Free A Wicked Persuasion by Catherine George Page B

beforehand.’
    ‘Why was his agreement so vital?’
    ‘We need the money,’ she said baldly, and shook her head as James offered a fresh bottle of champagne. ‘No, thanks. I’d rather have some iced water from that jug.’
    James eyed her closely as he filled a glass for her. ‘Back then I assumed your family was very wealthy.’
    ‘Comfortable rather than wealthy, but not even that any more. The recent financial situation played havoc with my father’s investments.’ She gave him a rueful smile. ‘This party tonight may have satisfied your need to get your own back on the Wildes, but it provided me with money to pay for the roof, and hopefully it will attract other punters to hire River House so I can get more maintenance done.’
    He frowned. ‘It provided
you
with money, not your father?’
    She nodded. ‘The others are coming back, by the way, and Claudia’s giving me the evil eye again. You’d better dance with her next.’
    ‘In that dress? Not a chance. There was a major incident earlier when Marcus first laid eyes on it. She refused to change, so it’s thanks to Moira that she’s here at all.’
    ‘Tricky. How does your sister cope with family crises?’
    ‘Brilliantly. But then she’s known the girls since they were babies. She was Marcus’s personal assistant for years, long before she became his wife. His stepsisters are fond of her, thankfully, and their mother is, too. Louise has never been a wicked stepmother where Marcus is concerned.’
    Harriet smiled at the others as they returned to the table, and then got to her feet with a smile when David Walker asked her to dance. He led her back on the floor to partner him in a lively quickstep, which eventually changed to a tango.
    ‘I was in Argentina earlier this year and got hooked on this,’ he informed her. ‘Are you up for it, Miss Wilde?’
    She was about to say no, then nodded, abruptly tired of her role as the quiet one in the family. ‘Oddly enough, I am. When I was a student I joined a dance club and liked Latin American best. I hope I remember how—but go easy with the kicking bits, please.’
    Dancing the tango, Harriet found, was only similar to riding a bike in that she hadn’t forgotten how to do it. David was surprisingly skilful, she was wearing the perfect dress for it and, to her amusement, they drew glances of admiration from all the onlookers, bar two. James watched them with all the animation of a graven image, and Claudia, predictably, had a face like thunder. But when the other dancers cleared the floor to watch Harriet called a halt.
    ‘I draw the line at providing the cabaret,’ she said breathlessly, and David thanked her very warmly and led her back to the table.
    ‘That was
wonderful
,’ exclaimed Moira, and Harriet grinned as Marcus held her chair out for her.
    ‘I haven’t tangoed since I was a student. Good fun, though.’
    ‘I had no idea you could dance like that,’ said Aubrey Wilde, eyeing his daughter with awe.
    ‘I joined a dance club in college. Even accountants need light relief sometimes!’
    Lily looked delighted. ‘They’re playing a samba now, Harriet. Can you do that, too?’
    ‘I can, but I’m not going to.’
    ‘I can samba,’ said Claudia promptly, jumping up. ‘Come on, James. Dance with me.’
    He shook his head. ‘Not a chance. I only waltz.’
    Tom leapt to his feet. ‘Dance with me instead, Claudia?’
    For a horrible moment Harriet thought the girl would refuse, but to her relief—and everyone else’s—Claudia smiled brilliantly at the young man and took his hand to run onto the floor.
    ‘Thank God for that,’ said Marcus piously. ‘If you have any feeling for me at all, James, dance with her once tonight or she’ll give us hell before she goes back to London tomorrow.’
    Lily eyed her brother in disapproval. ‘Why should he? It’s James’s party; he should do what he likes.’
    James beckoned David over for a word, and the young man nodded and went