Page 47 of The Devil's Deceit

“Charles, please.” He leans forward and kisses her on the cheek like they’re long-lost friends. Whatever Grace said to my father at the ball, she made a good impression. I have to struggle to keep the smile off my face.

“Hello, Christian.” Grace dips her chin in true coy fashion.

My groin heats up like it’s been blasted with nuclear energy. She looks at me like that when my dick’s in her mouth and I’ll last five seconds.

“Grace.” My voice sounds as though it’s being filtered through a cheese grater.

My father glances between the two of us. “We were about to go to lunch, Grace. I don’t suppose you’d like to join us?”

“We were?” That’s news to me.

“Yes.”

“Oh, that’s kind of you, Charles, but I have an errand to run.”

I’m certain her refusal is to cover up the accidental nature of this encounter, and I’m relieved. Having to pretend Grace is more of an acquaintance than the woman I dream of banging every night will take more energy than I have to give.

“How long is your errand, dear?” He isn’t giving up. That’s both good and bad news.

“Oh, five minutes. Ten, tops.”

“Then, we shall wait. Won’t we, Christian?” My father has this clever way of asking questions that are statements.

“Of course. We’ll wait over there.” I point to a seating area close to the entrance. As Grace walks away to tend to her non-existent errand, I busy myself on my phone, but when my father’s gaze hasn’t left my face for a full thirty seconds, I sigh and give him my attention.

“What?”

“Son, I have been on this earth for more than double the years you have. Takes a lot to kid a kidder.”

My heart double-times it. Has Dad figured out I’m a charlatan? Does he know about Nexus and he’s been waiting for me to confess, but has run out of patience?

Breathe.Play it cool.

“I’m not following.”

He chuckles, pulling his shirt cuff out from underneath his jacket. “Christian, I knew Alexander had fallen in love with Imogen weeks before he was ready to admit it to himself, let alone her. I knew Victoria was the better wife for Nicholas and kick myself daily for letting him choose Elizabeth. What I’m saying is I know my children better than they know themselves. It comes from decades of experience. You like Grace, don’t you?”

Grace. He’s referring to Grace. I’m not sure whether to feel immense relief that he’s still in the dark about my subterfuge, or concern that he’s figured out how much I like her already.

I hitch a shoulder and fake nonchalance. “She’s nice, I guess.”

He throws back his head and laughs. “In years gone by, I’d have put you over my knee for outright lying to me, but I guess you’re a little big for spankings.”

Depends on who’s doing the spanking. My father is a hard no. But Grace, she can spank me anytime.

“I know this is a set-up. I wasn’t born yesterday. Same as it was a set-up when Victoria introduced Grace to me two weeks ago. And I promise, I’m assessing her fairly, along with two or three other suitable candidates.”

My lips curve. Should’ve known he’d figure it out. I don’t know why I tried to pull the wool over his eyes in the first place. I’m nowhere near smart enough to attempt to outfox my father.

“Wouldn’t you rather I marry someone I have genuine affection for than, well, whoever these other candidates are that you speak of? I know Grace doesn’t have money or influence or leverage that can help us in business, but I’m asking you to consider her anyway.”

He angles his head. “You think that’s how I make my decisions on wives for my sons? Because it serves the family business?”

I shrug. “Both Imogen and Victoria brought something.”

“I admit, Phillip Montague had research I wanted to get my hands on, but that wasn’t the case with Imogen’s father. It was Julian’s business that benefited, not ours.” He sighs. “Christian, I want you to marry the woman whowill make the best wife for you, and that may or may not be Grace. But the question I really want the answer to is why you didn’t talk to me about this? Why all the subterfuge?”

“I guess I wasn’t sure you’d listen.”