London Dynasty (The Dynasties #1) - Geneva Lee Page 0,28

to her. Maybe I shouldn’t have assumed.

But when I stepped onto the landing, Tod caught my hand. “You look beautiful, Kerrigan. Spencer will be pleased.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, feeling suddenly shy.

He must have noticed because he released my hand and crooked his arm to his wife. “You’ll follow behind us in the Maybach.”

“I’m not going with you?” I blurted out. “Why did you wait for me?”

“I simply wanted to be certain you got out the door on time. Punctuality hasn’t always been your defining characteristic. And you may wish to stay longer than us.”

I tried to ignore the implication of those words. I might want to seal the deal with Spencer—or rather, he might expect me to go to his bed. Then there was the other reason, Tod had waited. He wanted to see me himself, to know if his scheme would work or if he had to call everything off. I made a mental note, though, that Kerrigan favored tardiness. It was little things like that which might help me pass for her.

A driver helped me into the back of the Maybach as Tod helped Iris into the backseat of a black limousine. Their car had already started down the drive as my driver took the wheel of the Mercedes.

“Ready, Miss?” he asked.

Part of me wanted to say no and run back into the house. I could change and be gone before Tod Belmond realized I wasn’t behind them. Despite all that I had done so far, I sensed that tonight the final line would be crossed. After this evening, there would be no turning back. I would be trapped in the arrangement until time or my double set me free.

I thought about the ten million pounds. One year of taking orders. One year of playing a part. And then I would never belong to anyone again.

“Yes,” I said. As he drove away, I didn’t bother to look back.

Chapter Thirteen

It turned out that I wouldn’t have gotten far had I decided to run because in less than five minutes’ time the car turned into a drive and paused to speak with the security guard at the gate. A moment later, the gates opened revealing my first glimpse of Sparrow Court, the Byrd’s family home. If I had been impressed with Willoughby Place, this residence actually intimidated me. The house itself sat a good way from the road, far enough that it might have looked small in the distance if it weren’t so terribly palatial. The drive had been lined with spotlights that were turned on despite it still being twilight, giving the feeling of making a grand entrance from the moment we drove onto the property. The drive itself was paved with bricks, but I didn’t feel the slightest bump thanks to the smooth ride of the Maybach. We rounded the circular drive, pulling past a fountain featuring three female statues, breasts bare, holding large pots from which water flowed to the pool below. Flowers floated in the water next to small candles which flickered romantically. The Mercedes paused and a gloved attendant opened the door.

“Miss Belmond.” He offered me his hand and I took it.

Rising out of the car, I swallowed a gasp at the scene in front of me. The staircase leading into the main entrance had been draped with white flowers of all types. Roses, lilies, peonies, and other varieties too exotic for me to name mixed with twisting ivy vines. Even from here the delicate floral bouquet perfumed the air. Lanterns had been placed at the far end of each step. Suddenly, I understood why Caroline had wanted me to wear white. She wanted me to look the part of the innocent, blushing bride. I found myself wondering if this was simply a party to announce an engagement, what would the actual wedding be like?

I glanced around looking for Tod and Iris, but they were nowhere in sight. Other than a few others arriving, I was alone. I thanked the attendant for his help and took a single step toward the party, hesitating for a moment and wishing I had made Giles sit in the car, after all. I turned my head slightly at the sound of an engine in time to see the driver pull away, off to wherever he was expected to wait until I called for him. I had no choice but to go inside and hope I didn’t trip down the staircase or make an unintentional blunder. A group that arrived