The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding (Millworth Manor) Read Free Page A

about him.” She glanced at Jack. “The similarity in name, you know, caught my eye although I must say his photographs don’t do him justice. I didn’t notice any sort of resemblance at all until now.” She nodded. “He’s quite famous.”
    “I wouldn’t say famous,” his father said in a modest manner. “Well known perhaps, in certain circles.”
    “He’s an, oh, what’s the word? Adventurer I suppose.” She shivered with delight. “How very exciting.”
    “What on earth have you been reading?” Mother said under her breath and poured a new glass of brandy.
    “And better yet, you’re part of the family.” Lucy beamed. “Just how are the two of you related?”
    “He’s Jackson’s father’s brother,” Mother said quickly. “Or his cousin, something like that. Now, we should return to the others.”
    “No, he’s not.” Jack braced himself. “He’s my father.”
    “Really?” Lucy’s eyes widened. “How delightful. And that does explain the resemblance.” She leaned toward the colonel in a confidential manner. “But aren’t you supposed to be dead?”
    “Rumor.” His father shrugged. “Nothing more than that.”
    Lucy nodded solemnly. “Rumors can be dreadfully hard to stop once they take hold. And in your case, one might say they were positively . . .” Her eyes twinkled with laughter. “Fatal?”
    The colonel chuckled. “One could say that.” His father glanced at Jack. “I like her.”
    “Everyone likes Lucinda, Basil.” Mother took a fast swig of her drink.
    “Of course they do,” Lucy said. “I am unfailingly pleasant, cordial to a fault, and I am rather more intelligent than is seemly in a woman but I am clever enough to keep that to myself.” She smiled in an overly sweet manner. “For example, right this very moment, I am well aware that there is more to this meeting than any of you have revealed thus far. Admittedly, it doesn’t take a great deal of intelligence to ascertain that. After all, it isn’t every day that a man’s dead father and a woman’s late husband appears just in time for dinner. Add to that the fact that Mrs. Channing is drinking brandy before dinner, which I have never seen her do before, and Jackson has the oddest sort of stunned look in his eyes, well, as I said there is more to this story.” She settled on the sofa and looked at the gathering expectedly. “A story I would very much like to hear.”
    “Yes, well, it’s not a story I wish to tell at the moment.” Mother inched toward the door. “And there is dinner—”
    “Dinner can wait, as I would like to hear this story as well.” Jack glanced at Lucy. “She’s been remarkably reticent to reveal anything at all thus far.”
    “Imagine my surprise,” Lucy murmured.
    “Go on, Mother,” Jack said in his best banking and trust vice-presidential voice. “Tell us your story.”
    “I really don’t think now . . .” Mother glanced around the room then sighed. “Oh, very well.” She downed the rest of her brandy and drew a deep breath. “Thirty years ago, my father served as a financial advisor to an American company that had interests in India. The position required him to travel to that part of the world. Mother and I accompanied him as neither of us had traveled extensively. It was quite exciting as I recall.” She glanced at her son. “Travel is extremely broadening, you know.”
    “I am well aware of that, Mother.” Jack had always thought he would have a grand tour when he finished his studies. But he had started at the bank and one thing had led to another and he had never quite had the time a grand tour would require. He had responsibilities after all.
    “I have always wanted to travel,” Lucy said under her breath.
    “Continue, Mother.”
    “While in India, I met a young, dashing, handsome British officer. He was quite, well, irresistible.”
    Father tried and failed to hide a satisfied grin.
    “We knew each other for only a few weeks but I fancied myself