Free The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White Page A

that night,” Jack said, coming up behind me. “Or she will be, seeing as her birthday is the same day.” He offered a big smile and a hand toward Marc. “Matthew, right?”
    To my surprise, Marc took the offered hand and shook it. “Ah, the famous Jack Trenholm. A pleasure, as always.”
    I studied Marc’s face, confused by the look I saw there. It was similar to the look I imagined a cat wore while standing next to the empty bowl of cream.
    “Why, thank you, Matt. Can’t say I feel likewise, but the sentiment’s appreciated just the same.” He glanced down at Marc’s impeccably tailored shirt and pants, the dark brown Italian loafers. “Just stopping by on the way to the opera? We don’t want to make you late.”
    “Actually, no. I’m here for the duration. I was invited by Mrs. Middleton, although I’d like to think Melanie and I are good enough friends that I wouldn’t need an invitation.” He squeezed my hand, doing nothing to make the situation less awkward.
    I was thankful when Marc let go of my hand. “So when’s the next international bestseller coming out, Jack, or is that a closely guarded secret?”
    Again, I couldn’t decipher Marc’s expression. Usually I felt the need to stand in between Marc and Jack to prevent any blows, but Marc actually seemed genuinely interested in Jack’s answer. Surely he couldn’t know what a sore subject it was for Jack. Although originally enthusiastic about Jack’s book about the hidden Confederate diamonds and the disappearance of a former resident of my house on Tradd Street, his editor and agent had suddenly stopped taking his phone calls.
    “Thanks for asking, Matt. But I rarely mix business with pleasure, so I’m going to spare Melanie the boring details and instead escort her over to Nola, who wants to know whether the cake is vegan and when she can have a piece.”
    Jack tugged on my arm, leaving me no choice but to follow. I waved, and from the corner of my eye I watched Rebecca approach Marc, her gaze directed at Jack and me.
    “Remind me to have a word with your mother,” Jack said in my ear. “My daughter’s here and I don’t want her to be exposed to lower lifeforms like that.”
    We both looked over to where Nola was standing between Sophie and Chad. The pink headband was long since discarded—most likely in the fountain behind her—and Sophie and Chad were wearing matching quilted vests and single braids, a collection of hemp necklaces around their necks. If I hadn’t known the three of them and happened to come across them in a dark alley, I’d probably head the other way. “Yeah, I know what you mean,” I said, but the sarcasm, for once, seemed lost on Jack.
    I looked around the small gathering. “Where are your parents? They said they’d be here.”
    It took Jack a moment to register that I was speaking to him. He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m sure they’re on their way. My mother mentioned something about a gift for Nola. Maybe that’s what’s holding them up.”
    A cold breeze swept across my back like icy fingers, making me shiver despite the heat. I looked up at Jack to see whether he’d noticed it, but he was too busy staring at Marc and Rebecca with a concentrated frown. Marc looked up and saw us, then smiled an unnatural smile again. Jack tensed beside me.
    “Melanie?” I turned at Sophie’s voice.
    I faced her, a smile plastered on my face. “Congratulations on your engagement,” I said, trying very hard to keep the ice out of my voice. “When were you planning on telling me? After the third baby was born?”
    “Look, Melanie, I’m really sorry about that. I wasn’t sure how you’d take it, so I was working on a way to tell you when I was sort of found out tonight.”
    “Then maybe you shouldn’t have worn your ring.”
    “Why not?” piped up Nola, who seemed to have appeared beside Sophie like a new appendage. They even wore matching braids now.
    “Because,” I explained, “best friends tell