ost prestigious and expensive private residences in Sydney, set as it was on harbour-fro

ce. He suddenly cleared his throat and glanced

eased I am that you're coming home at

ut it doesn't really m

u've got reason to be hard on your father, Miss Vivienne, but... he's getting on in years. You sh

auffeur's advice, knowing it was well-meant. 'Is

just know how pleased he is about you coming to Huntingdon. I hope

e said nonc

father was only fifty-eight years old and still looked in his prime. She had

e to her first, she thought bit

ts were arriving in a steady stream. The entrance portico was supported by massive columns which rose majestically to th

ng into the reception foyer. Vivienne smiled to herself, sure that her identity could not be probed. She joined the line being greeted by a sheikh, all too obviously Sir Gabriel Car

g the chauffeur's surmise that her father would want to parade

n will get no help from me,' he said grimly,

nk y

attention from the previous party of arrivals t

I hope you enjoy the evening's festivities.' The words were consciously

ed, finding it oddly difficult to

ostume. He sauntered over from the guests he had been welcoming. 'Xavier, y

ow before offering his arm. He was as tall as their Father,

the reception line. 'You do the old man proud. If you weren't my

job of it right now,'

it's more than my life's worth to offend you. I do depend on Da

or yourself as a professional

never measure up to dear Papa, so I turned my back on the neurosis of trying and fa

rely keeping her contempt for

ked. 'Do you see where you

admit that to her feckless half-brother. It was perfectly obvious that her Father ha

n, Xavier,' she said

light fantastic with you until you've had the chance to look over the company, then leave you to your own device

ce well?' Vi

ust practise regularly,' he

you. And thank you, Xavier. I'l

led onto a vast patio which overlooked the harbour. Fabulous chandeliers hung from the ceiling which was two storeys high, and a balcony ran all around the first floor, overl

or the ladies' powder room you

,' Vivienn

ier swept her around the parquet floor with a lightness of foot that she found very enjoyable. There were

r band takes over at eleven, and then we'll have a real beat to hot thin

matter?' Viv

e Louis the Fourteenths: me, Aria's intended for the matrimon

was certain. Adrian Blackwood would make sure he was an original. But

her search. And Xavier undoubtedly was even more peeved, since the number of Louis the Fourteenths had grown to at least half a dozen. One of them was sporting a flashy

r the powder-room to re-check her appearance. She rearranged her hair then wandered back out to the stairc

as Tammy Gardner, her father's current mistress who had held his favour for over two years now, longer than mo

's patience was running out. She decided to give him a bit of his own medicine, and instead of returning to the

dare risk it. She couldn't give Adrian that advantage ... if he came looking for her. He had t

king of a chair startled her and she swung around. One of the Louis the Fourteenth

aiting for y

with shock as he strolled forward, his

tory,' he said with