A Gentleman's Vow (Saints and Sinners 2)

Jessica frowned. “But you do admire her?”

“Only enough to wish her an easier future. The school was my suggestion, a way she might be mistress of her own home again. I have been very clear about my views on marriage, so she cannot mistake my offer of assistance as romantic in nature.”

Jessica’s frown cleared and she looked up at him. “Well, if you are not courting her, I would like to ask for your help, too.”

“Of course, anything.”

She wrung her hands. “I let Natalia believe that I had been kissed in London, and she will want to talk about it when she returns for luncheon tomorrow. Help me! I can’t very well describe something I’ve never experienced.”

He almost laughed but when her words sank in, he sobered very quickly. Gentleman should have been lining up to capture her. Kiss her. He’d expected that. “Surely that cannot be true?”

Her head dipped even more as she nodded.

Oh, it was always bad when she dipped her head that low. “But you were courted?”

“My dowry was,” she whispered, turning away.

He grabbed her shoulders and turned her back to face him. He made her look up by slipping his finger under her chin and lifting it. “Jess?”

“I’m so humiliated.”

“I’m so sorry.” But Gideon’s temper rose. Trust those fortune-hunting noblemen to spoil her season. He was offended on her behalf. “You’ll have to lie to Natalia, or tell her the truth.”

“You know I’m no good at lying and the truth is too horrible to repeat again.” She turned away, brushing at her cheeks. “I want you to kiss me so that I might save face. I cannot be the only young woman in the district who hasn’t been kissed! I’ve had a season in London, and I’m not going back this year. It’s expected that I’m more experienced than I am.”

She lifted her big beautiful eyes to him, and his usually sane heart urged him to agree to her request. His mind, however, controlled his tongue. “No.”

“Please, Giddy! I’d be forever in your debt. It’s either you or ask Charles Henderson.”

?

??The hell you will!” He nearly shook her but made himself release her and calm down. “Your father would skin the Henderson boy alive if he touched one hair on your head, and then he’d lock you up in your room forever.”

“So you do it. He wouldn’t hurt you. Or perhaps you could just agree to let me kiss you.” She sighed softly. “I’d much rather make a fool of myself with you than anyone else. No one needs to know.”

“I’ll know.” But dear God, he was in trouble, judging by the look of determination in her eyes. He’d seen that expression on her face too many times to easily dismiss her request. It wasn’t a whim, and she wouldn’t forget. She might ask someone else to do it the moment his back was turned too. “This is a bad idea.”

“No, it is not. I know you wouldn’t want to trick me into marrying you if we did. You’ve made your feelings about that very clear.”

He considered his options. He should refuse…but to have her kissed by a local man, someone course who might force her to wed them, wasn’t the least bit palatable.

Or Gideon could kiss her his way, which could never lead to marriage.

He glanced around to make sure they were still alone and then held out his hand, palm up. “Remove your glove.”

“What?”

“Just do it, or I’ll leave you right now.”

“But…”

There was an adorable crease between her brows, and he hardened his heart against doing what she’d really asked for. When her hand was bare, he gently cupped the back of it with his, holding hers palm up. “Close your eyes.”

She did, and then her chin lifted, and her pink lips pouted toward him.

Ignoring her mouth, Gideon worked his own glove from his fingers with his teeth and shoved it in his pocket. He looked down at Jessica’s hand laying so perfectly still in his grip. She had delicate fingers; pale, almost translucent skin. She was soft in all the ways a woman born to wealth should be. Jessica had never known a day of hardship in her life, and he was determined to keep it that way.

Using one fingertip, he lightly brushed her inner wrist, and then softly stroked her skin toward her palm. Her fingers twitched at his touch, and the frown returned in full force.