at her brain. ‘Now?’
‘The longer you leave it, the more the lies will compound.’ He watched her steadily, his eyes filled with concern. ‘And if I know one thing about Keir, it’s that he’ll tolerate anything except lies.’
Victoria stared at him, unable to mask her shocked comprehension. Why did that fact never occur to me?
‘Can you blame him?’ she asked, her voice low and vehement.
‘No. What Mother and Dad did to him was reprehensible.’
The grim set of Logan’s jaw enhanced his likeness to his mother, and seeing it a chill brought Victoria out in goosebumps.
‘I thought you were never coming.’ Piper joined them, breaking into the conversation.
Am I late? Victoria glanced at her dainty marcasite watch.
‘Ooh, what a darling watch.’ Piper caught Victoria’s arm and bent her fiery head to examine the watch more closely.
‘It was my mother’s.’ Victoria pushed aside Logan’s suggestion to consider later. ‘My dad gave me my mother’s jewellery and china collection after she died.’
‘You’re so lucky. One of my friends lost her mother and now the stepmother and stepsisters are wearing her mother’s jewellery.’
‘That stinks. I was lucky that way. Before Dad remarried, Daphne insisted I visit them and take anything from the family home that held precious memories for me.’
‘She sounds like a very nice woman.’
‘Daphne’s the best thing that ever happened to our family.’
‘And your father didn’t object to her giving you permission to take what you wanted?’ Piper stared at her in amazement.
‘He couldn’t very well.’ Victoria frowned, once again invaded by bleak memories. ‘When my mother was ill, he insisted I continue with my planned summer holiday.’
‘And?’
‘Her mother died. Victoria was denied the chance to say goodbye,’ Keir said from behind her shoulder.
It was obvious that he’d overheard their conversation and Victoria prayed he couldn’t know how easily he scrambled her senses. ‘I didn’t see you there.’
Now that she did see him, she was in danger of drooling.
His black tux moulded his sculptured body like a second skin, and the frilly white shirt that would make other men look effeminate only served to emphasise his masculinity. When he wore jean shorts or casual clothes he was enough to make her salivate, but in formal dress Keir was stunningly gorgeous.
If we were alone, I’d take great delight in removing every stitch of clothing, piece by piece.
He met her eyes and smiled.
And Victoria did not doubt that he’d discerned her wayward thoughts.
‘You don’t have a drink.’ Keir signalled a passing waiter. ‘What would you like?’
‘I’ll have a white wine.’ She took a glass from the tray, hoping he wouldn’t notice the betraying tremble of her hand.
While the others selected their drinks, Victoria gulped a mouthful of wine, desperate to dispel her unruly thoughts. The flavour burst on her tongue, and the cool glide eased her parched throat and steadied her frenetic pulse.
After the waiter moved on, Keir leaned closer to Logan. ‘Can I borrow Victoria for a few minutes? There’s someone here I think she should meet.’
‘By all means.’
Logan winked and heat flooded Victoria’s cheeks as she avoided his knowing gaze. Now, in the midst of this gathering of the local glitterati, was neither the time nor the place to talk to Keir about their son. Such a disclosure demanded privacy.
‘Victoria?’ Keir waited for her consent.
Though she needed to ignore him, Victoria found herself powerless to resist and acceded with a regal nod.
‘This way.’ Keir touched a hand to her elbow as he guided her past chattery guests. The ease with which he carved a path through the gathering underlined the vast differences in their lifestyles. The heat of his touch sent quivers up her arm.
‘Do you know Cameron Bennett?’
‘The chairman of Bennett and Bennett?’ She halted in mid-step and stared at him in surprise. Bennett and Bennett was a global firm that specialised in the import and export of flowers. ‘He’s here?’
Keir nodded and his slow smile made the crowd and the noise in the room momentarily fade.
‘Do you know how hard I’ve struggled to get the big suppliers to notice Victorian Grace?’
‘I thought that may be the case, so when I saw his name on Muriel’s guest list for dinner tonight, I figured you’d appreciate meeting with him face to face.’
‘I’ve been trying to make contact with their rep for months.’
And just what will this coveted introduction cost me?
‘This is something I can do for you,’ Keir murmured, his breath warming her ear. ‘And rest easy. There are no strings attached.’
Am I that easy to read?
She gave him a chagrined look but despite his assurance remained wary. A man didn’t reach Keir’s position in the business world without having a ruthless streak. His prosaic alliance with Davina Strathmore was proof enough that he possessed this quality.
‘Where’s your fiancée?’
‘She’s assisting Muriel with some last-minute hitch.’
With innate skill he insinuated them into a small group having a spirited discussion. During a pause in the conversation he introduced her.
‘Cameron, this is Logan’s friend Victoria Scanlan, she owns Victorian Grace. Victoria, Cameron Bennett.’
‘I’m so pleased to meet you, Mr Bennett. I’ve been trying to make contact with your firm for a little while now.’ As they shook hands, Victoria was aware that she was being evaluated by a very shrewd businessman.
‘Victorian Grace? I recall hearing that name recently.’
‘Isn’t that the floral boutique on the corner of Wakefield and Main?’ The vivacious blonde beside Cameron gave Victoria an assessing glance.
‘It is.’ Victoria returned the woman’s smile.
‘Lorna Daintry. You did the flowers for Patrice Fielding’s wedding?’
‘I did indeed.’ As they shook hands, Victoria wondered if this woman was Piper’s mother, as they shared the same s
urname.
‘They were stunning.’ Another woman chimed in, claiming Victoria’s attention. ‘Wherever do you come up with such original ideas?’
‘It’s my policy to take my cue from the bride.’ Victoria included the entire group in her reply. ‘It’s her day, so to me her wishes override everyone else’s, even the bride’s mother.’
‘I’ll bet you have had to cope with some bridezillas,’ Lorna Daintry said with a warm smile.
‘I’ve had my share of those, too.’
‘Bridezillas?’ Keir looked at the women, obviously perplexed.
The women laughed as they exchanged looks of shared feminine wisdom.
‘They’re the brides from hell.’ A petite redhead took pity on him. ‘They’re the brides who turn from mild-mannered girls into demanding divas who find fault with everything including the seamstress, the florist, the caterers and any other person unlucky enough to be connected with her day.’
‘I’ve never had a bride I haven’t been able to calm down yet,’ Victoria said with a smile. ‘The worst-behaved ones are usually just stressed out, most often by overzealous mothers or sisters trying to horn in on their big day.’
‘Isn’t that the truth?’ The same redhead quipped.
‘If you’re able to do that, then you must be a remarkable young lady,’ Cameron Bennett said, joining the conversation. ‘Do you have a business card?’
‘Of course.’ Victoria handed her wine glass to Keir while she extracted a card from her small purse and handed it over.
Mr Bennett studied the card before slipping it in his suit pocket. ‘I’ll be in touch.’
‘Thank you.’ She smiled and somehow managed to mask her delight; the last thing Victoria wanted was to appear unprofessional.
Keir handed her back her glass. As he moved closer, Victoria looked up and saw Davina approaching and turned to Keir. ‘Thank you, now I need to return to Logan.’
‘I’ll escort you.’
Victoria touched her hand to his. ‘There’s no need. Davina needs your attention.’
As he turned his attention to the other woman, Victoria eased out a soft, relieved breath. She didn’t want Davina to ruin such a promising introduction.
Victoria rejoined Logan just as Wilkins announced dinner.
Logan escorted Victoria and Piper to dinner.
The table had been extended to seat the extra people and was set with damask napery, glittering silver and sparkling crystal. To Victoria, it resembled a setting for a lavish banquet on a film set. It seemed a shame to disturb it in any way. Her appreciation evaporated as a woman sat in the chair next to the one nominated for Logan.
Victoria stood stranded and enveloped in mortified heat.
It was Keir who reacted.
He placed a reassuring hand on Victoria’s shoulder as he leaned down to the woman and said, ‘I’m so sorry, but there’s been a mix-up. Ms Scanlan sits next to my brother.’
Logan scowled and moved down the banquet table, scanning the place cards until he found what he was looking for. He held aloft Victoria’s place card. In one humiliating moment she understood that Muriel wanted her as far from Logan and the rest of the Donovan family as possible, while still being be seated at the same table.
Caine appeared at Victoria’s side, absorbed the situation at a glance and helped the woman in Victoria’s seat to rise. ‘I’m so sorry, my wife has made a mistake, but it’s easily rectified.’
A fresh wave of heat scalded Victoria. ‘It doesn’t matter. Don’t rearrange everyone because of me.’
‘It does matter. You are our son’s guest and as such, family.’ The finality in Caine’s voice brooked no argument.
Wilkins approached Caine. ‘Is there a problem, sir?’
‘Victoria is my son’s guest and needs to be seated with the family.’ Caine looked directly at the starchy butler.
‘Have the servers made a seating error?’ Muriel’s hand fluttered as she joined the small group.
Victoria looked from Caine to Muriel and knew that Muriel couldn’t challenge her husband’s authority without losing face.
Victoria glanced at Wilkins.
His impassive expression faltered enough for her to know this was no mistake, but with minimal disruption, the man rearranged the seating to Caine’s satisfaction.
Keir held out Victoria’s chair for her, his hand warm where it touched her shoulder. ‘You okay now?’
‘Thank you,’ she whispered.
She watched him take his place further down the table, and as Davina leaned forward and spoke to him, Victoria felt a great sense of loss. In those embarrassing moments when he’d stood at her side and prevented her becoming a victim of a very public snub she’d glimpsed the real Keir.
He wasn’t perfect.
But he did possess great strength and a sense of fair play.
This was what had drawn her to him from the very first. He was scarred and wounded, but he never tried to pretend that he was anyone other than the man he was. Despite that he was prepared to marry another woman, Victoria loved him anyway.
‘Why don’t you fight for him?’ Logan leaned close, his whisper covered by the buzz of conversation.
She glanced toward the man who’d thrust her into this untenable position.
‘If he’s made his choice, then so be it. I will never ask him to break a promise he’s made to himself.’
Chapter Nine
After dinner, as Logan escorted her from the dining room, Victoria murmured, ‘That was so embarrassing.’
‘Tell me about it, but do you know something?’ Logan gave her the strangest look. ‘That’s the first time I’ve ever seen Dad or Keir publicly challenge Mother.’
‘I’m grateful they did.’ Logan stood back for her to precede him into the gathering room, and she looked around wide-eyed. ‘Wow, this is huge.’
While they’d been at dinner, folding doors adjoining the conservatory and a second lounge had been opened, creating one large space. Comfortable chairs had miraculously appeared and were arranged so everyone would face a small stage that was set up with stools and amplifiers. Off to one side a screen and a small lectern were set up. Victoria guessed that these were for the guest speaker.
Logan glanced at his watch. ‘In a few minutes there’ll be an influx of people; these events are always big.’
His words proved to be prophetic.
Elegantly clad couples began arriving in groups of twos and threes, and Davina glided among the arrivals, meeting and greeting, sophisticated and poised in a sea green gown. The severely tailored design showed off her svelte figure, the plunging neckline revealing considerable cleavage. A strategically placed diamond brooch drew the eye to her considerable assets.
She doesn’t need to worry about cleavage. Sometimes life sucks.
The blonde’s hair was piled in a woven crown that accentuated her height, and the elaborate coiffure was held in place with a diamond slide. More diamonds graced her throat and ears, while the eye-catching solitaire sat on her long, slender ring finger, the symbol of possession, as she remained glued to Keir’s side, greeting guests.
They were, without doubt, the proverbial beautiful couple.
Victoria watched Muriel and Caine greet a small woman wearing a close-fitting, bright red cloche hat with a matching floral patterned dress who had a delicate air of fragility. At her side Victoria heard Logan’s harshly indrawn breath and turned to him. She was shaken when she saw him trembling, his face a pale shade of ash.
‘What is it?’ Victoria asked, catching his arm in real concern.
‘That’s Melanie Croft.’ His lips were so stiff his words were barely audible.
‘And she is?’ Victoria asked softly as she watched Caine escort Melanie to the small dais and podium, and hover close to the young woman’s side.
‘She’ll be the guest speaker. She’s addressed other fundraisers,’ Logan uttered and swiped a hand across his brow. ‘She’s a cancer sufferer and my ex-fiancée.’
‘Your ex-fiancée?’ She stared at him, unable to mask her shock. ‘I never knew you’d been engaged.’
‘Melanie broke our engagement when she was diagnosed as terminal.’ He shrugged and avoided looking directly at Victoria. ‘It was over so there wasn’t a lot to tell.’
Beneath the flat, prosaic words she heard a wealth of pain. ‘You didn’t know your mother had invited her tonight?’
And I was shocked by her treatment of Keir.
‘Not hardly.’ He grimaced, unable to drag his gaze from the woman, a work-hardened hand clenched at his side. ‘Had I known, you wouldn’t catch me within a country mile of this house.’
Logan’s anguish was obvious and Victoria’s anger grew. Logan’s mother had planned this event and that young woman’s appearance certainly wasn’t happenstance. But what sort of mother would deliberately scheme to wound her own son?
Because Logan was wounded.
There’s nothing charming about Muriel. At the time, Victoria had secretly questioned Keir’s words, but she was now forced to concede that he knew his stepmother far too well.
Piper joined them, and seeing the way she insinuated her hand in Logan’s, Victoria suspected that they both shared a history with the young woman taking the stage.
‘How come Logan didn’t know his ex-fiancée was guest speaker?’ Victoria asked Piper in a hushed whisper.
‘Because Muriel Donovan is a bitch and she’s done this deliberately,’ Piper muttered under her breath.
‘Why?’
‘Who knows how that woman ticks?’ Piper shrugged and moved a little closer to Logan.
Seeing the redhead’s protective stance, Victoria recalled Logan’s proposing to her and decided that there was something peculiar about this whole darn family.
Shushing sounds from the audience halted their conversation and they quickly found seats.
As she sat, Victoria glanced at Logan.
Something in his grim expression made her sure that he knew exactly why his mother had invited his ex-fiancée, but as Caine prepared to speak, Victoria pushed the disquieting thoughts aside.
Caine adjusted the microphone.
‘We’re here tonight to help raise funds for cancer research.’ His deep voice broke the expectant hush. ‘It’s my pleasure to introduce to you Melanie Croft, one of the bravest young women I’ve ever met. She’s going to give us an insight into her life and her ongoing battle with cancer.’
