Mortimer looked hard at his wife. It had been a hard struggle but Joan Stockton had come to a decision. “Yes,” she said, and looked commandingly at her husband. This was certainly for the best. It saved Tessa from a bad end.
Mortimer Stockton gave his approval. “That’s fine by my wife and me.”
Joan Stockton looked as though she couldn’t believe Tessa’s luck. Tessa resolved never to tell her how that luck had come about.
“Well,” she said, her face suddenly beaming with approval. “Let’s all sit down. I’ll make a pot of tea. Or would you rather have coffee, Mr. Callagan? Or perhaps a drink of some kind? I don’t know what we’ve got,” she added nervously. “What have you got, Mortimer?”
“I’m driving, Mrs. Stockton,” Blaize cut in smoothly. “Coffee will be fine. Thank you.”
They settled around the dining-room table. Blaize took a keen interest in all the arrangements Joan Stockton had made for the wedding. They had already been to so much expense... what could he contribute? He, of course, would supply all the wines and drinks, and he was sure that Mr. Stockton would understand that, in this day and age, the groom’s family should and would pay half the wedding costs. Did they think that fair? Tessa’s father heartily approved this sentiment. Grant hadn’t offered to pay for anything.
At Blaize’s encouragement, Joan Stockton took a deeper and deeper interest in the new wedding by the minute. It would be nice to add this or that...
Of course, there was a great difficulty in explaining to her family and friends why Tessa would have a new partner for her wedding, but considering all the difficulties of the situation in explaining previously why Tessa had no partner at all, this was most definitely the lesser of two evils. And if the wedding was grander than the original plan... well, who was going to think critically at all, particularly when they saw the groom.
Tessa looked on in amazement as Blaize Callagan turned his full charm on her mother, who was reduced to malleable putty in no time flat. By the use of judicious flattery, and the force of his personality and position, he had Joan Stockton eating out of his hand.
The devil, Tessa thought. He can not only charm, but bewitch a woman who is old enough to be his mother!
She felt a stirring of resentment. Blaize hadn’t wooed her like this. He hadn’t used any charm on her at all. Then Tessa remembered Grant Durham’s charm and decided she didn’t want any more of that. She preferred things the way they were between her and Blaize. Honest and straightforward. She knew where she was with him. She wasn’t being fooled into believing that he loved her, so she wasn’t going to be let down on that score. He needed her. She needed him. Simple.
But she couldn’t help wishing that things were just a little bit different.
“You’re so knowledgeable about weddings, Mr. Callagan,” her mother gushed. She hadn’t yet gained sufficient confidence in the situation to be certain enough in her own mind to call him by his first name.
“I have had one before,” Blaize said dryly.
Which reminded Tessa... how would she stand up against Candice? What on earth was she taking on?
“Oh! Of course,” her mother said. “I forgot.” That nonplussed her.
“At this time we don’t want to remember it,” Blaize soothed. “This is a time to look forward to something happy and beautiful.”
“Yes. You’re right,” her mother quickly agreed, her whole face glowing with approval at this obviously correct attitude.
Blaize asked for one of the wedding invitations, said he would have them all reprinted with his name on them. After all, it was all his fault the arrangements had been altered. He should pay the penalty. He would get them to Mrs. Stockton by Tuesday, along with his list of guests and a social secretary to write them all out under Mrs. Stockton’s personal supervision. The secretary could get them posted without delay. It was a pity Tessa wouldn’t be able to help but he needed her in Sydney with him. Urgent and pressing business, he called it, without so much as cracking a smile.
But he did look lovingly at her. In fact, he had peppered the whole discussion with a lot of loving touches and glances for Tessa. Blaize had very decisively set his mind on treating her lovingly. I hope this keeps up, Tessa thought.
Her father was most impressed. Her mother was over the moon with approval. Although every time she looked at Tessa there was a sort of glazed look of wondering disbelief in her eyes.
Tessa knew what she was thinking. “How did Tessa get a man like this?” To her mother’s mind, Blaize Callagan was, without a doubt, the finest redemption Tessa could have come up with. She was almost saved. In fact, Joan Stockton was beginning to look at Blaize as though he was some kind of Ultimate Being—or at least a special messenger therefrom—because miracles were just pouring out of him.
Tessa wasn’t too sure that she wasn’t still heading for a bad end. However, only time would tell her that. At least she was on the straight and narrow for a while. She was actually being pushed along it at a rate of knots by the man who was intent on having her, one way or another.
Her parents accompanied them out to the white Lamborghini. Joan Stockton’s eyes were like flying saucers. Perhaps she wondered if she was seeing a UFO—or having a special encounter of the third kind. As far as Mortimer Stockton was concerned, any car would have looked like a silver lining. The black clouds were drifting away. His wife would be happy... his little sweetheart princess would be happy... Cars didn’t matter at all.
Joan was flustered into silence when Blaize pressed a warm goodbye kiss on her cheek. He took Mortimer’s hand again and squeezed it man to man.
“You look after our Tessa now,” her father said. Then as a last word on the subject, he added, “Treat her right.’’
“Like a princess, Mr. Stockton,” Blaize shot back at him with fervour.
He couldn’t have picked a better phrase. Tessa wondered if Blaize was psychic. It was uncanny how he could read minds. Although he hadn’t been able to read hers. Not completely. She reminded herself to keep being somewhat unpredictable. She had to hold his interest somehow.
Her father gave her an extra big hug. “He’s all right, sweetheart. No mistake about him,” he murmured.
Tessa hoped so.
The die was certainly cast now with her parents brought on side. No way were they going to countenance the cancellation of this wedding. That would be complete damnation. Her mother would never speak to her again.