Page 3 of The Devil's Deceit

“Not a clue. Just mingle. We might overhear something.”

My stomach rumbles, a reminder I’ve been too anxious today to eat anything. I’m still too anxious now, despite the delicious smells coming from the hot buffet.

A tall man in a tuxedo and a silver mask approaches holding two glasses of champagne. He breaks out a beaming smile and passes the glasses to us. “Can’t have two beautiful ladies without a drink.”

I murmur my thanks and take one of the flutes from him while Juliet takes the other.

“How kind of you, thank you.” In true Juliet fashion, she flutters her eyelashes at him. “I’m Juliet, and this gorgeous creature is Lady Grace Ambrose.”

The stranger pans his gaze to me, his smile courteous, then returns his attention to Juliet. “I’m Gray Sinner.”

“And are you?” She flutters her eyelashes at him again. “A sinner, I mean.”

I somehow suppress a giggle. Juliet has always been a terrible flirt, but if watching her at work stops me from thinking about what I’m here to do for a few seconds, I’ll take it.

“When the situation calls for it.” He flashes her another white-toothed smile.

“Whereabouts in America are you from?” she asks, picking up on his accent.

“California.”

“I’ve never been.”

“You should. It’s stunning.”

“Like you.” She touches his arm playfully. My best friend in full flow is a sight to behold. I’m going to need to channel some of her confidence if I’m to stand a hope of pulling off the deception of the century.

“So, tell me,” Juliet almost purrs. “How do you know the De Vils?”

“Oh, we go way back. My family does a lot of business with theirs.”

“Is that so?” She smooths a hand over the lapels on his jacket. “I presume that means you visit England a lot?”

“You’re wasting your time, sweetheart.” Another man joins our group, clapping Gray on the shoulder. “My brother here is madly in love with his best friend from high school. Unfortunately for him, she’s firmly friend-zoned him. Isn’t that right, Gray?”

Gray glowers. “Thanks for the reminder.”

“You’re welcome.” He grins, all white teeth and the perfect American smile. “I’m Donovan, by the way.”

“This is Juliet and Grace,” Gray says.

“Good to meet you. How do you know the De Vils?” Donovan asks.

“Oh, we don’t,” I say.

Donovan pauses for a second, and my heart sinks. Have I just made a fatal error? Is every guest expected to know the family personally?

“My advice? Stay away from the unmarried ones. They’re devils in more than just name.” He chuckles. “And the married ones, of course. Their wives will scratch your eyes out.”

A breath leaves my lungs in a whoosh, drowned out by Juliet’s giggle. I figured this would be difficult,with landmines and traps at every turn, but to mess up so early wasn’t on my bingo card.

The three of them strike up a conversation while I tune it out, scanning the crowds, even though the only thing I know I’m looking for is a man around six feet three, with dark hair and an athletic build. Doesn’t exactly narrow my choices down. The majority of the men here seem to fit that description.

How the hell am I ever going to know which one is Christian De Vil without asking Gray or Donovan outright? And considering he just said to stay away from the unmarried ones, that will only look curious.

As I’m running through my options, one of the many tall, dark-haired men in attendance approaches our gathering, but instead of stopping, he nods briefly at Gray and Donovan, then walks on by.

Could that be him? I twist my head to the left, tracking his movements. He stops a few feet away beside another man who’s staring at his phone.