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CHAPTER 47
LEO
Cassandra’s comments about his family made her more curious than ever, so they spent the morning going through family photos. After his father brought him to England, he gave Leo a photo album with biographical information on some of the notable Sutton family members.
“It would take too long to go through the entire Sutton family tree, so let’s begin with my great-great-grandparents.” Leo took a seat on the couch and held Cassandra close to him. “Here’s Charles and Alice Sutton on their wedding day.”
Cassandra peered close at the photo. “He’s very handsome. Alice looks so young and frightened.”
“She’d just turned eighteen. Taking on a Sutton was a lot in those days, and Charles already had a reputation, so I imagine she was miserable.” He turned the page. “It was no surprise their son, Leonard, grew up to be a somber man. This is Leonard with his wife, Edith.”
“Leonard is attractive, but look at those frowns,” Cassandra said, her index finger touching the photo. “Not a lot of fun in that marriage.”
“Charles had a few illegitimate children. He lavished them with gifts and trust funds to give them a start in the world. Leonard must have felt neglected and threatened by his half-siblings.”
Cassandra turned the page. “Who is this?”
“These are my grandparents, Alexander and Mary, on their wedding day.”
“What a beautiful church. Where is it?”
“It’s a small country church near the family estate in Sussex.” He studied the photo. Alexander had an open face with a carefree smile. “They look happy, don’t they?”
“They do. Those smiles are real. Unlike Charles and Leonard, Alexander seems approachable.”
“Good observation.” He gave her a quick kiss. “He’ll like you.”
“I hope so,” she said, her voice hesitant.
He lifted Cassandra’s chin, and she raised her eyes to his. “He married Mary against his father’s wishes. He risked everything for her, even his place in the company.”
“He married for love.”
“He did. They were married for over fifty years.”
“He’s been good to you, hasn’t he? I mean, you talk about him with so much affection.” She turned to him, her eyes warm and comforting.
It meant a lot to him that she understood his connection with his grandfather. He was certain Gramps would like Cassandra.
“He has. From day one. It wasn’t easy being thrust into this family as a teenager, but Gramps did his best to make it less intimidating for me.” He turned the page again to his father’s wedding photo with Eleanor.
“Ah, so this is your father. Another handsome Sutton. You have the same head of dark, wavy hair.” She gave him a playful nudge. “I see where you get your good looks, but he’s not smiling, and Eleanor looks downright unfriendly. How did they meet?”
“At a yacht club event. She comes from an affluent family, and my father needed cash to expand the business.”
“It sounds more like a business merger. It’s so different from Alexander’s marriage. Did your grandfather support the match?”
“No. He couldn’t stand Eleanor, but he didn’t try to stop my father either. With Eleanor’s money, my father was able to grow Sutton Properties, so my grandfather was all in.”
Cassandra drew her brows together. “This was about the time your father began the rivalry with my father, right?”
“Yeah. That was when it started, but this is when it stops.” He traced her cheek with his fingers.
“I’m glad.” Cassandra’s eyes gleamed with happiness.
“Okay, one more photo.” He turned the page. “Here’s my mother.” Every time he viewed this photo, he saw her as his mother and not the famous fashion model. He’d been a young boy when she brought him to the photo shoot that day. During a break, enveloped in the perfume-scented folds of that voluminous red satin dress, she read to him as her gentle voice lulled him to sleep.
“She’s stunning. Her tanned skin is glowing against that deep red gown.”
