Laura smiled nervously as she moved
toward Daniel. "I didn't expect to find you up here,"
she told him, linking her arm through his.
"Nor I you. I wondered where you had disappeared to when
I came out of the dining room - What are you up to, Laura?"
She tried to meet his gaze, but couldn't. "I was checking
out Miss Airhead," she told him, missing the quickly hidden
smile on Daniel's face.
"How did you get inside?" She showed him the hairpin.
"Ahh. I knew Harry made a mistake when he taught you that
little trick. Laura, you could have been caught - "
"I know. But I HAD to do it, Daniel. I felt all evening that
she was a fake."
"Laura, you can't let your jealousy colour -"
"I WASN'T jealous," she insisted, only to sigh as Daniel
looked at her again. "Okay, maybe I was. Just a LITTLE."
Daniel chuckled. "A little? If you were a cat, my dear, you'd
have scratched her eyes out. That curiousity of yours is going
to be your undoing, Laura."
"I was right, Daniel. She's NOT who she pretends to be."
He stopped, looking at her curiously. "What do you mean?"
**********
"You're certain about this, Laura?" Daniel said as the
elevator doors opened on the lobby.
"I SAW the driver's licenses, Daniel. And I'll bet she's
got one for Penny Burns, Atlanta, Georgia as well. She's running
a con on the Harpers. Or trying to."
"And you think Harry might be involved somehow," Daniel
said as they paused before the tree.
"It's possible, isn't it?"
"Possible, yes. Probable? No."
"But- we have to do something to stop her, Daniel."
"What would you suggest? If we go to the police, they'll
want to know how you managed to get into her room and find the
evidence."
"We could warn the Harpers," Laura suggested, seeing
her mother, Frances, and Donald approaching from the dining room.
"Of course, if Harry IS involved -"
"Let me handle Harry, Laura," Daniel told her. "In
fact, let me handle this entire matter -At least for the moment."
"But-"
"Laura, anything to do at the moment is only going to appear
to Harry to be done out of jealousy. Surely you realize that."
He touched her chin to lift it. "The best thing you can possibly
do right now is continue the way you have been with him. Make
HIM do the chasing for a change. He's not used to that."
"Who says I WANT him to chase me anymore, Daniel?" Laura
asked.
"Your eyes say more than you know, my dear," he told
her as the others joined them.
"There you are, Laura. Where did you disappear to?"
Frances asked.
"What took you so long to get your coat?" Abigail asked
Daniel.
"Oh, I started talking to Laura and forgot the time,"
he said. "Forgive me. Are we ready to go?"
Laura let Donald help her with her coat, her expression thoughtful.
*Make HIM do the chasing for a change,* Daniel had said. It was
something she needed to think about.
**********
It was well after midnight when Harry finally unlocked the door
to his hotel room and entered. Loosening his tie, he dropped his
room key onto the table beside the telephone and began to shrug
out of his jacket as someone spoke. "How was your evening?"
Harry turned. "Daniel? What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you. You didn't answer my question."
Removing his jacket, Harry sat down across from his friend. "Frantic,
I believe is the word that best describes it. She dragged me to
every bloody club in the state, I think."
"Seems strange that someone who's new to the area would know
where all the clubs are, don't you think?"
"Penny strikes me as the type of woman who makes it a point
to find those things out," Harry told him, kicking off his
shoes and putting his head back, eyes closed.
"Actually, I hadn't expected to see you back here until tomorrow
morning -" Daniel commented.
Harry opened one eye to look at Daniel. "Why the third degree,
Daniel?"
"Just wondering how much you know about your new friend,
that's all. Whether or not she's who she claims to be."
Both eyes were open now. "All I know is that she's engaged
to marry someone local by the name of James and that his mother
refused to consider the marriage. So James has her farmed out
here until he can convince the old lady to accept the idea."
"Or until the old lady pays Penny to leave," Daniel
suggested.
"Now you sound like Laura."
"Laura had a point. Has Penny mentioned the last name of
this fiancee that she is so upset about?"
"Not that I recall," Harry admitted. "I didn't
think it was important."
"The gentleman and his family own most of the town - I'm
sure you noticed the rather- large house on the edge of town as
you came in-?"
Harry's eyes widened. "I see. That still doesn't necessarily
mean that she's -" he broke off as a knock came at the door.
"Harry?" Penny. Frowning, Harry went to the door.
She threw herself into his arms, a vision in green lace and satin
as soon he opened the door. She'd clearly been crying. "Hey
there. What's wrong?"
"James. He just- called," she said between pretty little
sobs. "Oh, HARRY."
Standing in a corner, Daniel was out of her sight. He lifted his
brows in Harry's direction. "Tell me what happened, Penny."
"He said - he said his mama is never going to accept me-
he broke the engagement- " she began to cry again, burying
her face against his chest. "I don't know what I'm going
to DO, Harry.," she moaned. "He- He says I - I have
to be out of here tomorrow. His mama won't- won't pay the bill
after that."
"There, there," Harry said in a soothing voice, deliberately
ignoring Daniel standing across the room. "You don't have
the money to get home?"
She shook her head. "I don't have that kind of money, Harry,"
she told him. "I'm just a secretary. I thought I'd be living
here - with- with James-" She lifted green, tear filled eyes
to him. "What am I going to do, Harry?"
"We'll think of something," Harry assured her. "Right
now, I think you need to go back to your room and get some rest
- things will be much clearer tomorrow morning." He opened
the door.
"Will you walk me back?" she asked.
Daniel shook his head as the door closed behind them.
In the hall, Harry took her room key and opened the door. "There
you go," he said, holding out the key for her to take.
Penny pressed herself against him. "Don't leave me alone,
Harry. Please. I - I might do something- foolish -"
Harry would have taken her up on the blatant invitation - In fact,
he was very tempted to do just that. He told himself that it was
the fact that Daniel was waiting in his room which made him smile
gently and shake his head. "I think the best thing for you
right now would be some sleep," he said, steering her into
the room, but not entering himself, a task made more difficult
by her arms locked around his neck. He refused to acknowledge
the memory of a pair of dark eyes and dimpled cheeks.
"Tuck me in?" she suggested, her tears almost gone as
she became a green eyed vixen, trying to lure him into her lair.
"Wouldn't be a good idea." He dropped a kiss on her
lips, removing her arms. "I'll see you in the morning."
Closing the door, he returned to his own room. "Did you get
her settled for the night?" Daniel asked.
"Not the way she wanted, but -" Harry looked at him.
"I guess that put paid to your idea of her being after her
fiancee's money," he said.
"Not at all, my boy," Daniel said. "It simply means
that she's decided there's a bigger fish to be caught." When
Harry frowned, Daniel sighed. "You, my boy."
**********
Daniel returned to his room a little later, jumping as Harry had
when he heard, "Well, is he involved?"
Turning, Daniel frowned deeply. "Laura. What the devil are
you doing out at this time of night?"
She sat down. "I couldn't sleep," she explained. "I
tried to call you to see if you had talked to Harry, but there
was no answer-"
"Does your mother know that you're out?" he asked.
She drew herself up. "Daniel, I'm eighteen- almost nineteen.
I don't have to answer to my mother for everything I do."
"I'll take that as a 'no'," he said. "Laura- I
told you to let me handle this, remember?"
"Did you talk to Harry?"
She wasn't going to give up, Daniel decided, until he answered
her questions. "Yes, I did. No, he had no idea what the young
lady's game is."
"Then we have to warn the Harpers," Laura decided, rising
to pace the floor. "I can call them tomorrow - or you can-"
He grabbed her arm to stop her. "That's not necessary,"
he informed her. Laura looked confused. "She's altered her
course a bit, I believe. Decided she can make more by reeling
in another fish."
"Who?" Laura asked.
"Harry."
"HARRY?! But- he doesn't have that kind of money."
"She doesn't know that, apparently. Her kind equates someone
with Harry's manners and style with old money. It's the air I
hoped to create for him- but it might work out for the best."
"What do you mean?"
"Harry and I have a little bet going. We're going to beat
her at her own game - "
"A bet? Why-" Realization dawned. "He doesn't believe
she's a con artist, does he?"
"No," Daniel admitted slowly. "I have to give her
credit for being able to pull the wool over Harry's eyes. He's
usually more on top of things than that. He thinks she's simply
upset over the ending of her engagement to Harper and wanting
company."
"So how are you going to beat her at her own game?"
"I was hoping you'd ask, my dear. Because you're going to
have to play a part."
**********
Harry was escorting Penny through the lobby the next morning when
he heard a familiar voice call. "Harry!"
Turning, he saw Laura coming toward them. She'd totally ignored
him last night for the most part, why was she seeking him out
now? "Laura. Is something wrong?"
"No. I just thought we could spend the day together - Daniel
suggested that since I know the area better than you do, I might
show you around." She linked her arm though his as if it
were her right, smiling innocently at Penny's haughty glare.
"I was just about to have breakfast," Harry explained,
understanding a bit more. So Daniel had enlisted Laura's help
to win their little wager.
"Sounds great. I left Frances' before having any - mind if
I join you?"
"As a matter of fact - Don't you have something to do? Help
your mother with the wedding or something?"
"Oh, she and Frances have that all planned. All I have to
do is show up," Laura assured him. "So my time is yours."
Harry gently disentangled himself from her hand on his arm. "Later,
maybe."
"Your uncle isn't going to be very happy when I tell him
about his, Harry," Laura pointed out.
"My - UNCLE doesn't run my life," he reminded her.
"But he DOES control the purse strings," Laura said,
running a finger up the lapel of his tailored suit. "It would
really be a shame for you to have to go out and find a real job,
wouldn't it?"
Harry grabbed her hand. "Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad
idea," he suggested. "Now go home. I'll call you later."
Laura smiled dangerously. "And I might not be there,"
she said.
Penny glanced across the lobby, her eyes widening before her expression
became neutral again. Laura followed her gaze to a blonde young
man wearing a suit that was obviously expensive. "I'm hungry,
Harry," she murmured, turning away from the man's path.
"I think I'll go visit Daniel," Laura decided. "Enjoy
your breakfast." She turned on her heel and went toward the
elevators.
Penny moved toward the dining room, leaving Harry no choice but
to follow her. "What's the hurry?" he asked. He too
had seen the gentleman entering the hotel.
"I just - your little friend seemed all geared up to create
a scene -"
"Laura? Not her style," he assured her, pulling out
a chair that faced away from the lobby.
"What did she mean that your uncle controls the purse strings?"
Harry shrugged as he shook out his napkin. "Daniel's the
one with the real money in the family. I've a trust fund, but
it's set up in some archaic fashion that only allows me to use
it with his permission."
"So if he disapproves of something- or someone that you're
involved with, he can cut you off?"
"Something like that." He reached across to smile at
her. "Don't worry about it."
"Why does Linda think you should spend time with her?"
"Laura," he corrected. "Daniel and Abigail have
been trying to fix me up with Laura - "
"But you don't want that?"
"Oh, eventually, I suppose. But at the moment, I'm not ready
to settle down. Now. What shall we have for breakfast?" he
asked, picking up the menu as he watched Laura approach the blonde
man who had so disturbed Penny, who was now speaking to the desk
clerk.
**********
"She's still registered, Mr. Harper," the clerk assured
him. "But she's not answering her telephone."
"Then she's in the hotel?"
"I would assume so. I'll give her your message as soon as
she checks back in with the desk. You might try the dining room.
She might be having breakfast."
"Thank you." James Harper III turned toward that room-
and ran directly into a petite, brown haired young woman. "Excuse
me." He took her arms to steady her. "Are you all right?"
"I think so," Laura said. "Where's the fire?"
"Fire?"
"The way you turned around, you must have been running from
one -"
"I was looking for someone- are you staying here? Maybe you've
seen her."
"I'm not staying here," Laura told him, seeing his face
fall. It was a handsome face, but a bit weak, she decided. His
pale blue eyes gave him a strange air of seeing through a person.
"But I have friends who are. What does the lady look like?"
"Oh, tall, blonde. She's southern- has an accent."
"I think I saw her leave a minute ago. She your girlfriend?"
"My fiancee. At least, she WAS my fiancee. She called last
night and broke it off."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Did she say why?"
James looked at her, as if wondering why she was asking the question.
But he needed to talk to someone- and he'd once heard that a stranger
was the best person to talk about a problem with. They didn't
have a stake in what was going on, and could be neutral. "If
I'm going to tell you my life story, I guess I should know your
name."
She grinned, holding out her hand. "Laura."
"James," he said, shaking her hand once, then leading
her to some chairs on the other side of the lobby. "What
are you doing in Connecticut?"
"You mean you can tell I'm not a native?"
"You've got California written all over you." Strange
how he could see that, but not see through Penny Burns' story,
Laura wondered.
"Los Angeles. I'm here because my mother's getting married,"
she explained. "Do you live here?"
"Born and raised," he told her. "Family's been
here forever. I guess that's part of the problem with why Mother
won't accept Penny."
"Penny's the fiancee?" Laura questioned.
"Yes." He sighed. "I met her on a business trip
to Atlanta a month ago. I'd never met anyone like her. She's -
something else. I knew the moment I saw her that I wanted to marry
her. So I brought her back here with me, introduced her to Mother-"
"And your mother disapproved," Laura guessed.
"Loudly. She insisted that I couldn't possibly marry Penny,
called her a little nobody who was only after my money, -"
"You have money that she could be after?"
"A little," James shrugged with that air which only
the truly wealthy could adopt. "So I put Penny up here, hoping
to convince Mother to change her mind, to give Penny a chance.
I got Mother to agree to let her come for Christmas dinner - but
Penny called me last night and told me that she was tired of waiting,
that she wanted to end the engagement. I came here today to try
and talk to her. Did you happen to overhear where she might be
going when she left?"
"I'm sorry, no, I didn't. But- she wasn't alone when she
left," Laura told him.
"She wasn't?"
"There was a - man with her. Maybe she met someone else and-"
"Not Penny. Although I wouldn't blame her. She must think
I'm a total wimp. I tried to make her understand - I'm all Mother's
got. I can't just ignore her on this-"
"I hope it works out," Laura told him, rising. "I
have to go visit my future step father. Good luck."
"You too. And thanks for listening."
Laura watched him walk toward the exit. Penny Burns was a - "Laura?"
She turned to find Daniel nearby. Smiling, she accepted his kiss
on the cheek. "I was on my way upstairs."
"Who was that young man?"
"THAT was James Harper III," Laura informed him smugly.
"And have I got something to tell you."
**********
Penny picked at her omelette. "Not hungry after all?"
Harry asked.
"I just realized that I have to find some way to get home,"
she told him. "If James isn't going to pay for me to stay
on here - I guess I'll have to find some other way-"
"How about a job?" Harry suggested.
"A -job?" Penny asked, blinking in surprise.
He nodded, picking up his coffee cup. "Are you any good?"
Penny smiled. "Why, Harry-"
"I meant as a secretary," he amended. "You said
that's what you did in Atlanta. I could use a secretary-"
"I don't know -"
He took her hand. "The fringe benefits alone are worth it,"
he assured her with a smile.
"Will your uncle approve?"
"Daniel doesn't have any say so over who I hire as my personal
assistant," Harry assured her. "Now eat your omelette
before it gets cold."
She leaned closer. "And after- I have to thank you for coming
to my rescue," she said, her lips near his ear. "You're
wonderful."
"After breakfast, I have to go convince Daniel that Laura's
over reacting to my having breakfast with you- or else I might
not have a job at all," Harry told her, bringing her hand
to his lips. "In fact, I think I'll go do that right now.
I'll see you later."
***********
Daniel opened his door to Harry, stepping back. "Come in,
Harry."
Laura was sitting on the sofa of the suite, having a cup of coffee.
The remains of their breakfast was on the small table nearby.
"Enjoy your breakfast, Harry?" she asked.
"It wasn't bad. Not as cozy as yours obviously-"
Daniel's eyes narrowed. "Harry- that was uncalled for."
"Sorry. When did you rope her into helping?"
"Last night. What's wrong? Worried that you're going to lose
the wager?"
"Just wondering who the man was that attracted Penny's attention,"
he said, looking at Laura. "I saw you going over to him."
"Penny's ex-fiancee," Laura said. "And he claims
that PENNY was the one who broke it off- not the other way around."
"He might just be saying that," Harry pointed out.
"Then why come here to see her this morning?" Laura
asked. "And why lie to a perfect stranger?"
"To make himself look better," Harry suggested. "How
the hell should I know?"
"How can someone so smart be so impossibly DENSE?" Laura
wondered aloud. "She's a con artist, Harry. She was hoping
that Mrs. Harper would pay her off to leave. But she met you and
decided she could get more. I don't know why you can't see that!
I guess the lady's obvious- CHARMS have totally blinded you!"
Daniel cleared his throat. "Excuse me, but this isn't the
time- Harry, did you set her up as we agreed?"
"Yes. She thinks you have total control over what I do with
my money - and she took the job."
"Excellent. Now we have to move quickly on this. It has to
be wrapped up this evening. I will NOT have it creating problems
with the rehearsal this evening and the wedding tomorrow."
"Understood," Harry agreed.
Laura stood up. "I have to get back to Frances'. Will you
be over later, Daniel?"
He went to the door with her. "Yes. Tell your mother what's
going on - why I have to stay here for the moment."
"I will." She lifted her cheek for his kiss. "See
you later, Harry."
He nodded, lifting a hand to her. "That girl is the most
meddlesome little busybody-"
"She's not a girl, Harry- a fact that you're more than aware
of, I should think," Daniel said evenly, sitting down to
pour another cup of coffee.
Harry went still. "I'm not sure what you're talking about,
Daniel."
"After her accident, Laura and I had a long talk- she told
me what happened before you left the hotel to try and steal thr
Rajah's Star."
"I see," Harry said, putting his hands in his pockets.
"I know it was wrong, Daniel - I just - I don't know what
it is about Laura -"
"I think you do. But you're not ready to accept it yet. And
neither is she, I think." He clapped the younger man on the
back. "But don't let it go too long, my boy. Now. We have
to finish THIS little project."
**********
Laura exited the elevators to see Penny on one of the courtesy
phones against the wall. Moving as close as she dared, she listened
in on the woman's conversation.
"I know, James, darling, but - another man? Of course not.
How could I even LOOK at any other man? You're the only one I
love- All right. I'll stay another few days. Tonight? Well, I
suppose so. Where should I meet you?"
Laura stayed hidden until the woman hung up the telephone and
started toward the elevators. So she was playing both ends of
the game. Greedy little witch, wasn't she? Picking up a phone,
she dialed Daniel's room number. "She's on her way up, Daniel.
You and Harry are on."
To Be Continued---