The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding (Millworth Manor) by Victoria Alexander

Author:Victoria Alexander [Alexander, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781420132267
Amazon: 1420132261
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2014-10-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The following day,

The British Museum . . .

“. . . and so,” Teddy continued, “I do think this is the best course. We continue this farce of an engagement until after Christmas and then—”

“Christmas?” Jack slanted a thoughtful look at her. “I’d almost forgotten about Christmas.”

“Nonsense, how can you possibly forget about Christmas?”

“I don’t know.” He smiled and turned his attention back to perusal of the sculpture of some Egyptian deity or king or a rat catcher for all Teddy knew or cared. She suspected he hadn’t forgotten at all. He struck her as the kind of man who would use Christmas as the perfect excuse for extravagant and delightful surprises. Even if she wasn’t really his fiancée, it was a lovely idea.

She and Jack had been wandering the Egyptian galleries at the British Museum for a good half an hour now but it was nearly impossible to drag the man’s attention away from remnants of a long-dead civilization to discuss the very pressing matters of the here and now. She had no idea bankers were so fascinated by antiquities but then she suspected Jack was not a typical banker. No, he was the son of the dashing, adventurous Colonel Channing and with every passing day, the similarities in mannerisms and character between father and son grew stronger. She had no idea if Jack was actually changing or if his father’s influence was bringing a part of himself long buried at last to the surface.

“Christmas is a month from today, Jack, and you do need to give it some attention.”

“Do I?”

“Of course you do.” She huffed. “You are staying in England for Christmas, unless you’ve changed your mind.”

“No, I intend to stay until the New Year.” He moved away from a huge granite torso of Ramses II, according to the placard, to a black granite seated figure, apparently also of Ramses II.

“Have you given any thought to gifts for the family? Or at least for your father?”

“I have no idea what to give a father for Christmas.” He shook his head. “Do you?”

A thought struck her and she stared at him. “Have you written to your mother that you’ll be here for Christmas?”

“I think so.” He shrugged. “I really can’t recall.”

“Jackson Channing.” She resisted the urge to stamp her foot. “What on earth is wrong with you today?”

“Nothing that I can think of. Why? Have you noticed something?”

“Yes! You haven’t paid a bit of attention to anything I’ve said. Furthermore, you’re not behaving at all like the rational, responsible banker that you are.”

“You mean the stodgy, straitlaced banker that I am.”

She ignored him. “Instead you’re acting like a—”

His brow rose. “Like a what?”

“I don’t know exactly but it’s most disconcerting.”

He chuckled. “My apologies then.” He paused. “I’m simply in excellent spirits at the moment. My father tried to hide it but it was obvious that he was pleased by my return last night.” He glanced at her. “I have you to thank for that.”

“You’re quite welcome.”

“And he has promised not to occupy my every waking moment.

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