An Unforgettable Lady (An Unforgettable Lady #1)(81)

"I'm glad you told me all that."

His eyes closed, as if he were reliving the disappointment he felt with himself.

"You've got to believe me, the last thing I want to do is hurt you,"

Grace lifted her lips for his kiss and pulled his head down. His mouth was soft on hers, a surprisingly gentle brush, and she felt him take her left hand into his.

"Will you take off those rings tonight? " he asked.

She didn't hesitate. With careless movements, she removed her sapphire and diamonds and tossed them onto the marble counter.

John picked her up and carried her to her bed. When he put her down and laid on top of her, bracing his powerful arms on either side of her body, she felt anticipation flow through her veins like a drug. As his mouth took hers, she surrendered to the desire.



* * *



Grace was sound asleep in John's arms when the phone began to ring at six-thirty the next morning. "When it started in on a third course, she picked up the receiver.

"Where have you been?" her mother demanded before Grace had time to squeeze out a hello. "And why didn't you answer the phone last night?"

"Was that you?" Grace sat up, pushing her hair out of her face.

John stirred and moved with her, keeping his arm around her waist. She was relieved he didn't leave right away.

"Of course it was me," her mother snapped. "I thought you might appreciate knowing that I took care of your little problem. I spent most of last evening entertaining phone calls from Cameron Brast. In the middle of my party, I might add."

Grace grimaced. Brast was the publisher of one of New York's rags.

Her mother went on. "The picture of that Smith man with his arms around you will not be appearing in the papers this morning. It took all my powers of persuasion to block its publication and, courtesy of your indiscretion, I am now indebted to that odious little Brast man."

"I'm sorry you—"

"Equally outrageous, however, is the fact that your husband called me to say that some reporter had reached him in Paris for a comment. Ranulf was practically inconsolable last night. He'd tried to phone you and when he was unable to get through he called Here. Have you no shame"

Grace shut her eyes. "Mother, Ranulf and I are getting a divorce."

Carolina's swiftly indrawn breath came through the phone like a draft. "Oh, my God. It's that man, isn't it? You're leaving Ranulf for some—"

"Ranulf and I separated right after father's death. Before I even met John."



"My God... But why is he divorcing you?"

Grace was almost able to keep the frustration out of her voice. "I'm the one who's asking for a divorce."

She could practically hear the gears in her mother's brain grinding to a halt.

"But, whatever for? "

"We have irreconcilable differences."

Starting with the fact that we never loved each other, she thought.

"Come now, how different can you two be? His family is very well thought of. Perhaps you could just try again."

"That's just what Father said," Grace replied.

There was a pause. "You spoke to him about this?"

"Yes. Over the summer. He told me to go back to Ranulf and I did. Things only got worse."

"I don't understand. What happened? You always looked so happy together."

"Appearances can be deceiving, Mother."

There was a long silence on the phone.

"Oh Grace, I can't bear the thought of all this. First your father and now your marriage. When will it end?"

"I'm sorry this has upset you." It was hard to keep the disappointment in her mother to herself. She could have used some support from the woman, but knew full well that had never been how their relationship had worked.

"You know, your father and I had difficult times," Carolina said, a sliver of hope in her voice. "We worked through them. It can be done."

Grace found it hard to believe her parents had faced anything more arduous than what to wear for a dinner party.

"Mother, the truth is, I never should have married Ranulf. I had doubts from the very beginning. Even at our engagement party."

As Smith got out of her bed and walked naked into his bedroom, she momentarily forgot her mother.

"But what are you going to do? As a woman alone?"

"I'll manage somehow," Grace said with an edge of sarcasm. "It's amazing what girls are allowed to do these days. Were you aware we can vote now?"

"There's no reason to be hostile. And I must say, I am seriously distressed that with your marriage ending, your first instinct is to throw yourself into some turgid affair with that... Smith man."

"John is my bodyguard."

Her mother fell silent. "Your bodyguard?"

"That was why he needed to change rooms. He needed to be closer to me."

"Good Lord, what do you need one for? Are you okay?"

"I—I'm fine." She released a frustrated breath. Having just consoled her mother about her impending divorce, she didn't feel up to soothing the woman over the murders of her friends. "I'd better go, Mother. It's time for me to go to work."