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“What’s that?” As the car slowed, Tess craned her neck to look out their window.
He smiled. “Our hotel.”
“Wow,” she breathed, looking up at the grand Victorian hotel, its stone turrets towering over them.
After the Bentley stopped, the hotel’s uniformed doorman opened the door. After unbuckling the baby seat, Tess let him help her out, with Esme in her arms.
“Welcome to the Leighton Hotel London, madam,” the doorman said, then bowed to Stefano. “Welcome back, Your Highness.”
“Hello, Walter. This is my wife.”
The doorman’s eyes widened and he corrected himself, bowing to her, too. “Your Highness, welcome.”
“Nice to meet you, Walter,” she said warmly, then took Stefano’s arm as he led her into the Leighton’s grand, gilded lobby. The service was impeccable, as always. They were whisked upstairs without even having to pause at the registration desk, with their luggage and new stroller brought behind them.
Stefano always stayed in the same penthouse suite in London. As they entered the door, he smiled at her, his eyes twinkling. “Will this do for a honeymoon?”
Holding their babbling baby against her hip, Tess walked through the suite’s five elegant rooms and terrace overlooking Hyde Park. “Wow,” she breathed again. Then she saw the flower arrangements and fruit baskets on the suite’s gleaming wooden table. “What are these?”
“Congratulations on our marriage, I imagine. From friends who couldn’t attend the ceremony. And business acquaintances.” Coming forward, he kissed her. “Welcome to London, cara mia.” He kissed Esme’s fat cheek tenderly. “And you, mia figlia.”
“Bah,” said the baby, waving her chunky arms at his nose.
There was a peremptory knock at the door of the suite, and a chic white-haired woman entered, followed by a plump middle-aged blonde.
“Tess,” he said, and took his wife’s hand, “I’d like you to meet my executive assistant, Agathe Durand.”
“Congratulations again, Your Highness,” said the white-haired woman.
“Thank you, Agathe.” He looked next at the plump blonde. “This is the nanny?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Nanny?” said Tess.
“I am most pleased to meet you, Your Highness,” the executive assistant said to Tess with a nod, then motioned to the middle-aged woman behind her. “This is Ann Carter, from the most respected nanny service in London. She’ll be traveling with your family for the next month.”
“Lovely to meet you, Your Highness.” The nanny’s smile was kind. She looked at the baby. “And this is the little one?”
“Er...hello.” Still holding Esme tight, Tess turned to Stefano with a bewildered frown. “Why do we need a nanny? Unless—” She brightened. “Are you offering me a job as a designer? Oh, Stefano!” Joy lit up her face. “You don’t know what this means to me. I don’t need any special treatment. I’ll be happy to be assistant to an assistant—”
Stefano cut her off with a scowl. “You don’t need to work, Tess. I can more than provide for you.”
Her face fell. “Then why a nanny?”
He could hardly explain that he wanted to give her more time for sex and sleep, not with his employees listening to every word. So he stuck to half the truth. “As my wife, you’ll often have PR events to attend. Runway shows. Parties. Charity balls.” He grinned. “Art Basel. Weekends on the French Riviera or yachting on the Costa Smeralda.”
“Me?” Tess looked flabbergasted. “I’ll be doing those things?”
“You’re joining my life, and that’s how I live. Starting with a party tonight. You remember the woman who attended our wedding, Fenella Montfort?”
Tess’s face was blank. “Um. Maybe?”
“It’s fine. You were distracted.” He smiled. “She’s the primary shareholder of Zacco. Our lawyers have already started negotiations, but the company is hosting a party at he
r town house tonight, and I hoped...”
“You hoped to use your charm to jump-start the negotiations?”
