Free High Society by Penny Jordan Page A

gave them to, and she
screams every time I try to get her to remember. And George—would you believe
it?—was shagging one of the waitresses when Martina took them off. I’ve got
Tiffany on the phone every five minutes, demanding that I pay them a million
dollars for their necklace. Thank goodness I managed to persuade the Beast to pay for an exclusive account of how George
was discovered in flagrante , the very night he had
reaffirmed his marriage vows. You should see the photograph they’ve done—George
and this girl, naked apart from a diamond necklace.’
    ‘The Beast ?’ Silas questioned.
    ‘Dorland’s pet name for a certain red-top daily,’ Julia
explained.
    ‘My little joke, Silas.’ Dorland beamed. ‘The editor, the
dearest boy, has a fondness for dressing up as King Kong, as part of his mating
ritual.’
    ‘Dorland, I’ve got a bone to pick with you,’ Julia informed him
grimly.
    ‘Oh?’
    ‘My mother’s daily showed her an article in A-List Life with photographs of me and Silas and the
information that—’
    ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I just couldn’t resist.’ Dorland
stopped her, looking more smug than repentant. ‘It was such a tempting tidbit.
Fortunately the photographs I told the guys to take of the two of you turned out
well, and I told Murray to make room for them. I thought up the headline myself.
“Keeping it in the Family.” Then it said, “My spies tell me that one of A-List ’s favourite party girls is soon to be planning
a wedding. And guess who to? Her grandfather, the Earl of Amberley, is bound to
be pleased, since her husband-to-be is also his heir, the American billionaire
Silas Cabot Carter.” You’ll be getting married at Amberley of course?’ he
continued, unconsciously echoing Julia’s mother.
    ‘Of course,’ Silas agreed smoothly. ‘But not yet. I haven’t
forgotten my promise to Lucy.’ Really, Silas reflected inwardly, things couldn’t
have begun to work out better if he had planned them this way himself.
    ‘Jules, I’ve been thinking—the fireworks. Do you really think
it’s a good idea to colour-co-ordinate them?’ Dorland demanded, having obviously
lost interest in their ‘engagement’.
    ‘I think it’s an excellent idea,’ Julia assured him, well aware
how much it would cost if she were to instruct the firework suppliers to change
the order she had already given them.
    * * *
    ‘Lucy, I know you’re about to leave, but have you got a
minute?’
    ‘Of course. Nick’s gone down with our stuff to wait for the
taxi.’
    She hated doing this, Julia thought. No way did she want to lie
to her best friend, but with her grandfather having sent off a notice of her
supposed engagement to The Times , Lucy was bound to
wonder why on earth she hadn’t said something.
    ‘Silas and I are getting engaged.’
    ‘Jules!’ Immediately Lucy threw her arms around her and hugged
her fiercely, her face alight with happiness. ‘Oh, I am so pleased for you.
You’re perfect for one another. Oh, Jules, how exciting—and you never said a
word...’
    ‘It’s all been very sudden,’ Julia told her uncomfortably.
Well, that much at least was true.
    Despite the fact that her friend was obviously happy with the
news, Lucy looked weary.
    ‘You’re happy, aren’t you, Lucy?’ Julia demanded abruptly. ‘I
mean, with Nick?’
    ‘Of course I am,’ Lucy told her immediately. ‘Why shouldn’t I
be?’
    * * *
    ‘A word with you, if you please, Blayne,’ Silas demanded
quietly.
    This was the first time he had managed to catch Nick on his own
following Julia’s revelations.
    Nick shrugged. ‘Sure. How can I help?’
    Silas studied him assessingly. Was it only another man who
could see that the too-handsome face hinted at weakness?
    ‘You’re walking a very precarious line right now, and whilst
your marriage is not my concern, Julia’s well-being is.’
    ‘You’re warning me off?’ Nick asked lightly, smiling. He gave
another small shrug. ‘Jules