Read The British Billionaire Bachelor, Act Three for Free Online Page B

him on the cheek. “Very cool, oops, how silly of me, I’ve left a big blotch of lipstick on your cheek.”
    Belle felt herself bristle, but forced herself to stay calm in the face of the obvious flirtation.
    “Hello, Lucinda, we’re happy to have you,” Simon artfully replied. “I hope you’ll be happy here. We’ve arranged a suite of rooms for you and Joseph. You’ll have all the privacy you want, and a staff at your service.”
    “How great. I’m so excited. Belle you have to show me every room of this amazing house, and all the sights here in London. When we lived here as kids I was so busy with auditions and performances and school and everything, I didn’t even get to see the Tower of London, can you believe it? Oh, and Harry’s Bar, I want to eat at Harry’s Bar. Can you arrange that, Simon? Speaking of eating, I’m dying for some crumpets. The crumpets in the States aren’t crumpets at all, are they Belle?”
    “Crumpets it is,” Simon smiled. Belle wasn’t joking, this girl is strung tighter than a Stradivarius. “First, though, I’m sure you’ll wish to unpack and freshen up, then we can have tea and some of those crumpets in the back salon, overlooking the garden,” Simon suggested.
    “That works,” Lucinda beamed. “Um, where are the bags?”
    Henry, who had been standing a few feet away, coughed discreetly.
    “If Madame would care to follow me, I believe your bags will already be in your rooms.”
    “Lucinda, Joseph, this is Henry Chambers, my butler,” Simon explained.
    “Oh. Great. Nice to meet you, Henry,” Lucinda smiled.
    “Delighted,” he replied.
    “Hello, Henry, I’m sure you have your hands full here,” Joseph smiled, and if you don’t, you soon will.
    “There is a great deal one must see to if the house is to run smoothly,” Henry politely nodded.
    “So, Lucinda,” said Belle, finally speaking, “why don’t you follow Henry, and we’ll meet you in the salon in about twenty minutes.”
    “Sounds great, and Belle, so good to see you,” Lucinda smiled, making it appear almost like an afterthought. “You look really, um, British.”
    “Thanks, Lucinda. Happily, that’s just how I feel, and you look so, um, Hollywood,” Belle retorted, unable to help herself. “Seems you’ve got the whole, ditzy starlet thing down pat.”
    “Let’s go, Lucinda,” Joseph quickly suggested, stepping forward before Lucinda could respond, and Belle felt Simon shift very slightly behind her, his hand discreetly brushing her bottom.
    Her heels clipping on the polished floor, Joseph beside her, Lucinda followed Henry to the elevator, and as they disappeared, Belle let out a groan.
    “Oh, she is soooo, what’s the word, Simon?”
    “I think there are many words,” Simon replied, “beginning with self-involved.”
    “You need to keep me away from her,” Belle remarked softly, shaking her head.
    “Come into my study,” he said gently, and taking her hand, walked briskly across the foyer.
    Closing the door, he sat on the edge of his desk, immediately pulling her into him, hugging her warmly.
    “Your sister is very unhappy, and I suspect she feels empty and unloved,” Simon declared softly.
    “No, that’s doesn’t make sense,” Belle argued, pulling back and staring up at him. “Our mother has absolutely doted on her since the moment she was born. I know, I was there.”
    “But the attention wasn’t balanced with discipline. I’m not a psychiatrist, and I could be completely off-base, but would I be right in saying that Lucinda is as smart as she is beautiful?”
    “Yes, for sure,” Belle nodded.
    “When she was younger I’ll bet she had both of your parents wrapped around her little finger, correct?”
    “Oh, absolutely. I remember when she started throwing things, my mother said it was because she was special. I had this gorgeous porcelain dog and cat figure that I absolutely loved, and Lucinda was mad at me because I wouldn’t let her play dress-up with my