Splendor (Inevitable #2) (53 page)

“So, Simon. What can you tell us about Mr. Ian’s new, ah companion?”

Edward frowned at her. “Joanna, let’s not put Simon in an awkward spot. I’m sure he doesn’t indulge in idle gossip.”

“It’s not a problem, sir,” assured Simon from the front seat. “And to answer your question, madam, I can assure you that you’ll be quite taken with Miss Tessa. She’s a lovely girl, just lovely, and Mr. Ian is completely besotted with her. You’ll be rather – ah, amazed at the changes in him.”

Joanna was visibly taken aback at this news. “Mr. Gregson and I were worried that this girl might be taking advantage of our son. Given her youth, that is.”

Edward gave her a jab in the ribs. “Speak for yourself, my dear.
I’m
not worried in the least. Ian is far from a boy, after all, and not one to let his emotions take over his common sense.”

“You don’t have to worry about Miss Tessa,” declared Simon. “She’s a good girl, quiet, well-mannered, and she takes very good care of Mr. Ian. With all due respect, madam, she’s the furthest thing from a fortune hunter you can imagine. You’ll see for yourself very soon.”

Joanna was only mildly mollified by Simon’s assurances, but she did console herself with the fact that the very straight-laced chauffeur was not a man who suffered fools gladly. Of course, it was entirely possible that the little flirt had somehow wormed her way into Simon’s affections as well, twisting him around her finger the way she appeared to have done to Ian.

Joanna knew very few people who would readily admit to being wrong, and she didn’t count herself in that minority. But she was well bred and gracious enough to realize when she’d made a serious error in judgment, and she knew the minute she shook Tessa Lockwood’s hand that she’d been completely wrong about the girl.

Ian’s new companion was exquisite, and it was easy to see why he was so taken with her. Instead of the overblown sexpot that Joanna had been expecting to meet, the girl was almost painfully shy, very sweet, and clearly extremely intimidated to meet Ian’s parents. The hand she placed in Joanna’s was actually trembling, and her voice breathy and high-pitched as she greeted them.

Edward smiled broadly as he took Tessa’s hand in his and gave her a peck on the cheek. “It’s delightful to meet you, my dear. You’re practically all Ian talks about these days. And you are even more beautiful than he claimed.”

Joanna was astonished to see the girl blush, unable to remember the last time she’d seen a young woman react in such a way.

Ian chuckled, placing an arm around Tessa’s shoulder. “You’re embarrassing her, Father. And she’s already nervous about meeting the two of you.”

“Well, that’s ridiculous,” chided Edward. “You don’t need to be nervous around us, my girl. We trust Ian’s judgment implicitly, and since he’s admittedly head over heels in love with you – well, that’s good enough for us. Isn’t that right, Joanna?”

Joanna glanced at Tessa, and felt a little tug on her heart when she noticed how anxious the girl appeared. She smiled, warmly, taking Tessa’s hands and giving them a reassuring squeeze. “Yes, it most certainly is. And my husband is right, dear. It’s a great pleasure to meet you.”

At that, Tessa smiled – really smiled – and suddenly whatever tension might have still existed seemed to evaporate into thin air.

Tessa served them a perfectly prepared and beautifully arranged full tea service, and Joanna was almost speechless with surprise when Ian told them proudly that Tessa had made everything herself.

“She’s been taking some cooking courses, and is becoming quite the accomplished chef,” bragged Ian. “In fact, we’re having dinner here at home tonight. Tessa insisted on cooking for you.”

Tessa offered up a shy smile. “I thought you’d be tired from such a long flight and might not want to go out. I hope that’s all right.”

Joanna was astonished. Neither of her daughters-in-law actually cooked. With four young, energetic sons Victoria relied heavily on domestic help to keep her sane. And Selina, who’d gone back to her job as a high-powered corporate attorney a few months after giving birth, freely admitted she could barely boil water.

Joanna herself seldom cooked, and very few of the women in their social circles – young and old – did either. So she was doubly surprised that Ian’s very young girlfriend was not only taking cooking lessons but actually putting them to some use.

As they enjoyed their tea, Joanna took the opportunity to more closely observe the girl, and more importantly, her interactions with Ian. Tessa was fresh-faced and glowing, her flawless skin practically makeup free. She was wearing a charming floral print dress – dainty pink flowers on a cream background, a pink cardigan sweater, and low-heeled cream sling-back pumps. Her nails were kept on the short side and covered with a pale pink polish, and the only jewelry she wore was a pair of pearl stud earrings.

She looked classy and polished, someone that Ian would be bursting with pride to have on his arm. Joanna knew the pearls were real, recognized the shoes as Prada, and was fairly certain the dress was from Dolce & Gabbana’s spring collection. She wasn’t naïve enough not to realize that Ian had paid for the entire outfit, and most likely a great deal more. But none of that mattered to Joanna at this point, not when she saw how happy her son was, how often he smiled and laughed, how he looked younger, leaner, and very much in love.

And the girl clearly adored him. It was more than obvious with every look she gave him, every smile, the way she hung on his every word. And though they were both entirely discreet and restrained, they couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other for very long. Even now as they all sat in the living room finishing their tea, Ian was clasping Tessa’s hand lightly in his, and they sat close enough on the sofa for their shoulders to touch.

Joanna was almost spellbound to watch her normally austere, standoffish middle son acting like a young boy in love for the very first time in his life. And she very nearly choked on one of the admittedly delicious homemade scones Tessa had baked when Ian wrapped his arm around the girl’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to her rosy cheek. Tessa blushed an even deeper shade of pink and looked down at her lap shyly while Ian merely chuckled in amusement.

“Darling, you don’t have to be shy around my parents,” he told her. “I’m not exactly a boy of fourteen any longer.”

Edward smiled. “Ah, but you were far more interested in your studies and sports when you were that age. Your brother Colin was the ladies’ man, even at that young age. And I think your mother feared he would never settle down.”

“Well, God does work his miracles sometimes, doesn’t he, Mother?” teased Ian. “Colin is happily married and a father, and I’ve met the most wonderful girl in the entire world. So all is well, wouldn’t you say?”

Joanna couldn’t help smiling fondly at her much loved son. “I certainly would. And you look wonderful, darling, happier than I’ve ever seen you. I suppose we all owe Tessa here a debt of gratitude for putting that sparkle in your eye. You look a bit thinner than you did in February, Ian.”

Ian patted his rock hard torso. “Just a few pounds that I’d put on over the holidays. You know what our business is like, Mother, all the dining out with clients and staff. It catches up to you after a time, especially at my age. Since Tessa’s moved in, she insists on cooking for me as often as possible so I’m naturally eating healthier.”

Joanna had to stifle a little gasp of surprise when Ian smiled fondly at the girl, tucking a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear and murmuring to no one in particular, “She takes very, very good care of me, don’t you, love?”

Tessa didn’t reply, merely beaming at him adoringly and touching his cheek lightly. It was the most innocent of caresses, and yet Joanna couldn’t help but feel that she and Edward were witnessing a very intimate moment.

Before she did something ill-mannered like fidgeting, Joanna smoothly changed the subject. “Do you have any siblings, Tessa? Ian hasn’t really told us much about your family.”

Instantly the girl’s face sobered, and Ian frowned in displeasure at the question. He bent to whisper something in her ear but she waved him off.

“It’s all right,” she told him gently. “It’s not a secret, after all.” And then to Joanna she replied quietly, “I don’t have any family at all, Mrs. Gregson. My mother was really all I had and she died when I was sixteen.”

Joanna was startled at this bit of news, and she couldn’t help the rush of empathy she+ felt for the girl. She noticed for perhaps the first time the great sadness in Tessa’s enormous blue eyes, eyes that suddenly seemed too old for her otherwise youthful face.

“I’m so sorry, my dear,” she told her sincerely. “I’ve always had such a large family that I can’t even imagine what it must be like to be all alone in the world. But you’re not alone any longer, are you? Now you have my Ian to look after you.”

Tears shimmered in Tessa’s eyes as she nodded and squeezed the hand Ian had slid into hers. “I do, yes. And I know how lucky I am to have him. He’s the most wonderful man in the world.”

Edward cleared his throat. “Now, then, no tears, young lady. I’m the sort who tends to get a bit weepy during sad movies so allow an old man his dignity, hmm? Only happy talk allowed, are we clear?”

Ian laughed. “You’d better say yes, darling. I’m not certain I could handle seeing my father start crying like a girl.”

Tessa giggled, and then all four of them were laughing and the subject changed to something more lighthearted.

Tessa seemed startled when Joanna offered to help clear away the tea service, but the girl merely nodded and thanked her graciously. Somehow, and apparently without the guidance of a mother or other relative, the girl had learned how to conduct herself like a lady, for her manners were impeccable.

“You were an employee of Ian’s, I understand?”

Tessa nodded as she wrapped up leftover food and began to load the dishwasher. “Yes, ma’am. I worked on his support team for a little over two years. Before that I worked at the resort in Tucson.”

A light suddenly went on in Joanna’s mind. “Ah, I see. You worked for Francine at one time.”

Tessa’s face lit up at the mention of her former manager. “Yes, for several years. She – well, she taught me a great deal. You know Mrs. Carrington then?”

Joanna chuckled. “Yes, indeed. She was in charge of the office in London for a number of years, as you know. And that included being in charge of Edward and his brother. Everyone knew that Francine was the real boss.”

If Tessa had been under the tutelage of Francine Carrington for several years, that would explain her exquisite manners and ladylike demeanor. Joanna was finally beginning to feel like she could breathe a huge sigh of relief. Rather than the aggressive, obnoxious gold digger she’d been dreading, Ian’s new companion was turning out to be a very pleasant surprise.

“I see you haven’t made any changes to the house as yet,” commented Joanna. And indeed the only alterations she’d noticed had been an abundance of fresh flowers in almost every room she’d seen thus far.

Tessa was clearly taken aback by this statement and looked a bit puzzled. “Well, no. I’m not sure that I would have, though. I mean, this is Ian’s house, not mine. But aside from that fact, I love everything about this place and wouldn’t change a thing. He has such wonderful +taste, doesn’t he?”

Joanna smiled indulgently when she saw the dreamy looked that crossed Tessa’s face. “That he does, my dear. Did he pick out that dress for you?”

A guilty look came over Tessa’s features and she was clearly uncomfortable discussing the subject. “Not this one, no. My friend Julia helped me pick it out.”

“Ah, well, your friend has excellent taste. Does she work in the fashion industry?”

Tessa shook her head. “No, she’s an interior designer. In fact, she and her fiancée are the designer and architect working on the new hotel in the Napa Valley. But Julia does have an eye for fashion so – well, she’s been helping me out.”

Joanna could read between the lines very easily, and figured that Tessa wasn’t at all accustomed to wearing high end fashions. “Well, the dress looks lovely on you, dear. Have you chosen a gown for the benefit ball next week?”

“Not yet, no. I have an appointment with the personal shopper Ian uses at Neiman Marcus for this Friday. I’m not at all sure what I ought to be wearing to such a formal event.”

“Well, I’m sure your friend – Julia, is it? – will be happy to help you out.”

“Julia’s very busy at the moment, actually,” demurred Tessa. “Her wedding is just over three weeks away and I wouldn’t even think of asking for her opinion right now. Ian thought that – well, that maybe you’d be able - ”

Joanna smiled. “I’d be delighted, dear. And I’ve been to so many of these events that I can advise you on exactly the right dress to buy. What of your friend’s wedding? Do you have a dress for that yet?”

“Not yet, no. Things have been rather hectic with our schedules lately, what with the business trips and all.”

“Well, we can kill two birds with one stone and find you a dress for that at the same time. I think – well, that it would be nice for us to get to know each other a little better, don’t you? After all,” added Joanna kindly, “it seems that my son is intent on keeping you around for a very long time to come. And I know it would please Ian very much if you and I became good friends, don’t you agree?”

Tessa’s face lit up with a gorgeous smile as she nodded enthusiastically. “I do, yes. Very much. Thank you, Mrs. Gregson. You’re so kind, just like Ian.”

Joanna squeezed the girl’s hand. “You should call me Joanna, dear. Though I expect that one day very soon that might change to what Ian calls me – Mother.”

***

Ian grinned. “She told you that, did she?”

Tessa couldn’t believe she’d actually confessed what his mother had told her earlier today. “I’m sure she was just being polite.”

He shrugged. “Well, my mother is always polite. Unless she happens to be chasing after one of my nephews. That’s usually when the gloves come off. My mother can be quite feisty when the need arises. I suppose that’s what happens when you spend your life surrounded by men.” He pulled the pink cardigan sweater down her arms. “But Mother never says anything she doesn’t mean, polite or not. And she definitely meant that last part she told you.”