Lorenzo's Reward

“You’re obviously not bothering with a hairdresser, Leo,” commented Jess, as they went into the cool house together.

“Nope. I’ll wash the flowing locks myself, as usual. I just want to look my normal self.”

“Which is exactly what Jonah requires, of course. Always has,” added Jess.

Leonie nodded, her dark eyes luminous. “I know. I’m so lucky.”

“So is Jonah,” said Jess gruffly. “Now, where’s that tea?”

“Mother said you’d probably skip lunch,” said Leonie. “So I made you some salad, and hid some of Mother’s little mushroom tarts from Adam.”

“And the coconut cake,” said Fenny, eyes gleaming as they fastened on the snowy confection under a glass dome. “Can I have some, Leo? Please?”

“So what’s happening tonight?” said Jess, helping herself to salad.

“Jonah’s having dinner with his family in Pennington tonight, at the company flat, and we’ll just have a family supper here.” Leonie cut a slice of cake for Fenny. “Roberto’s staying in Pennington too, with the Ravellos,” she said casually. “So you could ring the Chesterton tonight and have a chat with him. If you like.”

Jess choked on a crumb of pastry, her dark eyes bright with dismay as they met her sister’s. “Must I?”

“I thought you might like to. So that everything’s nice and friendly for tomorrow.”

Jess’s groan was cut off by the arrival of Tom and Frances Dysart, who came hurrying in with Adam and Kate close behind them. Jess sprang up to embrace them all, and there was general laughter when her father blenched theatrically as he noticed her hair. The kitchen filled with exuberant noise as all the Dysarts began talking at once and the dog began barking in excitement in counterpoint. Jess breathed in a deep, happy sigh. She was home.

After supper, which they ate early so that Fenny could share it with them, Adam went for a run down to the farm to hand over the dog, Kate took herself off to revise for her next exam, and Frances and Tom Dysart retired to the study for some peace and quiet while Jess admired wedding presents in Leonie’s room.

“I hope Jonah won’t be disappointed because I’m not wearing a meringue-type wedding dress and veil and so on,” said Leonie, as she repacked a Baccarat crystal vase.

“Of course he won’t!” said Jess with scorn. “The dress is perfect. What did you decide on for your hair in the end?”

“I wasn’t going to wear anything at first. But when Dad mentioned a jewellery auction he was holding at Dysart’s, Jonah bid for the most amazing pair of antique earrings for a wedding present—showers of baroque pearls on tiny gold chains, with a matching brooch. I’ve sewn the brooch to a silk barrette to fasten in my hair.” Leonie took it from its nest of tissue paper and secured a tress of bronze hair back with it. “What do you think?”

Jess eyed the result with approval. “Perfect! Now put the earrings on so I can see the full effect.”

Leonie rummaged in a drawer, then spun round, her eyes meeting her sister’s in sudden panic. “Jess, they’re not here—Jonah took them into a jeweller in Pennington to rethread some of the pearls. And it’s Saturday night! What if he’s forgotten to collect them?” Sudden tears poured down her face, astonishing her sister. “I wanted everything to be so perfect—”

“Hey, hey,” said Jess, dismayed.

“Don’t get upset. Ring him now and ask him.”

“I’m not supposed to,” sobbed Leonie. “It’s unlucky the night before the wedding!”

“Then I will.” Jess passed her sister a bunch of tissues. “Calm down, Leo. This isn’t like you!”

“Sorry.” Leonie blew her nose, then gave Jess a watery, radiant smile. “It must be hormones. Can you keep a secret? I haven’t told Mother, in case she’s worried about me tomorrow, in fact I haven’t told a soul yet—not even Jonah—but I found out today for sure that I’m pregnant.”

Jess enveloped her sister in a crushing hug. “And you’re thrilled to bits, obviously. Wonderful! When are you going to give Jonah the glad news?”

Leonie gave a wicked grin. “I thought tomorrow night, maybe? Late tomorrow night, in the honeymoon suite in our hotel in Paris. A sort of extra wedding present.”

Jess chuckled, then reached for her sister’s cellphone. “Right, then. Let’s ring the bridegroom. You want earrings, little mother, you shall have earrings—even if Jonah has to bribe the jeweller to open up again tonight.”

But when Jonah was questioned it seemed he’d collected them the day before and merely forgotten to hand them over. Jess gave him a laughing telling-off, and, when he was all for driving over right away, informed him that Leonie forbade him to set foot in the vicinity of Friars Wood that night.

“You stay put. I’ll come and collect them.” She made a face at Leonie. “But the Chesterton’s a lot nearer for me than your flat, Jonah, so be a love and save me a trip right across town on a Saturday night. Meet me in the bar there to hand them over? Right. Yes, I’ll tell her. She’s blowing a kiss as we speak. See you in half an hour or so.”

“You’re going to kill two birds with one stone?” said Leonie, eyes sparkling.

Jess sighed, resigned. “I suppose so. Anything to make your day perfect. So I’ll fetch the earrings and make my peace with your ex-lover at the same time, and if ever I get married I’ll think of something really difficult you can do for me in exchange.”

“Anything,” said Leonie fervently.

“I’ll hold you to that. Jonah sent his love, of course.” Jess glanced down at her halter top and ivory linen trousers. “If I just wear the jacket belonging to these will I do?”

“Slap some more make-up on and take those stilt-heeled strappy things to change into when you get there.” Leonie grinned and kissed her fingertips. “Before he met me Roberto was very partial to sexy blondes. He’ll melt at the sight of you.”

And in doing so impart some information about his companion at the pub, maybe. Unknown to Leonie, Jess had secretly jumped at the chance to go out. She felt oddly restless. Wedding fever, she decided, as she neared the outskirts of the town. Until recently a committed relationship of any kind had held little attraction for her, except as something far off in the future. But since Leonie and Jonah’s reunion a gradual feeling of discontent had crept up on her, a hankering after something different from the no-strings, light-hearted arrangements she’d preferred up to now. But the fleeting encounter with the dark stranger had jolted her into a sudden longing for the kind of relationship Leo had with Jonah Savage. Not that she was likely to achieve that in the foreseeable future, Jess thought irritably as she picked her way across the gravel of the Chesterton car park.

Relieved to find that Roberto Forli was nowhere in sight for the moment, Jess made for the bar, and spotted the tall figure of Jonah Savage talking to the barman.

“Jess,” exclaimed Jonah, smiling, his green eyes alight with welcome as he came forward to give her a hug. “Sexy haircut!”

“Hi, Jonah. Glad you approve.”

“You look positively edible. Shame I’m promised to Another,” he teased. “What can I get you?”

“Just some fruit juice, then I must go straight back.”

Jonah gave the order, then leaned close to Jess with a probing look. “So tell me. How is she?”

“Leo’s fine. A bit emotional when she remembered the earrings, but otherwise in perfectly good nick, I promise you.” Jess nursed her sister’s secret with hidden glee as she sipped her orange juice. “How’s the groom?”

“Nervous as hell. God knows why,” he added, “marrying Leo is all I’ve ever wanted since the day I met her.”

“I know.” Jess drained the glass, feeling edgy, for once wanting Jonah to make himself scarce so she could find Roberto and get her apologies over and done with. “Thanks, Jonah. Must dash.”

He looked surprised. “Why the rush? My parents hoped you’d come to the flat for a drink. My aunt’s with them.”

“Sorry, I must get back to Leo. The earrings were a vital necessity before the bride could go happy to bed. Give the three of them my love.”

“Jess,” said Jonah, frowning. “Are you being straight with me? You’d tell me if something was wrong?”

She laughed indulgently, and reached up to pat his cheek. “Scout’s honour, the blushing bride can’t wait to sprint down the aisle to you. But we all want an early night tonight. Ditto for you, too—you can stay up late tomorrow.”

Jonah grinned. “I seriously doubt that.”

“Spare my blushes, please!” she retorted, fluttering her eyelashes.

“Jess, I really appreciate your coming all this way for Leo’s sake,” said Jonah as they left the bar. “Drive carefully.”