“You look wonderful, dear,” assured Joanna as she turned slightly to face them from the front passenger’s seat. “And Ian’s quite right. With four boys all under the age of twelve living under this roof, my son and daughter-in-law rarely hold formal events here. So relax a bit, hmm? You look lovely, Tessa. As always.”
Tessa gave her future mother-in-law a grateful smile. “Thank you. I suppose I’m just a bit nervous to meet the rest of the family.”
“Nonsense, my dear,” called out Edward from the driver’s seat. “Hugh and Victoria are going to love you as much as the rest of us already do. Ah, here we are.”
Ian’s father pulled his luxury Audi sedan up to the wide driveway that fronted the grand house. Edward had insisted on driving this evening, claiming that Ian was out of practice navigating the crowded roads in and around London, though Ian had whispered to Tessa in amusement that he would most likely be driving home, given his father’s fondness for Hugh’s impressive collection of single malt Scotches.
Tessa placed her hand in Ian’s as he helped her out of the back seat, smoothing down the skirt of the mint green Roland Mouret sheath dress she’d finally decided on wearing this evening. It had simple lines, little cap sleeves, and a modest neckline. She’d paired it with cream Louboutin peep-toe stilettos, and wore the diamond pendant and earrings Ian had given to her soon after they’d begun dating. Both Ian and Joanna had assured her numerous times that she looked both beautiful and classy, and that her ensemble was perfect for tonight’s family gathering.
Upon learning of their engagement, Joanna had immediately begun launching plans to throw them a lavish party to celebrate, insisting that she could throw such an event together in less than a week with the help of the staff at the Gregson Hotel in London. But Ian had set his foot down, especially when he’d noticed the panic stricken look on Tessa’s face at the mere thought of having to meet so many family members and friends at one time.
“There’s no time for that, Mother,” he’d argued. “I know your intentions are good, but Tessa and I don’t want that sort of fuss right now. Don’t forget that she’s still recovering from her surgery, and even though she denies it, I know she isn’t completely back to normal. And we’re only going to have three days in London. I don’t want to spend half of that time organizing a big party.”
But when Hugh and Victoria had learned of his engagement, there had been no polite way to refuse this invitation to dinner at their home. Ian had insisted, however, that just immediate family be invited - their parents, Hugh, Ian, Colin, and their families. Joanna had argued at first that her three brothers and their families also be invited, until Ian had once again set his foot down.
“Time enough for all of that at the holidays, Mother,” he’d pointed out. And had then added more gently, “I don’t want to overwhelm Tessa with all of this. As you’ve no doubt noticed, she’s very shy and it isn’t easy for her to make friends or meet new people. Let’s do this a little at a time, shall we?”
Joanna had acquiesced to his wishes, especially since she was nearly as over-protective of Tessa as he was. It warmed his heart to observe how kindly his mother treated his fiancée, as though she was her own daughter, and how well the two women got along together.
He and Tessa were staying with his parents during their brief time in London, occupying a suite of rooms on the uppermost floor of their Belgravia townhouse - a suite that blissfully afforded them a great deal more privacy than their room at the villa in Italy had done. Ian was relishing the moment when they could finally be alone tonight, and hoped that this dinner party didn’t drag on for hours.
Fortunately, Colin, Selina, and Lucien had elected to stay here at Hugh’s during their week-long visit, giving the boy an opportunity to play with his four cousins. Ian scowled a bit as he imagined his irrepressible younger brother sneaking around their parents’ home in London trying to eavesdrop on Ian and Tessa’s amorous goings-on. Much better all around, he thought wryly, that he and Colin would be separated by a half hour’s drive.
As Hugh, Victoria, and the four boys - Jeremy, Evan, Christopher, and Daniel - assembled just outside the wide front doors of the house to greet their guests, Ian squeezed Tessa’s hand in reassurance.
“Relax,” he whispered to her. “They’re all going to adore you, I promise. And you look stunning, darling. Simply stunning.”
His gaze raked over her tall, slender body appraisingly, approvingly. The mint green dress flattered her feminine curves without being too clingy or revealing, and it shrieked class and money. As usual, Tessa didn’t fuss much with her appearance, her makeup and accessories minimal, her abundant blonde curls cascading down her back, and tempting him as they always did to bury his face in their silkiness. She looked every bit as polished and sophisticated as his mother and sisters-in-law, looked as though she had been born into the same sort of privileged lifestyle that everyone else here present had always known. No one looking at her now would ever imagine she’d lived in homeless shelters or her car at various points in her young life. Or that she’d bought her clothes at charity shops or discount stores. She was beautiful and refined, but also undeniably sensual, and would always be the sort of woman who attracted attention, no matter who else might be in the same room at the time. Ian silently congratulated himself yet again for having snagged such a rare and coveted prize for his very own - a prize that he would treasure every day of his life.
Hugh was grinning broadly as the four of them walked up the wide front steps of the house, the hazel eyes that were identical to Ian’s twinkling merrily as his gaze settled warmly on Tessa. He was an inch or so shorter than Ian, and considerably leaner, but otherwise looked very much like his younger brother. All three of the Gregson brothers, in fact, bore a great resemblance to each other with their dark hair, hazel eyes, and aristocratically handsome features. Like Ian and their father, Hugh was wearing slacks and an open-necked shirt, but was without a jacket.
As they stopped in front of their hosts, Ian felt Tessa’s grip on his hand - which had been tight enough to cause him to wince once or twice - loosen slightly, and he sensed that she was a bit less terrified. Hugh had that effect on people, after all, being the most easygoing of the three brothers. His charm was far more subtle than Colin’s very brazen flirting, and Ian couldn’t think of a single person who disliked his older brother.
“Well,” began Hugh with a lazy drawl, “I thought for sure that Colin was just spinning one of his usual wild stories when he described your fiancée to us, Ian. But now I can see for myself that he didn’t even begin to do you justice, Tessa. I’m - well, rather speechless, I think.”
Victoria was a slim woman of medium height with sleek, shoulder-length auburn hair. She wore a very stylish ensemble of a sleeveless black silk shell, a black and white polka dot silk skirt, and pointy-toed black leather sling-backs. Her sherry-brown eyes twinkled warmly, and her welcoming smile lit up her pretty, perfectly made-up face. “That would probably be a first for Hugh,” she replied mockingly. “He’s very seldom at a loss for words. While my husband is trying to find where he lost his tongue, let me welcome you to our home, Tessa. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. And even more so to see this one so happy,” she added, gesturing to Ian.
Tessa placed her hand in Victoria’s and squeezed it gratefully. “Thank you so much for having us over,” she replied sweetly. “I hope this isn’t too much trouble for you.”
Victoria waved a slender hand in dismissal. “Not in the least. All I had to do was let my housekeeper know how many guests for dinner, and she took care of the rest. I’m afraid taking care of this wild bunch doesn’t leave me much time to cook.”
One by one, she introduced the boys to Tessa, and they politely shook her hand, and murmured, “Pleased to meet you.” They ranged in age from the eldest - Jeremy - who was eleven, to the baby of the family - four-year-old Daniel. Tessa noticed that they were all freshly scrubbed, their hair carefully combed, and each was neatly attired in
slacks and a pullover shirt. But she glimpsed the mischief lurking in their eyes, and had a hunch that none of them would look quite so well groomed before the evening was over.
Instead of shaking Tessa’s hand, Hugh pulled her into a brief embrace, and pressed a light, brotherly kiss on her cheek.
“Welcome to the family, Tessa,” he told her warmly. “We’ve all been waiting for this particular moment for a very long time - finally seeing my brother fall in love. Colin and I had an informal bet going for years that it would never happen, but I’m very happy to report I just collected my winnings from him about an hour ago. Though seeing Ian this happy is more than enough reward.”
And just like that, Hugh succeeded in easing any remaining fears or doubts Tessa might have been harboring. He and Victoria ushered everyone into a huge, high-ceilinged living room that was decorated in varying shades of cream and gold. The room was both elegant and welcoming at the same time, with tasteful yet comfortable furnishings. Colin and Selina were already present, and stood to greet the new arrivals.
Colin, too, gave Tessa a hug, but it was far less brotherly than Hugh’s had been, and his lips lingered on her cheek a bit too long for her liking. He grinned at her cheekily.
“Love the dress,” he told her. “Perfect color for your hair and skin. Not to mention a perfect fit for your -”
Selina interrupted him by placing a hand over his mouth. “Enough. There are children present, after all. And I believe you’ve embarrassed Tessa one too many times already on this trip. But you do look lovely, cheriè.“
While the boys, including young Lucien - who seemed to be having the time of his life with his cousins - ran off to play in another part of the enormous house, Hugh took everyone’s drink order. Silver trays of beautifully prepared canapes had been set out on the glass-topped coffee table, and Victoria urged everyone to help themselves. Ian snagged two delicious looking morsels topped with smoked salmon and crème fraiche, and held one up to Tessa’s lips. She opened her mouth automatically as he popped it inside, then used his thumb to whisk away a stray crumb.
Hugh stopped in his tracks, their drinks in hand, at this very out of character display of affection from his brother. ‘Will wonders never cease,’ he thought to himself. ‘Next thing you know he’ll actually be holding her hand in front of everyone.’
As he returned to the built-in wet bar to retrieve drinks for Colin and Selina, Victoria hurried over to him, giving him a little jab in the ribs as she whispered urgently, “Can you believe what you’re seeing? I know what Colin told us a little while ago, but I thought he was pulling our legs. I never thought I’d see this day.”
Hugh followed her gaze discreetly, his eyes widening as he glimpsed the way Ian and Tessa were - well, snuggled was probably the first word that came to mind - on a narrow, cream leather loveseat. Ian’s arm was draped possessively around his fiancée’s shoulders, hugging her close against his body, their thighs pressed together. Tessa kept her hands clasped rather demurely in her lap, but there was no disguising the look of pure love on her face as she gazed at Ian adoringly.
But it was when Ian gave her cheek a gentle caress before placing a soft kiss on her temple that Hugh’s eyes really bugged out, and Victoria nearly dropped the champagne flute she’d taken from a shelf.
“On second thought,” she told her husband as she replaced the flute, “I think I need something a bit stronger than the bubbly. Pour me a glass of whatever you’re having, will you?”
It would have been very easy for Tessa to feel completely ill at ease, and twenty different kinds of awkward at the dinner table. Despite Victoria’s offhanded assurances that this was going to be a casual affair, the enormous dining room table had been set with exquisite china, silver, and crystal, the silk table linens a pristine shade of pale blue. The children were dining separately from the adults, with the boys’ nanny supervising their meal, and Tessa thought that was likely a good thing, unable to imagine how five rowdy youngsters would have coped in such a formal setting.
But she was pleasantly relieved to discover that, in spite of the elegant table setting, the meal was in fact a very relaxed one. The food had been beautifully prepared by Mrs. Kingsbury, the housekeeper, but was rather simple fare, consisting of a salad of mixed greens, a mouthwateringly tender filet of beef, saffron risotto, and grilled vegetables. As Tessa’s nerves began to settle, she found herself eating hungrily of the delicious meal, belatedly aware that she’d barely touched her lunch due to her anxiety about meeting the rest of Ian’s family.
And every one of the family seemed to be going out of their way to make her feel welcome and at ease, including her in the conversation, and rarely discussing people or events that she might be unfamiliar with. Ian was seated to her left, and continued to give her hand reassuring squeezes throughout the meal, or lean over to whisper something in her ear.
“Are you enjoying yourself, love?” he asked in a low voice, as the main course was cleared away by Mrs. Kingsbury and the young niece who’d been helping her in the kitchen.
She nodded and offered him up a warm smile. “It’s been a wonderful evening,” she murmured softly. “Everyone is being so kind.”
Ian brushed his knuckles over her cheek, which was a bit flushed after two glasses of wine and a pre-dinner cocktail. “Of course they are,” he replied easily. “Because they all adore you. And they already consider you a member of the family, darling. So, no more worries, hmm?”
“I promise,” she assured him. “Though I still have to meet your uncle tomorrow.”
He waved a hand in dismissal. “Uncle Richard is the last person you’d ever need to worry about impressing. He and Hugh are very much alike, and you’ve seen for yourself how easygoing my brother is. My uncle will love you, just like the rest of us. And I’ve successfully dissuaded my mother from parading any additional relatives or friends out over the next couple of days. Time enough to meet all of them when we return in December.”
While Selina, Colin, and Hugh went to check on the children, Victoria offered to give Tessa a somewhat abbreviated tour of the house before they all re-adjourned for dessert.
“It’s still a work in progress, mind you,” cautioned Victoria as she guided Tessa through all of the downstairs rooms. “We’ve lived here nearly five years, and have had to re-do practically everything. Hugh jokes and calls the place our own personal money pit, but he loves it as much as I always have.”
Tessa regarded her future sister-in-law inquisitively. “Did the house belong to your family then?”
Victoria nodded as they began to climb the wide staircase to the upper level. “The estate has been in my mother’s family for more than a century. And I grew up here, raised mostly by my grandparents. I promised my grandmother on her deathbed that Hugh and I would make this into a real family home again, that we’d never sell it. Though there were more than a few times we were tempted, especially once we realized just how much work would be involved in modernizing and upgrading everything.”
“Your parents weren’t - that is, I’m sorry,” stammered Tessa. “It’s really none of my business.”
Victoria shrugged. “Nothing to be sorry about. And it’s no secret, really. My parents were both spoiled brats, liked the good life a little too much, and didn’t take to the idea of being tied down with a child. They’re what’s referred to as jet-setters. Of course, they split up before I was old enough to start school, and the pair of them have both remarried several times by now. My grandmother, bless her heart, flat out refused to let me live that sort of lifestyle, being shifted back and forth between two scatterbrained parents, and insisted that I’d be much better off here with her and my gramps. Knowing my parents the way I do, I’m sure they were incredibly relieved at the offer, and didn’t hesitate to agree. I rarely see them, it’s better that way, and especially for my boys. And I have wonderful memories of my grandparents, of growing up here. That’s why I wanted to hang onto this old place so badly.”
“It�
�s a beautiful house,” assured Tessa. “I confess to having been completely intimidated when we drove up through the gates, but I can see now that you’ve made this into a real family home. It’s very warm and welcoming. Just like Ian’s house in San Francisco, though of course this place is so much larger.”
Victoria sighed. “I know. It’s something of a monstrosity, actually. Ten bedrooms, eight baths. And that’s just here in the main house. But with four young boys, believe me, it rarely feels too big. And it’s in such a lovely area, with excellent local schools. The boys - well, even though they drive me half-mad most of the time, the very thought of sending them off to boarding school is unbearable. I know that Hugh and his brothers all boarded once they reached a certain age, but we’ve chosen to keep our children at home with us. Just like my grandparents did with me.”
Tessa nodded in agreement. “I wouldn’t be able to bear the thought of being separated from my child, either. Not,” she added hastily, “that I have any idea what it feels like to be a mother, of course. But, well, someday perhaps.”
Victoria grinned. “Now we have to get used to the idea of Ian not just being head over heels in love, but being a Daddy, too. I think I’m going to need more wine before this evening’s over. It’s been - ah, quite a revelation so far.” Her voice grew quieter as she continued. “I’ve known Ian nearly as long as I’ve known Hugh, and I have never seen him this happy, Tessa. He’s so different, so, well, human. And I know it’s because of you, because he’s so crazy about you. We’re very, very happy for you, Tessa. And so pleased to welcome you into our family.”
Tessa couldn’t hide the pleasure she felt at Victoria’s words, and rather impulsively gave the other woman a little hug. “Thank you,” she whispered. “This has all been a little intimidating for me, you know. Not just meeting Ian’s family, but, well, getting used to this way of living. I don’t know if he’s told Hugh anything about my background, but it was an entirely different world than what all of you have known.”
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