London Loves - Book 3 - Love's Great Adventure Series (9 page)

“Trying to one-up me already, my Lord?” she teased, planting a light kiss on his chest.

“I mean it. I love you, Penelope Stanton. I can’t wait to marry you and raise a family.”

“I can’t wait, either.”

Mattie was still sleeping at eight thirty in the morning. Max and Penny decided to wake her from her slumber. The child rolled over on her back and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. When she noticed Max was holding a large white box with a pink satin ribbon, she quickly sat up. “Is that a present for me?”

“Yes, would you like to open it?”

She nodded her head furiously. Max set the box on her lap and Mattie pulled the end of the ribbon until it unraveled in her hand. She lifted the edge of the box and looked inside. Under the white tissue paper, there was a riding outfit: red jacket, white shirt, khaki jodhpurs, and black leather riding boots. “It’s just like Daddy’s outfit! Can I go on the fox hunt, too?”

“You’re a little young for that yet. Maybe once you become a more experienced rider,” Max said.

“Come on, let’s get you dressed and we’ll have some breakfast before we ride,” Penny said, removing the box from Mattie’s lap. “Max, we’ll meet you downstairs.” Penny leaned in and gave Max an affectionate kiss.

Mattie giggled and Max winked at her before he turned and left the room. It was then that Mattie noticed the large diamond ring on Penny’s finger. She grabbed Penny’s hand to get a closer look. “Wow.”

“Can you keep a secret?” Penny whispered, sitting down on the bed next to Mattie.

“Yes.”

“Uncle Max asked me to marry him last night.”

“Yay! Can I come to the wedding?”

“How would you like to be
in
the wedding as our flower girl?”

“Awesome!” Mattie threw herself at Penny and gave her a big hug.

Sebastian and Tess' flight landed at Heathrow Airport at six o’clock Sunday night. They made their way to Penny’s townhouse to collect Mattie before they headed for home. Mattie noticed her parents, as they walked into the room hand in hand. She ran over to greet them. After hugs and kisses were exchanged, Mattie stood before Tess bouncing up and down on the tips of her toes, excitement sparkling in her baby blue eyes.

“What’s got you so excited?” Sebastian asked.

Mattie held her mouth shut, her arms moving up and down.

“Mattie, what’s going on?”

Mattie remained silent but looked back at Max and Penny, who were standing nearby. Max had his arm around Penny’s shoulder. Tess looked up at the couple and noticed the light glance off the huge rock on Penny’s finger. Tess rushed over to Penny and picked up her hand. “Oh my God, is this what I think it is?”

Before Penny could respond, Mattie shouted, “They’re getting married!”

“Congratulations! Penny, this ring is spectacular. I’m so happy for you both.” The women hugged and then Tess leaned over and kissed Max on the cheek. “This is wonderful news.”

Sebastian walked toward the happy couple. “Well, at least you have good taste in women.” He extended his hand to Max. “Congratulations.”

Max refused to take his brother’s hand, instead pulling him into a hug. “We have your blessing, then?” Max said in a low tone of voice as the girls chatted over them.

Sebastian nodded. “If you truly love her—yes, you have my blessing. What does Lily think?”

“We haven’t told her yet. You and Tess are the first.”

“Max, we must open a bottle of champagne!” Penny announced.

Max rushed off to the kitchen. Penny walked over to Sebastian and hugged him.

“Are you happy, Pen?” Sebastian asked.

“I’ve never been more happy in my life,” she replied.

Sebastian squeezed her tightly. “I’m so happy for you. You’ll make a beautiful bride.”

Soon Max was back with a bottle of champagne and a white grape juice for Mattie. They toasted Max and Penny’s upcoming nuptials and talked about wedding plans and Sebastian and Tess' trip to Paris. By eight o’clock, Mattie was tired. She rested her head on Sebastian’s lap.

“Too much excitement this weekend. I think we better get her home to bed,” Sebastian said, glancing over at his wife.

Tess nodded in agreement and everyone stood to say their goodbyes. She grabbed Mattie’s suitcase while Sebastian scooped his daughter up in his arms. Max and Penny waved farewell standing in the open doorway of the townhouse as the family got into a cab to head home.

Her daughter barely moved as Tess took off her dress and put Mattie in her pajamas. Sebastian tucked her into bed and turned out the light. “Maybe we should give her to Max and Penny more often if they can wear her out like this,” he mused as he and Tess walked to their bedroom.

“I’m so happy they like her,” Tess admitted as she began to undress. “I never could have imagined she’d transition to the move this well.”

“You’ve done a fine job yourself,” Sebastian complimented as he tossed his tie and shirt over the chair. He walked over to his wife, pulled her into an embrace, and gave her a sweet and tender kiss.

“A wedding—isn’t it wonderful? Penny will get her happy ending, too,” Tess sighed, leaning into Sebastian’s bare chest.

“It’s very quick, but I believe Max truly loves her and Penny seems over the moon, so why not have a wedding?” he conceded.

“Gee, if you could show any more enthusiasm, I just might die,” she teased.

“I’m English. I don’t show enthusiasm,” Sebastian warned.

“Nonsense! I’ve seen your enthusiasm in our bed,” she replied, pulling him toward the mattress.

“Oh, well, that’s a different matter altogether,” he smirked as he fell on top of her and kissed her.

In the morning, Sebastian made scrambled eggs and toast for his girls. Tess finished her plate and gave kisses to her husband and daughter before setting off to work. Once he and Mattie were alone, she asked, “What shall we do today, Daddy?”

“I don’t know, love. What were you thinking?”

“Let’s go shopping and buy Uncle Max and Aunt Penny a present.”

“What type a present?”

“Something romantic.”

“What do you know about romance?” Sebastian inquired, yet again amazed at the young girl’s vocabulary.

“Romance is kissing. You and Mummy are always kissing.”

“That’s because I love your mummy very much.”

“Uncle Max and Aunt Penny are in love, too.”

“So it appears they are.” Sebastian stood from the table and reached for Mattie’s breakfast plate. “Why don’t you go get dressed and we’ll head over to Fortum and Mason and see what we can find?”

“Yay! Can we have tea there, too?”

“You’re turning into a regular English lass, aren’t you?” he grinned. “Get going.”

Sebastian cleaned the dirty dishes and glanced at the card that Alistair had given him last week, which was sitting on the counter. He’d been contemplating giving Alistair a call, but wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do. He was too old to get involved in the mayhem they used to live. Actually, it wasn’t his age but his maturity that prevented him from wanting to get involved in that lifestyle again. Alistair was still the darling of the gossip papers—currently dating a very tall, leggy, blonde, South African model.

Mattie walked back into the room wearing a blue cotton dress and her black Mary Jane shoes, and carrying a small purse that Penny had bought her. “I’m ready.”

“You look very lovely today, Mattie,” her father observed. “Why aren’t you wearing jeans?”

“Daddy, we’re going to tea. I have to dress properly.”

Sebastian chuckled to himself as he grabbed his suit jacket from the back of the kitchen chair. “Off we go, then.”

They walked into Fortum and Mason at 181 Piccadilly, the three-hundred-year-old store looking bright and inviting. Mattie walked over to the sweets counter and marveled at the various confectionary treats. “We should get some chocolate for Mummy,” she said, looking up at Sebastian.

“Yes, she would like that, wouldn’t she? Let’s go upstairs and find Aunt Penny’s gift first.” He guided Mattie up the stairs to the first floor of the department store, where the cook shop, china, and silver were displayed.

Mattie wandered about with great fascination, Sebastian by her side. Finally, she stopped in front of a table of picture frames. “I like that one,” she said, pointing at an eight by ten ornate floral sterling frame.

Sebastian picked it up to inspect it closer. “You really like this one?”

“Yes, they can put their wedding picture in it.”

“I think it’s a fine gift.”

The sales associate rang up the sale and gift-wrapped the frame for them. Mattie insisted on carrying the light green shopping bag as they took the lift to The Fountain restaurant for tea. They sat at a table for two near the window. Sebastian placed their order then turned to his daughter. “So tell me about your weekend at the castle.”

“Uncle Max bought me an outfit to ride my pony.”

“I don’t think it’s your pony, darling.”

“Uncle Max said it was.”

“I think you love Uncle Max more than you love me,” he playfully pouted.

Mattie got down from her chair and walked over to Sebastian and hugged him. “I love you more than anyone in the world, Daddy.”

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. It had been a long time since he’d heard that phrase. It brought back wonderful memories of Nanny Jones. “And I you, Mattie.”

Sebastian sat in Maxwell’s office waiting for Mr. Minton to arrive. It had been two weeks since his last meeting with the investigator, and Sebastian wasn’t sure what to expect. He sat quietly in a chair, his left leg bouncing up and down in anticipation.

There was a knock, followed by Max’s assistant opening the door and announcing Mr. Minton. Both Sebastian and his brother stood to greet the investigator.

“Please, have a seat,” Mr. Minton announced. He sat down and pulled a file from his briefcase, opened it, and looked over the notes. Sebastian wished he’d just cut to the chase. “I was able to confirm your father, Martin Christopher Baker, was born in Brixton. He was an only child of Nancy and Stuart Baker—both deceased. Mr. Baker did work for the Country Club in the late fifties, where he met your mother. After they married, he moved into your country estate. He didn’t hold down a job. You and your sister Victoria were born a year after the wedding.”

“Do you know where he is today? Is he even alive?” Sebastian anxiously inquired.

“I wasn’t able to find a death certificate. I did find proof that your mother has been making yearly payments to him over the past twenty-five years.”

“Through a London bank?” Max asked.

Mr. Minton grimaced. “No, it’s through a Swiss bank account. The account is active, so I believe Mr. Baker is still alive.”

“Can it be traced?”

“I’m working on it. It won’t be easy. I just wanted to keep you abreast of the situation.”

Max extended his hand to the investigator. “Thank you, Mr. Minton.”

“I’m sorry I don’t have more information. The search is proving to be more difficult than I anticipated.”

“You’re running into dead ends. That isn’t your fault,” Sebastian told him.

“If your father can be found, I’ll be sure to find him,” Minton reassured.

Then Mr. Minton was gone. Sebastian and Maxwell looked at each other. Sebastian exhaled loudly.

“You really didn’t expect him to come back in a few weeks and say he found him?” Max asked.

“I suppose not,” Sebastian said. “I need a drink.”

“The club?”

“Yes.”

They sat in the corner of the quiet room, sipping scotch and discussing the whereabouts of their father. “I can broach the subject with Mother, but I can’t promise anything,” Max suggested.

“She won’t tell you anything, I know that for a fact.”

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

“Have you told her about your engagement?”

“Yes,” Max clipped out.

Sebastian chuckled to himself. He couldn’t help it. “I take it she wasn’t very pleased.”

“She thinks I can do better. I disagree.”

“Christ, how many virginal socialites does she think still exist?” Sebastian muttered.

“I don’t care what she thinks. I choose Penelope.”

“I think it’s the best decision you’ve ever made.”

“She’s pulling together an engagement party next weekend. Will you come?”

“Will Lily be there?”

“I don’t know,” Max honestly replied. “She’s been invited. I don’t care if she comes or not.”

“If she’s there, I won’t attend.” Sebastian looked down at this Rolex. “I’ve got to get going.”

“Sebastian, please don’t be like this.”

Sebastian stood and looked at Max. “Like what? Don’t pass judgment on me until you’ve had a family of your own. Maybe then you’ll understand the lengths you’ll go to in order to protect them.”

“You’re right,” Max softly admitted, making eye contact with his brother.

Sebastian nodded. “I’ll ring you later.” He turned on his heel and left the room. As he walked down the marble hall to the vestibule, be bumped into Alistair.

“Sebastian, you didn’t ring me. We should get together.”

“Sorry, Tess got called out of town on business. I took the trip with her to Paris. Why don’t you come over to dinner—say Friday at seven o’clock? You can meet my family.”

“I’d love it. What’s the address?”

“Seventy-Five St. Edmunds Terrace, St. John’s Wood.”

“I’ll see you then,” Alistair agreed, clapping him on the back.

It’s been one hell of day,
Sebastian thought to himself as he laid his head on the pillow. Tess curled her arms around him and he let out an audible sigh. “I’m happy this day is over,” he admitted and then kissed her softly on the lips.

“I’m sure the investigator is doing everything in his power to find your father. I understand it must be torture to wait.”

“I’m not even sure that’s what’s troubling me.”

“What else happened?”

“I saw Alistair at the club and invited him to dinner on Friday. I hope that’s okay,” he slowly replied, hoping not to upset his wife.

“It’s been years since you’ve seen him. You changed, maybe he has too.”