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

son.”
    “Besides,” Beryl continued. “This is exactly the sort of thing expected from our family.”
    “She’s right.” Camille ticked the points off on her fingers. “Why, we’ve had Father come back from the dead. Mother has always had various deposed noblemen in residence at Millworth at Christmas. And there’s been all kinds of other assorted scandalous behavior through the years.”
    “Not from me,” Delilah said under her breath.
    Mr. Russell choked back a laugh.
    “Why, for this family, a long lost son is scarcely worth mentioning at all.” Beryl grinned.
    “Even if he’s American?” Basil pinned Delilah with a firm look.
    Delilah glanced at Mr. Russell, then managed a weak smile. “I’m certain that will only make him more interesting.”
    “You’ll accept him then? All of you?” Basil’s gaze circled the room. “As a member of the family?”
    “Of course we will,” Nigel said staunchly.
    “And with a great deal of enthusiasm.” Bernadette nodded in a firm manner.
    “I look forward to welcoming him into the family.” Camille cast her uncle a bright smile.
    “As do I.” Delilah heaved a resigned sigh, then smiled. “He is half English after all.”
    “I told you,” Mr. Russell said under his breath to Grayson.
    “The real question, Uncle Basil, isn’t whether we’re willing to accept him,” Beryl said thoughtfully. “But is he willing to accept us?”
     
     
    Jack followed the footman out of the ballroom and down the stairs to the ground floor, through the gallery that opened up off the main doors, past several parlors to a closed door.
    The footman glanced back at him. “I’ll inform Colonel Channing that you’ve arrived, sir.”
    “If you must.” It took Jack an instant to realize he had said that aloud. “Sorry, of course.”
    The footman cast him a curious look, obviously wondering why the colonel and his family had left the festivities to gather in the dining room. And what part this American stranger played in it. Not that every servant in the house probably wouldn’t know the answer by morning if not sooner. Jack suspected that servants here were no different than those in his grandfather’s house. No one knew more about what went on in a residence than its servants.
    The young man nodded, knocked sharply, then opened the door and stepped into the room. He cleared his throat and his voice drifted back to Jack. “I beg your pardon, Colonel Channing . . .”
    This was absurd. Jack shouldn’t be nervous about this. Absently, he adjusted his necktie. He was about to meet his family after all. Nothing terrifying about that. Aside from the fact that they were about to meet a relative they had no idea even existed. A stranger, a foreigner, who stood to inherit all they held dear. He groaned to himself. Oh, no, nothing to be anxious about at all.
    The footman returned, gave Jack a slight encouraging smile, then took his leave. His father stepped into the corridor an instant later.
    “I’ve broken the news to them.” The colonel studied his son closely. “They took it quite well. There’s no need to be the least bit apprehensive.”
    “Oh?” Jack’s brow rose. “And you weren’t apprehensive when you faced them?”
    “I was bloody well terrified.” His father chuckled. “But it’s turned out quite well really, you’ll see.” His father’s firm gaze met his. “Trust me on this, my boy.”
    “All right.” Jack took a deep breath and followed his father into the dining room.
    His immediate impression was of a very grand room, a table far too small for the room although he suspected it expanded, and eight faces turned toward him expectantly. He recognized nearly all of them from the wedding ceremony. The bride and groom of course, Camille and her new husband, Grayson. The attendant who looked exactly like the bride was Camille’s twin sister, Beryl, which meant the other young woman in the room was the younger sister, Delilah. He couldn’t fail to