He reached into his suit coat pocket, withdrew a mound of crumpled white tissues and peeled one off, handing it to her. “Your nose is red.”

“It’s raw out there.”

He grunted. Ashley was struck by the darkness of his narrow eyes. At first they had seemed black, but now, as she looked more closely at them, she saw they were a deep, deep nearly black blue.

Like David’s.

His tone gruffly polite, he asked, “Did you enjoy your tour of Jude’s Paradise?”

She called on years of work in communications and in a prestigious volunteer organization to produce what she hoped was an infectious smile. “Immensely. Does it have anything to do with your reasons for inviting me here?”

“Maybe.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been subjected to so many mysteries in one day,” she said, cheerful and blunt. She hoped he’d get the point. “I’m beginning to feel as though I’m having to pass a battery of tests before you’ll take the plunge and tell me what you want with me.”

He straightened his thin shoulders; the suit was baggy on him, she noticed. “That might be true.”

She would have argued with him, but he moved away from her, talking to Lillian, and she gave up in frustration. Had he noticed a resemblance between Judith Land and the woman on the cover of You? Had he recognized the tiara and the choker? Did he even care he might have grandchildren?

Grandchildren. That made him her grandfather?

“Spare me,” she muttered, and told herself again that she couldn’t jump to any conclusions without all the evidence in. She had to keep an open mind.

All at once she became aware of Jeremy standing at her side. “Are you all right?”

“Of course,” she snapped. “Why shouldn’t I be?”

“Just asking.”

“Well, don’t ask.”

He gave her a cool look and said in a low voice, “I’ll remember that next time I feel a jolt of genuine concern for you.”

She sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right.” He smiled. “I’d rather have you jump down my throat than pretend to be happy when you’re seething inside. Makes for a more honest relationship.”

“And a more volatile one.”

The handsome man in black tie joined them and introduced himself as Andrew Balaton. They exchanged comments on the weather and the beauty of the island scenery, and then Balaton said pleasantly, “My daughter, Sarah, has confided to me her behavior this past week. I understand she went to Amherst to see your brother.” He said Amherst, pronouncing the silent h. “I had invited him to join me in New York for dinner, as perhaps you know, and had intended to apologize to him for my daughter’s behavior. I was required to be here this evening, and so I was forced to cancel our engagement. However, now I see I can apologize to you on her behalf.”

Ashley smiled, marveling at his precise, formal manner. “That’s not necessary, Mr. Balaton.”

“It’s my understanding she’s returning to Houston. She’s my daughter, Miss Wakefield. I feel responsible.”