Tess’ mom was sitting on the sofa relaxing with her Sunday newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, when they walked through the front door. She rose quickly and hugged Sebastian tightly. “I’m so sorry.” She pulled back and looked at him. “I really enjoyed getting to know Mrs. Jones. You were very lucky to have her in your life.”
He nodded in agreement, then said, “Thank you for letting Tess accompany me home. I really can’t do this alone right now.”
Tess spied her bag on the floor and picked it up. “We should go. Henry is waiting.” She tugged on Sebastian’s elbow. He was riveted to the spot, lost in thought.
Mrs. Hamilton handed Tess a bank envelope. “Here’s some spending money, just in case.” Then she hugged her daughter. “Have a safe flight. Call me when you land.”
“I will, Mom. Thanks again.”
They arrived at the airport an hour later. Tess stood on the curb outside the departures terminal while Henry and Sebastian got the bags out of the trunk. “Sebastian, the mortician thought you might want this.” Henry reached into his pocket and pulled out an item. He placed it in the palm of Sebastian’s hand.
Sebastian stared at the thin 14-karat gold wedding band. He hadn’t even thought to take it off her finger when he said goodbye. It was nothing fancy. She was married during the Second World War and her husband was killed in action in Normandy. They never had any children, so shortly after his death she became a governess. He closed his hand and clutched it tightly. “Thank you. I’m very happy to have this memento.” He carefully placed the ring in his jacket breast pocket and gave Henry a hug. He turned on his heel, picked up the bags, and escorted Tess into the terminal.
“Do you think I have enough time to run to the ladies’ room and change? I feel very uncomfortable wearing jeans when I know we’re going to be sitting in business class.”
“Fine, but please make it quick. We still need to get our boarding passes.”
“Great.” She squeezed his hand, took her bag, and rushed to the toilets. Ten minutes later, she emerged wearing a simple black skirt and crème colored blouse matched with black ballet flats.
“Feel better?”
“Much, thanks.” They queued up and waited for the next available agent.
Once they received the boarding passes, they made their way to the gate just as the boarding process began. Tess and Sebastian took their adjoining seats after stowing their carry-on bags in the overhead locker. They sat back in the soft leather seats. They were larger and more comfortable than coach class, but not first class, to which Sebastian was accustomed. It didn’t matter; in seven hours they would touch down in London. He never thought it would be under these circumstances. He looked at Tess, who let out a small yawn. She had been such a trooper over the past twenty-four hours. She really had come through for him.
“Tess, lay your head on my shoulder and try to get some rest. It’s a long flight.”
“No, I’m okay. I want to stay awake. I don’t want you to be alone.”
He leaned in and kissed her temple. “I’m not alone. Try to sleep for a while.”
The plane taxied down the runway for takeoff. Tess leaned into Sebastian’s arm and nodded off to sleep before the wheels left the ground.
Chapter 16 - Don’t Dream It’s Over
The British Airways plane landed in London seven hours later with a smooth bump, and taxied to the gate. “Stay close, Tess. It’s a very crowded airport.” Tess took his hand and together they walked to customs. “We’ll need to split up here so you can go through the visitors’ queue. I’ll meet you on the other side.”
Tess watched Sebastian follow the lines through customs like a zombie, tightly clutching his small wooden box. She couldn’t imagine how hard this was for him. How could he mourn if he was so focused on travel plans and settling an estate? Tess smiled at the customs agent as he methodically stamped her passport. She found Sebastian standing on the other side the partitioned wall. They walked outside to the taxi stand and took a black cab into London.
“I’m still tired,” Tess admitted. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay, just nervous about meeting with the lawyer tomorrow.”
“It will be over soon.” Tess looked out the window as they neared the city, with its many lights and ancient architecture. If she weren’t so tired, she’d be giddy with excitement. Tess had never dreamed her first excursion overseas would be to scatter Nanny Jones’ ashes. The taxi pulled up in front of The Savoy, an upscale hotel located on The Strand in London’s West End.
Inside, Tess marveled at the black and white checkered tile floor, art deco furnishing, and marble columns. They checked in at the front desk then made their way to their room. The guest room was furnished with Edwardian furniture, rich and warm fabrics, and two beds. She sank into the closest bed and sighed. “I can’t believe how beautiful this place is.” The nicest place she had ever stayed was the Holiday Inn.
“Are you hungry? I can order room service.”
“No, I’m okay. Let me call my mom, and then we can go to sleep.”
“Okay,” he agreed, kissing her on the lips. “I’m going to get a shower. We’ll have breakfast at The Savoy Grill in the morning before we head out to meet Mr. Hume.”
Fifteen minutes later, Tess had finished her phone call and put on her pajamas. She was sitting up in bed, under the soft down duvet, waiting for Sebastian to return from the bathroom. He appeared, in chambray cotton pajama bottoms and a white T-shirt, his wet hair slicked back.
“Do you want to call Henry?’
“I called him from the bathroom,” he replied.
“There’s a phone in the bathroom? That’s just crazy.”
“Yes, but handy.”
Tess pulled back the covers on the empty side of her bed. “Stay with me tonight?”
Sebastian switched off the lights and lay down. He took Tess in his arms and she dozed off to sleep within minutes, feeling safe in the warmth of his arms.
* * *
The next morning, they woke and ate breakfast in the hotel restaurant, and then took a cab to Kensington to meet with Mr. Hume. Sebastian dressed in his Paul Smith suit. Tess chose her black skirt and crème blouse. The receptionist escorted them into Mr. Hume’s office promptly at ten o’clock for their scheduled meeting.
“Mr. Irons, I’m sorry for your loss,” he stated, standing from behind his desk. He extended his right hand first to Sebastian and then to Tess for a handshake.
“Thank you,” Sebastian replied, taking a seat on the opposite side of the lawyer’s desk. “This is my partner, Tess Hamilton.” Tess sat next to Sebastian, her hand on his forearm for support.
The desk was clear except for one file, which Hume opened without any drama. He began: “I will now read the last will and testament of Martha Jones.”
“I, Martha Anne Jones née Simpson, do declare to be of sound mind and body and thus bequest upon my death all my personal belongs to Sebastian Andrew Irons. Said belongings include a joint Barclays bank account and various mutual funds and stocks issued through the same Barclays account. Funds will remain in trust for Mr. Irons until his eighteenth birthday. At said birthday they are to be distributed as follows: Only monies in the bank account will be available for Mr. Irons’ personal use but with restriction. Mutual funds and stocks will be administered by Killik Stockbrokers, 2A Downshire Hill, London. Quarterly dividends will be placed in the bank account if available. Special access must be granted by Hume and Leavenworth, trustee for the estate of Martha Anne Jones née Simpson, for major purchases in excess of £20,000 and can only be considered for education, home or medical emergencies. All funds, stocks and monies will be released in their entirety to Sebastian Andrew Irons when he reaches the age of twenty-five.”
Hume cleared his throat and continued. “There is more legalese, but this is what you need to know. I have a copy of the will for you. Do you have the death certificate?”
“Yes.” Sebastian opened the manila envelope
he’d brought with him and handed Mr. Hume the document.
The lawyer glanced at it and then tucked it in the file. He removed three envelopes from the file and placed them on the desk, sliding them across to Sebastian. “You should know that the funds and stocks Mrs. Jones has left you are in excess of one million pounds.”
“Excuse me?” Sebastian sputtered.
Mr. Hume shuffled through some papers, pinpointed the page he was looking for, and repeated, “The funds and stocks’ current value is one point three million.”
“How much is that in US dollars?” Tess whispered, leaning into Sebastian.
“Approximately one million dollars,” Sebastian responded in disbelief.
“These envelopes are for you. First, this your Barclays card, which gives you access to your bank account. It can be used worldwide at any cash point,” he explained, pointing to the first of the three envelopes. “As Mrs. Jones saw fit to have all accounts in both your names, you have avoided a hefty inheritance tax and filing with the court for probate of the will. Second, I have two letters from Mrs. Jones that were sent to my office just a few weeks ago. One is for you and one is for Miss Hamilton. You will see your names on the front of the respective envelopes.”
Tess looked at Sebastian in shock. “Did you know about this?”
He shook his head. “No. Why would she send letters here when she was with us every day?” Sebastian wondered aloud, looking at Mr. Hume for an answer.
“I do not know what is in those envelopes, but she wanted you to have them.” As he had no further information on the contents of the envelopes, he changed the subject. “I will need your current contact information, Mr. Irons.”
He recited an address in New Jersey, which Tess did not recognize, and then added, “I’ll be attending New York University in the fall and spending the next four years there.”
“You’re on a student visa, then?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll need to extend the visa. I can make those arrangements for you. If you decide to stay in America after the student visa runs out, be sure you contact me. Of course,” he said, almost as an aside while taking a final glance in the folder, “if you do marry an American citizen, you’ll have no need for a work visa.”
For an interminably long thirty minutes, the lawyer continued with more information and legal drudgery. There were forms to sign and documents to read. Although the lawyer was quick, succinct, and no-nonsense, Sebastian’s head was swimming by the time they wrapped up their business. They bade their farewells and rushed out of the office for some much-needed fresh air.
* * *
Tess and Sebastian stood on the crowded London street and looked at each other, not knowing what to say about the whole experience, the city rushing by them as they stood overwhelmed with legal overload. Finally Tess managed to mutter, “I need a Diet Coke.”
“I could use something a little stronger,” he countered.
“But you’re going to be driving,” Tess reminded him.
“Yes,” he sighed. “Come along, I’ll buy you a Diet Coke.”
They walked across the street, dodging the double-decker buses and black cabs, and ducked into a Tesco. Sebastian grabbed a packet of crisps, a Cadbury bar for Tess, and two sodas. He paid the cashier and exited the shop.
They collected the rental car and made their way up the M1 toward Sutton on Ashfield. They were going back to the castle—back to scatter Nanny’s remains. They didn’t talk. The only sound came from the radio. Stripped by Depeche Mode played through the speakers.
Tess drank her Coke in silence and pondered the whole unbelievable scene they had just encountered with the lawyer. Suddenly she said, “You’re a millionaire.”
“Apparently so.”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“I did know about the account. I just didn’t realize she had amassed that kind of fortune. She worked for Lily for thirty years and invested every dime Lily ever gave her. She was going to pay my way through NYU. I never thought of it as my money,” he quickly confided.
“Well, that doesn’t happen every day.” She turned sideways in the car and stared at him. “Okay, I can’t wrap my mind around this. Why are you so calm?”
“All I keep thinking is this can’t be real. None of this seems real,” he repeated. “Now you’re going to see where I grew up and you’re going to be even more overwhelmed than you are right now,” he worried. “Please just remember: whatever you see, whatever happens, I’m still the same person you’ve come to know. I’m still the same person who loves you. That will never change.” He said it as if he knew there was some impending doom looming ahead.
Her answer was quick and heartfelt. “I promised to be here for you, and that hasn’t changed.”
Tess leaned back in the leather seat and looked out the window. The cars they passed were so much smaller than the cars in America. She looked at the little towns as they drove and the snippets of rural land as they made their way along the motorway. The sun was setting as they turned onto the private road.
* * *
They drove along, finally cresting over a hill until the castle came into sight. It looked different to Sebastian; it appeared sad and lonely. It was a fixture of past greatness that was becoming old and worn. Even though he had been there less than a year ago and nothing significant had change architecturally, his outlook on life had changed and he saw it with new eyes. He had a premonition that this would be the last time he ever set foot on the castle’s grounds.
Sebastian pulled up to the entrance and turned off the ignition. “Are you ready for this?” he asked, looking at Tess. He knew he wasn’t.
She nodded and opened the car door. He took her hand and they walked into the house unannounced. A uniformed servant nearly dropped the glass vase of fresh cut flowers she was carrying when she noticed Sebastian walk through the front door.
“Sir, we didn’t know you were coming home!” she squeaked, standing still and waiting for him to say something.
“Is Lady Irons here?”
“No, she’s in Paris.”
“Good, please have the bags in the boot of the car taken to my room.” He left the servant and guided Tess up the staircase to Nanny’s room.
* * *
He opened the door and walked into Nanny’s room. Sebastian flipped the light switch, then he removed the white sheet that was protecting the love seat, neatly folding it and placing it on the coffee table. The room was quaint and cozy, perfectly matching Nanny Jones’ personality. Several knickknacks had been left behind, as the move to America was only meant to be temporary and they hadn’t bothered to pack everything.
“I love it,” Tess announced as she turned around, taking in all the little details of the room. “It feels like she’s still here.”
He smiled for the first time in forty-eight hours. “You feel it, too? It seems as if she could walk into the room any minute and start talking about EastEnders.” Sebastian took a seat on the sofa. “I want to scatter her ashes in the rose garden early tomorrow morning. She always made a point to have her daily walk just at sunrise.”
Tess walked over to the fireplace mantel and studied the photographs. She picked up the one of Sebastian as a young boy, holding his teddy bear, sitting on Nanny’s lap. “You were such a cute kid,” she said, showing him the photo.
“I was happy then,” he simply replied. “If you want the photo, you can have it.”
“I’d like that very much. Thank you.” Tess sat next to him. “She was an amazing woman. We had some interesting conversations about you.”
“Like what?” he asked, turning toward her. His curiosity was piqued.
“She told me you were most happy when you were a child. I think her exact words were ‘Sebastian was in love with his childhood.’”
“I had no problems,” he reminisced. “Lily was rarely around. I never knew my father. I didn’t realize that my life wasn’t normal, so I was relatively happy. I did love my chi
ldhood, but I’m in love with you.” He’d told her many times that he loved her, but his time was different and it surprised Tess.
“But what does that mean—being in love?”
A beautiful smile graced Sebastian’s face. “The first day I met you there was something in your eyes. They were kind and didn’t judge me. It was the first time in my entire life that someone looked at me and didn’t have some preconceived notion of who I was. You believed in me and you didn’t give up on me.” He gently took her hand. “For us, being in love is friendship, loyalty, forgiveness, understanding—so many different things I can’t even verbalize.”
Tess was moved by his words but didn’t know what to say, so she remained silent and kissed him.
He took her hand and stood. “Not here, not in this room.”
They walked down the hall hand in hand. His bedroom door was already open and he stepped back and allowed Tess to enter first. Several household servants were busily preparing the room for his return. “Go now,” he tersely instructed them. The last thing he cared about at this moment was dust on the furniture or having his bag unpacked. At his command, they promptly left. He closed the heavy door and turned the lock, leaving them alone.
The servants had arranged a light supper. The tray consisted of a sampling of cheese, crackers, and fresh fruit. There were finger sandwiches, a pot of tea, and a bottle of wine. Tess eyed the tray with a pang of hunger, but needed to finish the conversation with Sebastian.
“You told Penny I make you want to be a better person.”
“It’s true. I’ve told you everything, Tess. I feel naked, with my heart on my sleeve, yet I still have no idea how you feel about me. You never tell me.” He gave her an intense gaze, pleading with his deep blue eyes for an answer. “We’ve been through so much together. Don’t you at least owe me that?”
Tess hesitated. Her mouth opened and closed silently as she tried to search for the words. Sebastian was right—he had always been forthright with his feelings and desire for her. She, on the other hand, kept her feelings of desire clamped down deep inside. Those feelings were bubbling close the surface now. Suddenly, the words tumbled out of her mouth so quickly it seemed she had no time to form a coherent response. The torrent of emotion escaped and flowed freely. “I’m afraid of how much I like being with you. I’m afraid of how much I want you. I’m afraid of losing myself to you.”
Life's What You Make It: Love's Great Adventure Book 1 Page 22