They trooped out to the private back garden and walked around the grounds as the sun began to set, turning the sky a beautiful palette of blue, pink, and orange. Tess and Mattie walked ahead, leaving Alistair and Sebastian time for a private talk.
“I still can’t believe it. You have a family,” Alistair remarked, shaking his head in disbelief. “Whatever happened to the Libertines? We were young and foolish and it was grand!”
“We grew up—at least Penny and I did. Not so sure about you, from what I still read in the tabloids.” Sebastian stopped to inspect one of the many rose bushes along the garden’s path. “Don’t you grow weary of the parties and paparazzi?”
“Yes.”
“So do something about it. Put the spotlight on the people and organizations that need help. Stop being the playboy,” Sebastian urged his friend.
“Like you?”
“I love the life I have with Tess and Mattie. I wouldn’t give it up for the world.”
“Maybe I just need to find someone to settle down with.”
“Someone like Penny?”
“I’m afraid that ship sailed a long time ago,” Alistair sighed. “She was mine and I fucked it up. Now it’s too late to get her back.”
“She’s very happy with Maxwell, if that’s any consolation,” Sebastian chimed in.
“It’s no consolation at all.”
Chapter 16 - Celebration
The engagement party for Maxwell and Penelope was held at Max’s Mayfair home, just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace. The house was elegant and imposing—four stories tall, with an ornate facade and slate roof. Sebastian walked his family up the stone steps and rang the doorbell. A butler opened the door to greet them, and they were escorted to the ballroom, where the festivities were already under way.
“Mattie, stay close. There are many people here this evening and I don’t want you to get lost,” Sebastian warned, still holding the child’s hand.
“Where’s Uncle Max and Aunt Penny? I want to give them their present.”
Just then, the happy couple noticed the Irons family and walked toward them.
“Uncle Max!” Mattie exclaimed, rushing to greet her uncle.
Max picked her up and gave her a hug. “What do we have here?” he asked, noticing the expertly gift-wrapped package she was holding.
“It’s my present for you and Aunt Penny.”
“Thank you, Mattie,” Penny chimed in as she took the gift from Mattie’s hand. “We won’t open the gifts tonight, but if you would like to come over tomorrow we can open all the presents once everyone is gone.”
Mattie looked to her father for approval.
“Yes, we can come by tomorrow.”
“Awesome!” Mattie exclaimed.
Max set Mattie back down on the floor. “Thank you for coming tonight,” he said to both Sebastian and Tess.
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Tess said.
“Is she here?” Sebastian needed to know.
“She declined,” Maxwell replied.
“Something about me not being up to snuff as an earl’s wife, I believe, wasn’t it, Max?” Penny asked, making light of situation.
“Not the first time I’ve heard something like that,” Sebastian muttered.
Tess laced her arm through his. “That just means the party will be even better without her.”
Sebastian squeezed his wife’s hand and smiled. “Let’s celebrate.”
A waiter stopped nearby with a silver tray of champagne. The four adults each took a glass. “To Max and Pen: may you have a long, adventurous, and loving life together.”
“Cheers to that, brother,” Max replied as they clinked glasses and took a sip of the marvelous elixir.
Tess knelt down and said to Mattie, “Let’s go find you something to drink and then we can sit over on that sofa and look at all the pretty dresses everyone is wearing.”
Mattie nodded her head in agreement and she and Tess walked off, leaving Max, Penny, and Sebastian alone.
“Pen, you are the best thing that ever happened to Maxwell. If Lily can’t see it, she’s the fool.”
“I concur,” Max said.
“I couldn't care less what Lady Lily Irons thinks of me. I’m happy,” she said, looking up at Max. “That’s all that matters. And you brought your family to celebrate with us.”
“I’ll leave you to your guests.”
Sebastian made his way to corner of the room, where a small sofa was stationed. He found his family sitting there, observing the crowd. Taking a seat on the arm of the sofa, he said, “So who is winning?”
“I like the lady in the red dress,” Mattie said, pointing in the unknown woman’s direction.
“I’d say that’s a Valentino,” Sebastian remarked.
“Is anyone wearing Chanel like Mummy?” Mattie asked.
“Take a look, I’m sure you’ll spot someone in time.”
Tess chuckled. “You would have to teach her a designer version of I Spy.”
Just then, Mattie bounced in her seat and pointed to the opposite side of the room. “Daddy, over there, by the tall vase.” The woman she pointed out was wearing a long black off-the-shoulder gown. A silk white camellia flower was pinned to the black satin belt.
“Excellent eye!”
They spent the next hour admiring the partygoers and nibbling on hors d’oeuvres. When the live band began to play music, Mattie and Tess both insisted on dancing. The three of them made their way to the dance floor, Sebastian holding Mattie in one arm and wrapping his free arm around Tess.
“This is nice. Aren’t you glad we came?” Tess asked as they swayed to the music.
“I am,” Mattie jumped in.
“Me, too,” Sebastian agreed.
“Daddy, can you put me down? I want to dance by myself.”
Sebastian complied with her request and the child took both her parents’ hands and moved in time with the music. He was grateful to put her down, because she was getting too heavy to hold. His little girl was growing up way too fast. In a few weeks’ time, she would start school. He was sure he’d miss her like the devil, and started to think about having a second child. Tess wouldn’t go for it—at least not until she was able to get herself established in the London office at the Associated Press. There was also the continuing search for his father and Max and Penny’s upcoming nuptials—too many things to be contemplating another child at this point in time.
“Hey, what were you thinking about?” Tess asked as she caressed his cheek.
Sebastian pressed his lips to the palm of her hand. “Nothing—just happy to be here with my girls.”
“Mummy, I want some strawberries,” Mattie said, tugging on her mother’s hand.
“Okay, let’s see if we can find some.”
“I can take her,” Sebastian offered.
“I got it. Go dance with Penny.”
Sebastian nodded his head in agreement and walked over to Maxwell and Penny, who were dancing in the center of the room. Sebastian tapped Max’s shoulder to cut in. His brother graciously stepped back and Sebastian took Penny into his arms. “Quite a turnout,” he said, looking around at the crowd as they danced to the music.
“In five weeks, I’ll be Mrs. Maxwell Irons,” she smiled.
“You look very happy.”
“I am.”
“It doesn’t bother you that Lily isn’t here?”
“It’s her loss.”
“More like our gain,” he muttered. “How’s Max taking it?”
“It doesn’t seem to faze him in the least.”
“Good.”
“Do you know how adorable it is that you are so protective of your family?”
“Adorable? I take offense to that,” he cringed.
“You’re right—a Libertine would never be adorable,” she teased.
Sebastian laughed aloud. He thought back to the time he, Alistair, and Penny got the tattoos. “What does Max think about the tattoo?”
“He�
�s glad it’s only visible when I’m naked,” she said in a low voice so no one would hear.
“I bet you’ll be the first countess with a tattoo. How scandalous!”
Before she could respond, Maxwell tapped the sleeve of Sebastian’s tuxedo. “You’ve monopolized my fiancée long enough. Step aside, little brother.”
“Yes, my Lord,” he mocked as he stepped away from Penny. Sebastian looked around the room. He spotted his girls by the dessert table and walked over to join them.
Mattie was leaning against Tess, her eyes heavy with sleep. “I think we should get her home, Bas. It’s getting late,” Tess said.
Sebastian scooped Mattie up into his arms, and the little girl nuzzled her head onto his shoulder. A small yawn escaped her lips. “I’m tired, Daddy.”
“I know, love. Let’s go home.”
Chapter 17 - State of Shock
Sebastian placed a bowl of cereal and a slice of toast on the table in front of Mattie. “Eat up. It’s your first day of school.”
“Aren’t you excited?” Tess asked, sipping her tea.
“I don’t want to go to school. I want to stay with Daddy,” she pouted.
“I have to go to the gallery, darling. You’ll love school. You’ll get to meet new friends.”
“Wouldn’t you like to have other little girls to play with?” Tess asked.
Mattie shrugged her shoulders and placed a spoonful of cereal in her mouth. Maybe she wasn’t like Tess after all, Sebastian mused. He sat down next to her and looked her in the eyes. “You’re just nervous, but you’ll see all the children will feel the same way you do, and in no time you’ll have a group of new friends.”
After they finished their breakfast, Sebastian placed the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Tess knelt down in front of her daughter and inspected her school uniform. It was a navy plaid skirt and white shirt with a Peter Pan collar. She was wearing white knee socks and saddle shoes. “You look great,” Tess said as she placed the navy brimmed cap on Mattie’s head.
“Okay, you two, let’s get going,” Sebastian piped in, grabbing his suit coat from the back of the chair and putting it on.
The family walked the few blocks to Mattie’s new school. Some children were already running around the concrete playground as they entered the fenced property. A young blonde woman, who seemed to be in her twenties, was trying to calm a crying child. They approached the teacher. Mattie walked up to the little boy and said, “Are you hurt?”
The boy sniffled and said, “My mum left me here. I want to go home.”
“My name is Mattie Irons. What’s your name?”
“My name is Michael Symonds.”
Mattie extended her hand in greeting. Michael wiped a stray tear from his cheek with the back of his hand. Then he shook her hand.
“You must be Miss Abernathy,” Sebastian said.
The teacher looked at Sebastian and Tess and gave them a warm smile. “Yes—nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Irons.” She looked down at Mattie and Michael. “Michael, would you like to go play with Mattie on the swing set?”
Michael nodded in agreement, and soon he and Mattie where walking over to the swings and laughing.
“That’s quite a young lady you have there,” the teacher complimented.
“She has her father’s charm,” Tess agreed.
“Don’t forget to take her picture,” Sebastian reminded.
Tess reached for the Nikon in her handbag and they walked over to the swing set. “Mattie, Mummy wants to take a photo of your first day at school,” Sebastian said, gaining her attention.
“Can Michael be in the photo, too?”
“Sure, come stand here for me,” Tess instructed, pointing to a spot that was bathed in sunlight.
The children posed with a smile and Mattie took Michael’s hand as Tess snapped the shot. “Charming—just like her father,” Tess reiterated. “Just wait until she comes home and tells us she has a boyfriend.”
“Over my dead body,” Sebastian muttered, before kissing Tess on the temple.
They hugged Mattie goodbye and walked to the Tube station so they could each get to their separate destinations. “Love you. Have a good day,” Tess said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“See you tonight.”
Sebastian walked into Fiona Ashford Gallery in Kensington and greeted the manager, Duncan Kincaid, a rotund fellow with glasses and thinning hair. “Good morning.”
“Hello, Sebastian. Did you get Mattie off to school this morning?”
“Yes, she’s already making friends.”
“Ah, I remember those days when the missus and I sent our children off to school. Now they are married with children of their own.”
“Time flies,” Sebastian agreed.
“Indeed, enjoy this time with her.”
“Is the new acquisition from Hirst scheduled to arrive today?” Sebastian asked as he stood behind the counter and opened the email on the computer.
“No, Fiona scheduled it for Friday.”
The sleek cordless phone rang and Duncan answered the call. “One moment, please.” Duncan placed his hand over the receiver and said in a soft voice, “It’s for you.”
“Irons here.”
“Sebastian, Mr. Minton wants to meet us as soon as possible. He’s found Father,” Maxwell announced.
Sebastian clutched the edge of the counter and took a deep breath, unable to speak.
“Sebastian, are you there?” Max asked with concern in his voice.
He moved his tongue around his dry mouth until he could finally speak. “Yes,” he whispered.
“Can you get over to my office straightaway?”
“Yes.”
“See you soon.” Max rung off and Sebastian stood unmoving, unable to process what was happening.
“Are you all right? Can I fetch you some tea?” Duncan inquired.
Sebastian shook his head, refusing the beverage. “I’m sorry, Duncan. I have a family emergency. Do you mind if I leave?”
“Is your little one okay?” Duncan gravely asked.
“It’s not Mattie. I must go.”
“Of course. Good luck, Sebastian.”
With that Sebastian was out the door, standing on the curb and hailing a black cab. His mind was reeling and he didn’t trust himself to take the Tube, lest he miss his stop. The cabbie stopped and Sebastian got in the back seat of the cab. He gave the driver the address of his intended destination and they were on their way, weaving in and out London traffic, heading toward Westminster.
Mr. Minton was already seated in Maxwell’s office when Sebastian arrived twenty minutes later. Too nervous to sit, he looked at Minton and waited for an explanation. “I was able to locate your father.” The investigator paused a little too long for Sebastian’s liking and then continued. “He’s alive and living on the island of Corfu on the Ionian Sea.”
“He’s living in the Greek Islands,” Max said, unbelieving.
Sebastian loosened his necktie and sat down next to Minton. “He’s alive. How did you find him?”
“Several phone calls and personal interviews. It wasn’t an easy task.”
“Have you made contact with him specifically? Does he know we’re looking for him?” Max asked.
“I’ve not made contact. As we agreed when we started this journey, once I found Mr. Baker, it would be up to you whether you chose to meet him or not.” Minton opened his briefcase and pulled out identical reports. He handed one to Max and the other to Sebastian. “Here is all the information you need. I believe my work here is completed.”
Maxwell stood to shake the investigator’s hand. “Well done, Minton. I’ll have my secretary send over the final payment.”
“Much appreciated, Mr. Irons.”
With that, Mr. Minton closed his briefcase and was out the door. Sebastian remained silent, staring at the report in front of him that contained the location of his father’s residence.
Maxwell walked over to the sideboard and poured
a finger of scotch into a crystal tumbler. Handing it to his brother, he said, “You look like you could use this.”
Sebastian glanced up at Max and gratefully took the glass, downing its contents in one gulp.
“For Christ's sake, say something, Sebastian.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “When he said the money was going into a Swiss bank account, I figured he’d never be able to trace it. I’m shocked.”
“Are you pleased?” Maxwell pressed.
“Yes,” he softly replied, lost in thought for a moment, and then said, “Will you come to Greece with me?”
Max said down next to Sebastian. “This is your journey, not mine. Father knew I existed and he left anyway. If getting yearly support from Mother was more important to him than keeping a relationship with his children, I want nothing to do with the man. I have a wedding to plan.”
Sebastian couldn’t argue with Maxwell’s logic, because he would most likely feel the same way if the roles were reversed. “I have to talk to Tess.”
“Absolutely. Go to her.”
“Thanks, Max—for everything.”
Filled with anxiety, Sebastian made his way to the Associated Press office. Tess was the only person who could talk him off the ledge he was standing on. The lift dinged as it reached her floor. Walking up to the receptionist’s desk, he got a smile from the young woman when she recognized him. Before he could speak, she was on the phone paging Tess.
Tess came rushing toward him, her face bathed in confusion. “What is it? What’s the matter?” she desperately questioned. “Is it Mattie?”
How could he be so daft to alarm her this way? “Mattie is fine.” He handed Tess the report he was clutching in his hand. “Minton found my father.”
Tess took Sebastian by the hand and walked him back to her cubicle so they could have some privacy. They sat down facing one another, Tess still holding his hand, not bothering to read the report. “He’s alive then?”
Sebastian nodded affirmative. “Living on a small Greek island.”
“That’s good, right?” she slowly asked, her voice unsteady.
He bounced his right leg up and down with nervous energy. “I don’t know,” he whispered softly. “I feel so many things: confusion, frustration, hopeful yet discouraged. I’m utterly lost.”
London Loves - Book 3 - Love's Great Adventure Series Page 9
