A Second Chance For The Millionaire: Rescued by the Brooding Tycoon / Who Wants To Marry a Millionaire? / The Billionaire's Fair Lady. Nicola Marsh

later. Patience would bring him everything.

      After that they both concentrated on their social duty. Harriet was never short of partners, until finally she glanced up to find Amos approaching, the very picture of geniality.

      ‘I’ve been hoping to dance with you but there were so many men ahead of me.’ He held out his hand. ‘Please say I’m not too late.’

      ‘Of course not,’ she said, smiling and taking his hand.

      Heads turned as he led her onto the floor, the crowd parted for them, and there was a smattering of applause as he drew her into the dance. Darius, passing the time with Freya, turned his head casually, then grew tense.

      ‘What the devil—?’ he breathed.

      ‘He seems quite charmed with Harriet,’ Freya said. ‘Look at the way he’s smiling, practically welcoming her into the family.’ She gave Darius an amused look. ‘I should be grateful to her, really. It helps take the pressure off me, brother, dear.’

      ‘Look at them,’ he said distractedly. ‘Why is he laughing like that?’

      ‘She’s laughing too,’ Freya pointed out. ‘Obviously they’re getting on well. He can be so grim, it’s nice to see him putting himself out to be nice to her.’

      But for Darius, who knew what really lay behind Amos’s ‘charm’, every moment was torment. He was trying to lure Harriet into a trap, hoping she would say something he could use against her. Darius had often seen him wear a pleasant mask as long as it could be useful, and had thought little of it.

      But this was different. This was Harriet—great-hearted, innocent, vulnerable—and he was filled with desire to protect her at all costs.

      ‘Dance with me,’ he said, taking Freya’s hand.

      She was too astute to mistake his motive, especially when she realised how determinedly he steered her in the direction of the other couple.

      ‘Is this near enough for you?’ she asked.

      ‘Only just. Can you hear what he’s saying?’

      ‘Something about a shop on Herringdean—an antique shop—since when was he interested in antiques?’

      ‘Since he found out she owned one,’ Darius growled.

      ‘Now he’s talking money—how much is the shop worth?’

      ‘Damn him!’

      ‘Don’t act surprised. That’s always his first thought. Hey, he’s watching us. Let’s teach him a lesson.’

      ‘How?’

      ‘Look deep into my eyes, then he’ll think what a good son you’re being. You never know, he might solve all your problems with one cheque.’

      ‘Yes, but he’d post-date it so that I’d have to marry you first.’

      ‘Never fear. I’ll avoid that catastrophe with my last breath.’

      ‘So will I,’ he assured her cheerfully.

      They finished the dance with no hard feelings on either side.

      When Amos had bid her farewell and departed, Harriet went to quench her thirst with an orange juice. Standing beside a large potted plant, she was only vaguely aware of movement from the other side until she heard Mary’s voice say, ‘Wherever did you find that marvellous girl?’

      And Darius’s eager reply. ‘Harriet is marvellous, isn’t she? I’m glad you like her.’

      ‘Are you surprised? Did you think I’d be jealous? On the contrary, she’s doing me a great favour. If you’ve got her, I don’t have to feel guilty about leaving you. And the children like her, so I can send them to stay with you with an easy mind.’

      ‘Do you really mean that?’ Darius demanded urgently.

      ‘I know you thought I was trying to separate you from them, but I wasn’t. It’s just that you hurt them so often with your stupidity.’