London Dynasty (The Dynasties #1) - Geneva Lee Page 0,40

Tod called, and I turned to find him standing in the doorway.

“Marissa?” I already knew who she was. It was glaringly obvious, but I found myself wanting to hear what Tod had to say about her.

“My first wife.” He stepped into the room, offering an uncomfortable smile. “Kerrigan’s mother.”

“She’s very beautiful.” My heart pounded as I considered the possibility of meeting her. I’d never known my own mother. I’d never known either of my parents. I didn’t have a single memory of either of them. It wasn’t rational to want to meet her simply because she looked so much like my mother must have, but I was beginning to understand that love and sentiment didn’t operate according to reason.

“She was,” he said meaningfully. “She died a few years ago.”

I gasped, still staring at the photograph. The woman in the picture was so full of life, her arms wrapped around her daughter as both beamed at the camera. There was no sign of illness. “What happened?”

“A boating accident. She drowned. Thankfully, Kerrigan survived.”

“Kerrigan was there?” I repeated. I’d born the loss of my own parents as an orphan who’d never known anything else. I’d ached to know them, building impossible narratives of who they had been and what they were like. I couldn’t imagine the pain that came with having one’s mother snatched away. I wondered if it was deeper or the same. I wondered if one day I might be able to ask Kerrigan about it or comfort her.

I put the picture back on the mantle, feeling silly.

“She was a better swimmer than her mother. The Coastguard found her clinging to some of the wreckage. She was in the hospital for weeks with hypothermia, and after that…” He trailed away, shaking his head. “I’m sorry this is too depressing a story for a Sunday afternoon. I came to talk with you about Spencer.”

“I’m having dinner with him tonight.” I was actually relieved to shift the conversation to one of a business nature. Some gut instinct told me to keep Tod at a distance. It was best if there were clear boundaries between myself and Kerrigan’s father, even if I didn’t understand why.

“I heard. Good job. I was concerned after he delayed the engagement yesterday evening,” he admitted. “I apologize if I was harsh on you.”

“You were quite clear on the expectations,” I said coolly. “I’ll do my best to see that his interest remains piqued.”

“Not just his interest.” Tod leveled a hard look at me. “The sooner he puts a ring on your finger, the better.”

“I’m sure it’s just a matter of time,” I said with a shrug. I didn’t need to tell Tod about Spencer’s desire to get to know one another or that I’d managed to capture his full attention by admitting to him that I was a virgin. Tod didn’t need to know that. It was the part of our indecent arrangement that I felt we both preferred to keep him in the dark regarding. I might not be his daughter, but I looked enough like her to pass as her. I couldn’t imagine he wanted to think about me in bed with Spencer anymore than he wanted to imagine Kerrigan there.

“We’ll see,” he said, his eyes unreadable. “Let me know how dinner goes.” Then, he turned and left me to plan my attack.

I wasn’t exactly Sun Tzu, but when Giles called up that evening to tell me Spencer had arrived, I felt like I’d spent the day preparing to go into battle. Tonight my armor consisted of a fitted red dress with a caged bodice that functioned a bit like a bustier. Two cups barely contained my breasts, and the neckline—if it could be called that—plunged between them. My hips looked especially curvy in the tight skirt. It might have been too sexy if it weren’t for its length, the skirt extended to my knees, and the accessories that Giles had chosen. A simple choker of diamonds circled my neck complemented by diamond teardrop earrings. I carried a classic Chanel clutch that matched my black heels, which featured a classic, but exaggerated silhouette that made my legs look especially long.

I left my hair down after it was curled and opted for little more than a few coats of mascara and red lipstick. The effect was simple but sexy.

I’d been a little concerned about the message that wearing red sent, particularly after my intimate discussions with Spencer yesterday, but as soon as I started down the staircase