The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding (Millworth Manor) by Victoria Alexander Page A

Sam.
    Dee usually was hungry when she was happy. Teddy stifled a laugh and stepped to the sideboard.
    The gentleman filling his plate glanced at her and his gaze met hers.
    Her breath caught. “You!”
    “Good day,” he said with a smile. “I was hoping to see you again.”
    Teddy stared and at once realized the truth. She was shocked she hadn’t noticed last night but then last night she never would have suspected the truth. The man looked vaguely familiar because he looked very much like the colonel— his father. He had the same boyish good looks and infectious grin and his eyes were very nearly the same shade of blue as Dee’s and her sisters. He’d said he had come with his father and said as well his story was a convoluted one. That was certainly an understatement. Nothing the man said had been a lie, as far as she knew, yet the most unreasonable sense of having been deceived swept through her.
    “Good morning, Jack,” Dee said, returning to the sideboard and perusing the offerings, much like a general planning a campaign. “Have the two of you met?”
    “No,” Teddy snapped.
    “Yes,” he said at the same time.
    Dee’s eyes narrowed and her gaze shifted between Teddy and the American.
    “Not really.” Teddy shrugged.
    “In a manner of speaking,” he said, again at the same time.
    “I see,” Dee said slowly. Teddy refused to hazard a guess as to what exactly the other woman was thinking but whatever it was, Dee was wrong. “Well then, just to make certain as neither of you seem entirely sure, Teddy, may I present my cousin, Mr. Jackson Channing. Jack, this is my dearest friend in the world, Lady Theodosia Winslow.”
    Without thinking Teddy held out her hand. Mr. Channing looked for a place on the sideboard to put his plate. Good Lord, what was she doing? The man had her, well, flustered. She pulled back her hand but he passed his plate to Dee, then took Teddy’s hand.
    “A pleasure to meet you, Lady Theodosia.” He frowned. “Or is it Lady Winslow?”
    “Oh, you can call her Teddy. She’s practically a member of the family,” Dee said absently, her gaze fixed on Mr. Channing’s plate. “This looks wonderful.”
    “You’d best reclaim your breakfast from Dee before she claims it for herself.” Teddy pulled her hand free from his.
    “Don’t be ridiculous. I would never . . .” Dee handed him back his plate and grinned. “But I am famished.” She stepped around Mr. Channing and took a plate of her own.
    Mr. Channing leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Do you mind? My calling you by your first name, that is? Is it acceptable?” Doubt shown in his blue eyes. At once she recalled his comments about being a fish out of water.
    “It’s quite all right.” Teddy smiled up at him. It probably wasn’t fair for her to feel any indignation about their conversation last night. He hadn’t misled her, indeed, he hadn’t really said much of significance at all. Still, the feeling lingered. “Dee and I have been close since our school days together so I’ve known her family for a long time. And you are a member of the family after all.”
    “Good.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “I don’t mind telling you it’s going to take some time to understand the rules of your titles. When it’s Lady Firstname and when it’s Lady Lastname.”
    Teddy nodded. “I imagine it is most confusing for someone new to it all.”
    “Maybe . . . “A casual note sounded in his voice. “You could give me some pointers, if you’re willing, that is,” he added quickly.
    “Oh, I’m certain anyone in the family would be happy to help you with that.”
    “Of course.” Disappointment flashed in his eyes.
    She regretted her words the moment they were out of her mouth. He was a visitor to her country, even if it was now his country as well. “But please, Mr. Channing, do feel free to ask anything that might come to mind.”
    “Jack,” he said firmly and smiled. Admittedly, it was a most charming