“Sebastian,” she said, just as though she had seen him a couple of weeks ago. She even sounded pleased. “How are you?”
There was a pause. The years had added gray to his hair, and more lines to his face, especially on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes and mouth. But the overall effect was one of distinction rather than deterioration. His skin was browner, bronzed by warmer sun than ever shone over England. And his blue eyes still gleamed with intelligence and humor.
Yes, three decades had been kind to Sebastian Kellar. They had all but destroyed Juliet. It struck her suddenly that this was the closing of the circle for her, and perhaps for him. He had remembered her, had recognized her even at Connie’s house. But now, this close, he would no longer want to. Relief flooded her. There was nothing she had to do or say, just be herself. It didn’t matter.
“How am I?” he repeated. “Overwhelmed, I think. It suits you, this setting.”
Whatever she had expected, it was not that. In desperation, she resorted to her professional manner. “Are you looking for something in particular?”
A smile flickered across his face. It might have been understanding. Or mockery. “Actually, I was looking for you.”
How the devil had he found her? Surely Connie had not blabbed? Shewouldnot, not without asking, and she never had. But then, she had never told Juliet that Kellar was in London…
“No, I didn’t ask your daughter,” Kellar said, as though he’d read her thoughts. Damn him, he had always been too good at that, too. “She is too protective to have told me. She is a very beautiful and interesting woman.”
“She is. Solomon is devoted to her.”
“And she to him. It is an odd arrangement, but a very charming one.”
Juliet raised one supercilious, painted brow. “What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, come, Juliet,” he said gently. “One doesn’t have to be in London long, or ask many questions, to discover who Constance Silver is.”
Then he knew, and there really was no more to hide. So she laughed. “You’d need to have asked in some shockingly low places to discover me.”
“I have been in London some weeks.”
During which time he had found Constance and uncovered her double, if not triple, life and tracked Juliet to her place of calm and safety. A chill of sudden fear passed over her.
She slid off the stool. “Excuse me. I have customers…”
“Juliet.”
He didn’t touch her, force her in the slightest, but she paused, aware of nothing but him and the tension cramping all her muscles.
“It is good to see you again,” he said.
And at that, finally, she could turn and laugh in his face. “No, it isn’t, Sebastian. Goodbye.”
