16
Blackwell opened Donna’s car door after they’d parked in front of another estate that might double as a palace. The black gates with gold trim showed a well-cared for garden with flowers tastefully lining the drive that gave this home pops of color that Blackwell’s didn’t have. Her entire condo building wasn’t as big as thishouse.
Blackwell placed his hand on her lower back and guided her up the marble steps to the huge double doors. He knocked and a well-dressed, nice-looking dark-haired man her age opened the door. She held Blackwell’s arm until the man reached out and shook his hand. “Blackwell, I’m glad you couldcome.”
Blackwell then introduced her. “This is Donna Smith. Donna this is Lord Sky, Remington Burke. Remington, Donna’s agreed to marryme.”
Remington had a slighter build than Blackwell and a face that would fit in any Hollywood film. He shook her hand. “That is wonderful news. Please call me Remington. It’s nice to meet you, though I am sorry about thetiming.”
He led them both inside. As he closed the door, Remington told Blackwell, “I’m glad you’re here. My grandmother wants to see you. She’s in the morning sun room, where she has a view of herroses.”
Blackwell turned and held both of her hands. “Will you beokay?”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Go and don’t forget thebroach.”
“Thanks.” Blackwell kissed her fast and walked down thehall.
Once Blackwell disappeared from sight, Remington waved for her to follow him. “Come this way, Donna. The servants have set up tea if you’dlike.”
She walked into a blue room with floor to ceiling windows and saw tea and small cakes set against the wall on a wooden buffet. She smiled and said, “Thanks.”
“I’ll be back in a moment.” Remington bowed. “Make yourselfcomfortable.”
The gorgeous man could be in movies, but he seemed reserved and sad over his grandmother. Her heart understood what that was like so she nodded and didn’t keep him with small talk. Donna could see the front door from the blue room threshold, but made her way inside to check out the small cakes. The vanilla smelleddelicious.
She reached for a napkin, but then heard the side door open and close and forgot about the cake. A woman with long brown frizzy hair and uneven bangs over her glasses waited by a window. She offered to shake her hand. “Hi, I’m DonnaSmith.”
The woman barely acknowledged Donna but stayed close to the side door and looked at the main entrance as if she feared being trapped. “Is Remingtongone?”
Donna stood straighter. Did the woman have a connection to Remington? “I think so. He went to see his grandmother. Who areyou?”
The woman then offered to shake her hand and Donna accepted. “Cassidy Bright, technically Lady Cassidy.” She made a face as if she found her title ridiculous. “I’m trying to get in to see Lady Sky without running intoRemington.”
Donna’s brow furrowed as she stared at the slightly frizzy-haired woman with thick glasses. Bright? As in, related to Chelsea? “Why? He seems pleasantenough.”
She made apfftsound as she shook her head like Donna had no idea about anything. “Let’s just say that Remington and I don’t get along, though his grandmother more than makes up for his bad manners. How are things with you and His Grace, the Duke ofOakley?”
The woman’s gaze grew intense, as if she cared. Donna stepped backwards. “Blackwell and I areengaged.”
She gave her a thumbs up like she was part of a conspiracy. “I told my sister not to bother going to the estate yesterday as Oberlin had met someone else. She hoped to prove mewrong.”
Sister? Yesterday, Chelsea Bright had been perfect in her matching peach and pearls. She blinked at the woman wearing baggy clothes that hid her figure, and all of that wild brown frizzy hair. Donna surmised, “Chelsea is yoursister.”
Cassidy nodded and pushed some of the mop of hair she had behind her ear. “My little sister, yes. She’s taken her place in society and intends to marry well.” Then she scrunched her nose as if she could smell something awful. “Guess this means she’ll accept Remington’s offer and they’ll both be insufferable—together.”
Footsteps echoed from the hall and they glanced over to see Remington returning. Cassidy backed into the side door as if ready to escape. “Oh, here comes Remington. Can you distract him while I slip past him in the hall so I can go say goodbye to Gigi? I owe her more than a fewhugs.”
None of this made sense, but the whirlwind of Cassidy already had one foot through the door. Donna nodded. “Okay. I’ll try, but Blackwell is probably still with hisgrandmother.”
Cassidy made a dismissive wave as she closed the door. “He can be there. I’m just avoidingRemy.”
Remy? “Interesting.” Donna turned around and picked up a tea cup so she had something to do with her hands. Remington walked into the blue room as Cassidy slipped out into the hallway behind him. “Mr. Burke,” Donna asked, “I was wondering if Miss Chelsea Bright will be in attendancetoday.”
“Remington is fine.” He poured a cup of tea for himself and seemed amicable despite the mess of his life. “I hope she does come over. It will be good for her to know Blackwell is off the market, though my grandmother might not approve if I askedher.”
Cassidy made a choking gesture and rolled her eyes behind him then darted out of sight. Donna tried not to laugh, but instead asked, “Any particularreason?”
The door to the next room opened and closed. A second later, Blackwell came into view. She’d have to ask him about Cassidy and Remington’shistory.
