Rachel Lindsay - Moonlight and Magic by Rachel Lindsay

Author:Rachel Lindsay [Lindsay, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2010-11-04T02:48:07.825000+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jane spent a boring and unrewarding hour with Lord Rupert. He added nothing further to what she already knew about him, beyond confirming her suspicions that no one could be so foolish unless it was by intent.

'Won't you find it dull not doing anything at all?' she asked as they sipped their orange juice at a small table overlooking the beach.

'I've still got the estate to attend to,' he replied. 'Mama does most of it, though, because I hate anything to do with farming. But when my publicity job ended I decided I'd had enough work for a while. That's why I came on this cruise. I must say you're even prettier than I'd expected.'

'I didn't know you'd expected me to be anything.'

'Oh yes. Your father told me…' He stopped and turned red.

'I didn't know you'd met my father,' Jane said, looking at him with innocent eyes.

It was a few months ago at my club - he said you were going on this cruise.'

For a moment Jane wondered whether Cedric Belton could be paying for Lord Rupert's trip. If he were intent on his daughter marrying a title it would be one way of achieving it.

'I'm surprised Daddy never mentioned your name to me,' she went on. 'He's awfully keen on titles.'

Lord Rupert seemed surprised that she should mention such a thing.

'It's because he came up the hard way,' Jane continued. 'Men of Daddy's type think a title's more important than anything else in the world. But personally I consider the whole thing a nuisance. I mean, what do you do with it these days?'

'It's invaluable if you want to go into business with Americans.'

Well, I don't want to go into business with Americans.'

Lord Rupert laughed uproariously and she glanced surreptitiously across to Stephen, seeing with irritation that Claire had joined him.

'Do have another drink,' Lord Rupert said, interrupting her thoughts.

'I don't want any more orange juice, thanks.'

'Then let me order something exotic for you.' He signalled for the waiter. 'I know just the sort of drink for you. Champagne and peach juice.'

'That sounds frightfully exotic and expensive.'

Lord Rupert tilted his head in an arrogant gesture that made him look like a well-bred horse. 'What's money for if not to be spent on a pretty girl?'

She nodded, too bored to continue the conversation, and watched as he conferred with the waiter, telling him the exact proportions of champagne to peach juice which he required. They sat silently in the hot, glaring sun until their drinks arrived, and she sipped hers, her nose wrinkling with appreciation.

'Hm, it really is good.'

'It's a little thing I picked up from an American I know.'

He continued to chatter vacuously and again she wondered whether it was an act. But to continue talking with him would not give her the answer, and she decided to cable her father and ask him to let her know all he could about Rupert Copinger. If his answer substantiated her own suspicions she would watch him carefully. If it did not, she would have to look elsewhere.

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