by Abby Gordon
“Oh, my God,” Pippa squealed.
“Now, if I may continue?” Sean asked. There was silence. “Good. Iain, one of the things on Tony’s to-do list was to set up meetings for me this week. Top of the list was coordinating a meeting with you, himself, and the comte to see if we could resolve things without going to the courts.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your cousin leaked private information about Jessica. And now, of course, we’ll be discussing your cousin calling the police and falsely accusing Tony of abducting Pippa and imprisoning her. I imagine that’s also a police matter. Officer?”
“It is, sir,” intoned the first officer.
“So, that will mostly be out of our hands, but the rest, well, the comte would like a few moments of your time. Jessica and the comtesse have made him promise not to wear his gun.”
“Unfortunately,” Jessica added. “We couldn’t get him to promise not to use any violence at all.”
“Good God,” breathed the baron, pulling out his phone. He tapped the screen. “Thompson, secure Andrew’s office, cut off any and all access he has to Lincoln Limited, especially financial. He is forbidden from all Lincoln properties. And run an emergency audit with an outside accountant on all accounts he was involved with.” He nodded at something said. “Good thinking. Thank you.”
Glaring at his cousin, Iain returned the phone to his suit pocket.
Seeing the fury on Andy’s face, Tony pulled Pippa a couple steps back. Andy moved toward them, then whirled around and swung at Sir Lincoln. The baron reacted quickly. Despite being a bit hampered by his heavy, tailored coat, he brought his arms up to block the punch with his left forearm then his right fist shot forward.
A crunch filled the sudden silence and blood spurted everywhere. Pippa screamed, hiding her face against Tony’s chest. The constables moved forward together, one pointing to the three men in leather jackets.
“You three, stay put.”
“Hell with this,” one muttered.
All three turned and ran. Andy, one hand to his bleeding face, tried to stumble after them, but was caught by the officers. He was soon slobbering and swearing.
“Pippa? Tony?” Jessica’s anxious voice came over the speaker. “Are you all right?”
“We’re fine,” Tony answered.
“What happened?” Sean asked.
“Sir Lincoln broke Andy’s nose,” Pippa whispered.
“Damn, missed it,” Jessica sighed.
The cuffs were now on Andy. The senior officer turned to Tony and Pippa, extending his business card.
“My apologies, Mr. Henderson, Miss Sheldon.”
Tony took the card. “I’ll get you mine,” he said, glancing at his boxers. “Just a moment.” He walked to the wardrobe and pulled on his pants. He then reached into a suit jacket, found his card case, and returned with a card for each officer and Sir Lincoln. He cleared his throat. “Sorry about that.”
“Not at all, sir,” the officer replied. “We’ll contact you about your statements.”
“Thank you,” Pippa whispered, again huddled in Tony’s arms.
The two dragged Andy out as the man whined about his nose, how everyone was bullying him, and no one wanted to listen when he was right. In the flat, Pippa tried to catch her breath. Tony glanced over at the furious visage of the English baron.
“And?” he asked pointedly.
“My apologies for that,” Iain replied with quiet dignity. “His father Edward was a favorite cousin, and I had promised to take care of him. His mother spoiled and babied him all his life. Unfortunately, he’s also my heir.”
“Ouch,” Tony winced. “Bad luck with that.”
“Indeed,” replied the peer. “We cannot choose our family members.”
“Some of us get lucky,” Jessica said reflectively.
“Very true. Miss Mun…Longworth,” he corrected himself. “I apologize for your information being leaked. I will not cover or in any manner conceal what Andrew did, but I will make it clear to all that he is no longer employed by any business of mine. I will also have an investigation regarding anything else he might have done.”
“Thank you,” she replied simply.
“Mr. Livingston,” Iain continued, pulling out a card and handing it to Tony. “I’ve given my card to Mr. Henderson. I will be available to meet at whatever time and location you suggest. And if the comte wishes to take a swing at me, then I certainly understand and will stand fast as he swings away.”
“It might be better if the comtesse is there instead,” mulled Sean.
“Not hardly,” Jessica retorted. “Grandmama would be worse.”
“Worse?” Sean questioned. “She seemed the least likely to swing at anyone I’ve ever seen.”
“Remember the story you told me about Mrs. Hancock and her grandson? What would she do?”
“When Mrs. Hancock took on the Pentagon?” Tony’s eyes widened.
“That’s the one,” Jessica confirmed.
“Um, yeah, let’s keep Jessica’s grandmother away from this situation.”
“Good idea,” Sean agreed.
His expression not changing besides an eyebrow raising at their exchange, Iain looked at Tony. “I look forward to your call arranging the meeting with the Comte and Mr. Livingston.”
With a nod to Pippa, he turned and left.
“He’s gone,” Pippa announced, going to the door and closing it. She threw the bolt.
“I could almost like him,” Tony observed. “Except for his damn relatives.”
“Well, you can’t choose them,” Sean echoed the baron’s earlier sentiment.
“Pip, I’m sorry,” Jessica started. “I should have told you.”
“No, I understand, Jess, I really do,” Pippa replied, shaking her head. She went to the bed and pulled the sheets off, dumping them in a pile. “When we first met, I was a mess. And later, well, it doesn’t matter now. You’re my best friend. My big sister. I’m going to figure that whatever the reason you left home, you’re going to say something else to the public. I get that. Just tell me what it is and I’ll back you up.”
Tony went over and helped her fold the mattress up and slide it back into the couch foundation.
“God bless you,” Jessica whispered. “Thank you, Pip. We’re going to simply say we argued, and as teenagers do, I blew things out of proportion. My grandparents were frantic until they found me, and they decided to let me work things out in my own time.”
“Got it,” Pippa agreed, gathering up the sheets.
“Now, what about you?”
“Hers will not work out the same way,” Tony said flatly, putting the cushions back in place. “She’s not going home.”
There was a pause. Tony could imagine Jessica glancing at Sean and Sean giving her a shrug.
“All right,” Jessica replied quietly. “Um, Pip?”
“Yeah?”
“What clothes do you have with you? To meet for an interview?”
Halfway to the kitchen, Pippa whirled, dropping the sheets.
“Oh, bloody hell,” she muttered. “Jess, I have three tees and a pair of cords. Right now, I’m in my leotard.” She looked at Tony in panic. “I can’t meet the comte and comtesse in jeans and a T-shirt.”
“It’s okay,” Jessica soothed.
“No, it’s not,” she wailed. “I’ve got the perfect suit in my flat and…”
“You’re not going back there. Just in case some of Andy’s men are there. It’s not worth the risk. We can go get you something,” Tony told her, catching her shoulders. “Wherever and whatever you want. It’ll be okay.”
“Tony,” called Jessica over the phone.
He went back and picked it up. “Yeah?”
“Take Pippa to Madame DeLuca on Bond. I’ll call her now to be expecting you in an hour or so. She’ll take care of Pippa.”
“Jess, that’s—” Pippa protested.
“Call it your Christmas present,” Jessica laughed. “Have fun.”
>
The call ended and Pippa stared into space as Tony returned phone to the charger. When his hands touched her shoulders, she jumped.
“You okay, sweetheart?”
“It’s just…it’s all been so much,” she whispered. “Did all that really just happen? The officers bursting in? Andy? Sir Lincoln? And…” She stared up at him. “And the comte wants to talk to me about a job with his family’s prized champagne vineyard? I’ve seen interviews he’s done. That place is his pride and joy.”
Tony smiled down at her, nodding. “All of it really happened. They really burst in the door, and everyone saw me in my boxers.”
Pippa blinked. “Oh, heavens.”
“Thank God I didn’t get a hard-on,” he grinned.
Her eyes widened, then she started laughing. He hugged, then patted her bottom.
“If we’re to get you to one of the leading designers in the world, you better get in the shower.”
Gasping, Pippa whirled and nearly tripped over the sheets. Tony caught her arm.
“Deep breath, Venus,” he told her. “Deep breath.”
“Calm,” she breathed. “Calm, calm, calm.”
“Right.”
“We can just go to my flat and get my suit.”
“No, we can’t, Pippa. Remember all of Andy’s men? I doubt he’s going to call any of them off,” Tony answered. “Jessica is calling someone she knows, and we’re not going to embarrass her or let her down. Right?”
“Right,” Pippa replied, taking more deep breaths.
She started for the door. Tony caught her wrist.
“Where are you going?” he wondered.
Pippa blinked then glanced down at herself. “I guess I should start with a shower, shouldn’t I? Tony…”
She stopped and stared at him.
“What is it, baby?” he murmured, putting his arms came around her.
“I’m scared,” she whispered. “Tony, I’m scared. I’ve been working for this for two years. If I wasn’t at work, I was home studying for the exams or teaching myself French and Italian. I’ve been dreaming about doing something like this, and now that it’s right in front of me. Mine for the taking. I’m terrified.”
“You taught yourself French and Italian?”
“I learned a little French in school and liked it. Jess suggested it. She said it would make it easier for me to get a job when I passed the exams.” Pippa gave a little laugh and looked up at him. “I guess she knew what she was talking about, didn’t she?”
“I think she did,” he agreed. “Pippa, even if you’re friends with his granddaughter, the comte wouldn’t talk to you if he wasn’t sure you’d be good for his vineyards. Jessica got you noticed, but you,” he shook her a little, “this is because of you. Because of your hard work. This is your time to shine.”
“What about you?”
“Don’t worry about me,” Tony assured her with a smile. His hands framed her face. “We’ll work it out. I’ve heard there are actors in France.”
“And they’d jump at the chance of having you represent them,” she said stoutly.
“Right,” he agreed. “But none of them will have a chance if you don’t get going in the shower.”
Chapter Eleven
Once he was sure Pippa was safely in the shower, Tony pulled out his phone and tapped.
“You clear?” Sean asked.
“She’s in the shower. It took her a few moments to settle down after everything that happened.”
“They really just burst in?”
“She couldn’t see through the peephole and opened the door to see a badge. They saw me and burst in, breaking the chain.”
“Holy shit,” Sean breathed.
“Are you clear?”
“Yeah, Jessica’s doing her ballet or whatever it is. I’m surprised I’m letting her.”
“Let me guess,” Tony grinned, standing by the window. “She’s wearing a one-piece leotard that fits her like a second skin and you want to peel it off her.”
“Damn straight I do. Hey, how did you know?”
“Because when I woke up, about five minutes before the police arrived, Pippa was wearing one while doing ballet and looked sexy as hell in it.”
“They do, don’t they? Jessica was fussing about me not looking at her when she’s getting sweaty. She didn’t like it when I told her she gets sweaty and red-faced when we have sex.”
“Smooth, bro. Real smooth.”
“Yeah, thank God, she loves me, warts and all.”
“You asked her?”
“Yep. After an argument like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Let me guess,” Tony smirked at his reflection as he watched Mr. Jenkins collect the mail. “About her being a French aristocrat?”
“That and being the daughter of a famous painter,” added Sean. “Don’t forget about that.”
“Yeah, that’s how I broke it to Pippa. Jess has a few Longworth paintings in her flat. And a book about her father. So, you managed to smooth things over?”
“It wasn’t easy, let me tell you,” sighed Sean. “But we had lunch with her grandparents. What she told Pippa really was pretty close to the truth. Her grandmother’s son by her first marriage tried to pull one over on them, using Jessica. By the time they found out what he was up to, she’d disappeared. They knew when she accessed the trust her father had set up, but the executors refused to say where she was or what name she was using.”
“But everything’s good between her and them now?”
“Oh, yeah. Charlotte and Maisie met them and they think Maisie is a doll. Madeline,” he paused. “Shit, Tony, I’m calling a comtesse by her first name. Can you believe it?”
“Yeah, I can,” he chuckled.
“Madeline and Charlotte are already planning the wedding.”
“Better add another one to their list,” Tony told him.
“Damn, bro, and I thought I moved fast,” Sean laughed. “She’s good for you. I can tell.”
“Yeah, she is good for me. Um, Sean, about…”
“The comte wants you to work for him. I’m not sure what, and he didn’t come right out and say it, but he’s a smart old man and nothing gets by him. He picked up on the fact that Pippa was at Jessica’s apartment and that Jess had given you her key. He mentioned it to Madeline and,” Sean exhaled in a whoosh, “if Jess has that much energy at that age, I might be dead in ten years.”
Tony laughed. “So, no idea what he wants from me?”
“Nope, I do know that they mentioned taking Pippa and you to Champagne for her to meet their head vintner.”
“Oh, good,” Tony groaned. “She’ll panic about clothes for that.”
“Ah, no, Jessica talked to that madame whatever her name is and took care of it.”
“You get the feeling your future wife is pretty good at managing things?” wondered Tony.
“Oh, I figured that out a while ago,” laughed Sean. “You should have seen her reaction to my food?”
“What food?”
“Don’t you start too. All my microwaveable stuff. She called them frozen bricks. I wasn’t sure if she was going to chuck them at me or into the tide. She called Sarah and took care of things. And, man, can she cook.”
“I’ve heard. She was teaching Pippa.”
“Nice. Now, before you go jetting off to France and letting the thought of unlimited champagne lure you from being my PR person, can you set up a meeting between us, the comte, and Lincoln?”
“Let me check the calendar,” Tony murmured, putting the call on speaker. He tapped and cross-checked dates. “How about Tuesday at one?”
“Damn, yeah, okay, that works.”
“What was the ‘damn’ for?”
“We were going to bring Maisie with us, but she doesn’t get out of school for Christmas break until Wednesday at noon. Charlotte will have to bring her over,” Sean decided. “I’ll send Pete back with the plane. He’ll have eighteen hours or so to rest up and get Matt up here if he need
s to. You need anything brought over?”
“I’ll pick some things up while Pippa’s getting fitted and pinned.”
“Sounds good. If you think of anything, just call. We’ll break into your place and get it.”
“Oh, yeah, sure, get in trouble again.”
They both laughed and hung up.
****
“I can’t believe this,” Pippa whispered as they got out of the cab. “I’m about to go talk into a high-end fashion designer, and she’s going to fit a suit for me so I can interview with a real-live comte. Pinch me.”
Tony chuckled. “Venus, if I pinch you where I usually do, we’ll get arrested for indecent exposure, lewd acts, and whatever else the constable over on the corner can come up with. That’s after he takes notes, of course,” he whispered in her ear. “So he’ll know what to do to make his wife or sweetheart moan and scream the way you do.”
Pippa giggled, took a deep breath as they reached the door, and smiled as he opened it.
There were racks of dresses and separates sorted by color, six mannequins exquisitely garbed and accessorized, but the entire shop was one of restrained elegance and refinement.
“Madame DeLuca?” she called out.
A sixtyish woman emerged from behind a curtain at the back of the room.
“And you are?” she wondered, clearly wondering what someone in a secondhand parka, corduroys, and work boots, accompanied by a man in a tailored overcoat was doing in her shop.
“I’m Pippa Sheldon. Jessica said she’d called you.”
“Ah, ma petite,” the woman beamed, gliding to them with her hands outstretched. “Jessica called and said your wardrobe had been lost and asked if I could set you up with the basics as quickly as possible.”
Pippa smiled. “Jess is a peach. This is all I have,” she waved a hand at herself.
“This,” Madame Belle DeLuca pinched at the parka, her nose wrinkled, “is just what you have now. Give me three hours, and you will look like the most beautiful butterfly emerging from a cocoon.”