A short while later, the new Lady Haviland broke away from her own beloved husband’s side to take Tess’s hands. “I am delighted your marriage turned out so wonderfully,” Madeline said warmly. “You deserve happiness, Tess, more than anyone I know. When I heard that you had to wed Rotham, I feared it would not end well.”
“So did I,” Tess replied in heartfelt agreement.
It was perhaps two hours later when Ian found her again. “Are you ready, my love?”
“Yes,” she answered, before excusing herself to her guests. She and Ian had promised to bring Jamie a treat before his afternoon nap.
They stopped by the buffet tables to collect a plate of meringues baked in the shape of swans, then made their way upstairs to a much quieter wing of the house where the nursery was located.
“I am not sorry to escape the intense scrutiny,” Ian admitted. “Your friends have kept a close eye on me all afternoon, were you aware? No doubt they want to verify that I am adoring you properly.”
“I know,” Tess said with a smug smile. “They are highly protective of me. But they are coming to trust that you love me. And they are also grateful to you for helping Fanny by hiring Basil.”
“He is turning out to be a fairly admirable secretary,” Ian said before fixing her with a curious look. “I never did discover what came over him the afternoon I returned from Cornwall. Eddowes offered to resign his post while proclaiming his steadfast loyalty to you.”
Remembering, Tess gave Ian a somewhat guilty glance. “I asked him where I could find your account books. I hoped to learn if you had made all those generous contributions while giving the credit to your solicitor. But Basil would not betray your trust and suggested that I confront you directly.”
Ian pursed his mouth in solemn thought. “Perhaps he is worth keeping on after all.”
Tess eyed him with concern. “You would not dismiss Basil now, would you?” When she recognized the glimmer of amusement in Ian’s eyes, understanding dawned. He was baiting her again—and enjoying it thoroughly. “You are trying to provoke me, aren’t you, your grace?”
“Of course. What did you expect?”
When an endearingly arrogant smile spread across his lips, Tess had to smile in return. “I would not have it any other way.”
They found Jamie in his bedchamber, in the company of his nurse, Mrs. Dixon. The toddler was eagerly awaiting their arrival, for he began jumping up and down as soon as they entered. “My grace, Miss Tess! You ’membered!”
“Of course we remembered you, scamp,” Ian said, ruffling the boy’s blond curls.
Jamie’s eyes grew huge when Tess offered him a swan. At first he didn’t want to eat the confection and destroy the delicate design, and at the same time, he exhibited his generous nature by making certain Mrs. Dixon got her own swan, too. Then, assured that he could save one simply for viewing, he hungrily bit into the sweet.
When Mrs. Dixon worried aloud that he would spoil his appetite so that he wouldn’t eat his supper, Tess intervened.
“I believe we can make an exception just this once.”
When he had devoured two of the treats, Tess washed his sticky face. Then together, she and Ian put Jamie to bed.
Before snuggling under the covers, the child gave first Ian, then Tess an ardent hug—a loving gesture that brought a mist to her eyes.
Over Jamie’s head, Tess shared a poignant glance with Ian as happiness ran through her. They were a family now, and someday they would be tucking their own children in to sleep.
When Jamie obediently closed his eyes and Mrs. Dixon settled down to watch over him, they left the room quietly. Out in the corridor, Ian paused to claim a lingering kiss from Tess.
“It has been much too long since I last kissed you,” he complained before leading her back to their myriad guests.
Agreeing wholeheartedly, Tess refrained from mentioning that Ian had kissed her passionately just this morning before she left to join Fanny’s bridesmaids. Nor did Tess remind him of the hours of searing tenderness they’d spent in their marriage bed the previous night.
Upon returning to the ballroom, they spent the next several hours fulfilling their duties as host and hostess, including opening the dancing with a minuet.
Finally, with a glance at the glittering crowd, Ian suddenly took Tess’s hand and whisked her from the ballroom.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“Someplace where we may be private. I am famished for a taste of you.”
Anticipation and eagerness rippled through Tess. She was more than happy to slip away from the crowd to share an embrace with her stunningly sensual husband.