A Talent for Trouble by Jen Turano

and Grayson did the same. The fact that no one spoke as they ate was telling, but even though it was clear Grayson had been relieved when lunch arrived and the talk of China interrupted, Felicia still had numerous questions she wanted to ask. All she had to do was gather up enough nerve to ask them. She set down her fork.
    â€œHas Ming suffered from the sentiment against the Chinese?”
    Grayson took a sip of tea and shrugged. “Not overly much as of yet. I’ve been trying to keep her out of the public eye as muchas possible. In fact, I’ve recently been considering changing her name. I think Mary has a nice ring to it.”
    Agatha dabbed her lips with her napkin and shook her head. “You can’t change who she is simply by changing her name, Grayson. Ming looks nothing like a Mary, and besides, don’t you think it would have concerned Ming’s mother if she would have known her daughter would not grow up being proud of her ancestry?”
    â€œAs her mother is quite dead, along with the rest of her family, that’s a moot point.”
    Felicia’s eyes grew wide. “What happened to them?”
    â€œI’m not comfortable speaking of it,” Grayson muttered before he smiled. “Why don’t we talk about something pleasant, like your decrepit pony or perhaps the weather?”
    â€œHave you considered going back to England?” Agatha asked, ignoring Grayson’s request.
    Grayson sent Agatha a glare. “I have.”
    â€œAgain, I thought you abandoned your title,” Felicia said slowly, the thought of him putting an ocean between them causing something strange to happen to her heart.
    â€œI recently discovered you can’t actually abandon a title,” Grayson said. “I received a letter from my cousin, who assumed the role of earl after my father died and I was believed dead. Turns out, Eliza’s old fiancé, Lord Wrathshire, has spread it about London that I’m alive and well.”
    Agatha paused with her glass of tea midway to her lips. “What does that mean?”
    â€œIt means that Spencer, my cousin, is no longer accepted as Lord Sefton.”
    â€œHe’s been stripped of the title?” Agatha pressed.
    Grayson shook his head. “Not really, since the title didn’t actually belong to him in the first place. He’s agreed to continuing managing all of the estates—for a substantial salary, Imight add—but I got the impression he’d really like to return to his own home and put the whole business behind him. I don’t think London society has been very kind to him after it was discovered I’m alive. English aristocrats are sticklers for the proprieties, after all.”
    â€œBut . . . are you willing to accept the responsibilities that come with resuming your title and . . .” Felicia stuttered to a halt as Grayson suddenly stiffened in his seat and his expression became downright frightening.
    â€œAre you insinuating I’m incapable of handling responsibilities?”
    How in the world had he gotten that from what she’d asked?
    â€œOf course not.”
    Before she could formulate a better response, Grayson got to his feet and pulled out his billfold. He tossed some bills on the table and sent her a nod. “I’ve just recalled an urgent matter that demands my attention.” He bowed in her direction, turned and did the same to Agatha. “You’ll make certain Felicia gets home all right in your carriage?”
    â€œShe drove herself today, remember, in her pony cart?”
    â€œAh, exactly right, I almost forgot, and you did bring your own carriage, didn’t you?”
    Agatha nodded. “I did, but . . .”
    â€œThen since the two of you have a means of transportation to see you home, I’ll bid both of you good day.” With that, Grayson, not bothering to even look in Felicia’s direction again, stalked