Sebastian Trevalian stood at the soaring window in his library, staring out at Grosvenor Square. It was filled with bright sunlight on this Sunday morning, but he knew it wasn’t a warm day.
When he had been dressing earlier, his valet, Maxwell, had told him looks were deceiving. “Funny weather this summer,” Sebastian muttered to himself, as he turned away and walked over to his desk.
He was a little edgy and nervous today, but the moment he sat down and stared at the papers on his desk, he felt a sense of calm overtaking him. He loved his work, took his responsibilities as head of the family bank seriously, and finally he relaxed as he read some of the documents.
Half an hour later, he glanced up when there was a knock at the door, and Claudia came into the room. She had a broad smile on her face. As she glided across the floor, she announced, “Alexis has accepted to come to tea this afternoon, Papa. I for one am very pleased, and I’m sure you are.”
“I’m delighted,” he responded, and, rising, he walked toward her and put an arm around her. “Let’s sit in front of the fire, shall we? Much cozier.”
Every large mansion in London had fires burning in all of the main rooms, without exception. These vast, very grand houses were elegant and impressive, but not the warmest places to live in at any time of year. Because he could afford it, Sebastian even kept the fires alight in the bedrooms as well, year round.
Once seated in front of the hearth, he looked at his daughter, a questioning expression on his face. “How did it all come about?”
“I wrote Alexis a note, inviting her to tea, because you wished to know more about her charity. I said you would like to give a donation. I told her in the note to simply say she would come or would not come, and that Gerald would relay the message to me verbally.”
“And he returned here and the answer was yes?”
She nodded. “I like Gerald, by the way, Papa. He’s a good footman, very diligent.”
“How much should I give to the charity, do you think?”
“That’s really up to you, Papa, but I know her father gave her a check for a thousand pounds. Delia’s husband gave five hundred, Delia’s father five hundred.”
“I think a thousand pounds sounds right to me. I don’t want to upstage her father. So what time is she arriving?”
“Around four o’clock. Is that all right with you?”
“Of course it is.” A smile flickered. “I can hardly wait.”
She laughed, and then stared at him intently, her face solemn. “Papa, there is something I must discuss with you, if I’m not interrupting your work.”
“The papers are not important; they’re only small things I’m dealing with. Anyway, it’s Sunday, a day of rest. Supposedly. You sound serious, Claudia. What is this about?” He looked at her curiously, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“I think we need to invite another person to the supper on Thursday after all. We are seven, and the table is unbalanced. Actually, we need another man, although I suppose another woman would do at a pinch.”
“I could ask my cousin—”
“Oh no, no, Papa, we said no family members to gawk at Alexis. I have just the right man to invite. Cornelius Glendenning.”
“Well, why not? He’s a rather nice chap, good-looking, and he’s well brought up. Smart enough not to start flirting with Alexis.”
“Oh he’d never do that, not Connie…” Her voice faltered, and she sat back in the chair, realizing she was growing red in the face. She had given herself away without intending to do so. She was mortified.
There was something about the way she had said the man’s name that made Sebastian look at his daughter more intently. After a moment, he said softly, “Claudia darling, you’re blushing. Are you growing close to Cornelius, and he to you?”
When she was silent, and appeared slightly embarrassed, he leaned across and took her hand in his. “You and I have supported each other for years. Surely you can confide in me about something that appears to be important to you.”
There was a moment’s silence. Claudia compressed her lips together, then she nodded. “As you well know, over this year, Mrs. Glendenning has invited me to many events … dances, teas, luncheons, and a garden party in June. Her eldest son, Cornelius, has always been present … we got to know each other … and … well … we have a very special friendship now. He asked me the other day if I cared for him in the way he cared for me, and I said I did. He asked my permission to speak to you, Papa. He wishes to marry me. He wants us to become engaged. Actually, he proposed to me.”
She had taken him by surprise, and he did not answer for a few seconds. Finally, he said, “It’s really your decision, Claudia. Are you in love with Cornelius? Do you wish to marry him?”
“Yes, I do love him. I do want to be his wife.”
“Then of course he can come and see me. I’ve known his parents half my life. I like Cornelius; he’s a decent man, and he certainly works hard at his father’s bank.” Sebastian rose, pulled her to her feet, and put his arms around her and hugged her to him. Then he held her away and stared deeply into her eyes.
“If you are really sure this is what you want, the man you want, then by all means tell him we can meet. I have no objection to Cornelius, none at all. I shall welcome him into the family.”
Claudia’s face was radiant, and she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Papa, thank you very much. You’ve made me extremely happy. And Connie will be happy, too.”
“I hope he’s overjoyed,” Sebastian responded, smiling at her, full of love for this young woman who had been so strong and devoted to him after her mother’s death. She deserved to marry the man she wanted. In any case, the Trevalians had never liked or condoned arranged marriages. They had always believed a marriage had to be made out of true love.
* * *
In midafternoon, after lunch, Sebastian went up to his bedroom, wishing to be alone. His daughter had taken him by surprise. He had not had any inkling that she and Cornelius had fallen in love. He was glad that she had put her sights on a man from a family he knew well. Cornelius was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight; he didn’t consider him too old for Claudia, who, at twenty, was mature for her age. An old soul. They were a good match, and he’d never heard any gossip about Connie, as she called him.
Before lunch Claudia had returned to the library, asked him not to mention anything about Connie Glendenning in front of her sisters; he had agreed it was far too soon to let them in on their secret.
Now he had come to understand that she hadn’t meant to mention her friendship with this young man until after the supper on Thursday, when he would have seen their interaction together.
Sebastian smiled to himself. The words had slipped out of her mouth when he had mentioned the word “flirting” in relation to Connie. Her sudden flustered appearance had given her away. He had often wondered when she would meet a proper young man and make the right choice. It appeared that she had already done that. It was sooner than he had expected, but then Claudia was lovely, from a renowned family, and one of the most eligible and desirable young women in London.
Walking across the floor, he went into his dressing room, opened a cupboard door, and unlocked the safe inside. He took out several leather jewelry cases, instantly found the one he was looking for.
Opening the case, he stared down at the single strand of diamonds, a necklace he had given to Margot after Claudia’s birth. He had intended to pass it on to his daughter on her twenty-first birthday, but now seemed the appropriate time. He would give it to her once she became engaged. He replaced the cases, locked the safe, and went back to the bedroom.
He seated himself at the bureau plat, an elegant French writing desk he had bought at an antique shop years ago, where he often worked on personal papers. He would write a check for a thousand pounds from his personal funds. Then he realized he did not know the name of the charity Alexis had started. Claudia had not informed him.
Alexis. The image of her had not left his mind since he had helped her into her carriage. Yesterday. Was it only twenty-four hours ago? It seemed much longer to him. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. He had been captivated by her at first sight, could hardly wait to see her again, and had endured a restless night thinking about her.
Reggie’s idea of inviting her to tea today to talk about the charity had been seized upon this morning after breakfast, when he had told Claudia of Reggie’s suggestion. She had acted on it at once, writing a note and sending the footman, Gerald, to the Malvern house in Charles Street. This was only a few minutes away from Grosvenor Square.
He glanced at the small carriage clock on the bureau plat and saw that it was already three-thirty. In half an hour she would arrive here. He couldn’t help wondering how he would react when he saw her. Perhaps he had simply imagined there was something magical about her in his head …
Maxwell knocked on the door and entered, disturbing his inner thoughts. “Do you wish to change your clothes, Mr. Trevalian?”
Sebastian stood up, walked toward his valet. “Do you think I should? I rather like this suit … whoever invented the new lounge suit should be congratulated, don’t you agree, Maxwell?”
“I do, sir, and it’s ideal for tea on Sunday.”