A Gentleman's Vow (Saints and Sinners 2)

She rejoined him quickly enough but after a few steps, she looked back over her shoulder. “Goodness, he was impressive, wasn’t he?”

He looked back over his shoulder at the sweaty young man staring after Jessica like a hungry beast. He pinned the man with his darkest scowl until the fellow had the sense to look away. “Hard to tell under all that mud.”

“Strong, too.” Jessica chuckled. “The maids have been talking about the new man nonstop. I had to see for myself.”

Gideon stopped and his scowl returned, only this time directed at Jessica. He definitely didn’t like the idea that she was admiring the servants on her father’s estate. “If you dare say you fancy him…”

Instead of being chastened, Jessica gaped at him—and then doubled over and peeled with laughter. He stood awkwardly until she recovered, wiping her eyes. “Never in a thousand years, Giddy.”

Apparently, he’d completely lost his mind today and overreacted yet again. “Forgive me.”

“Mr. Sweet has a sister living with an aunt in the next village. The aunt hasn’t very much to live on, and the girl is of an age to take up a position. To begin to learn about her potential, I needed an introduction. He’s the head of the family and responsible for her. I’m hardly likely to fall into a swoon over someone I just met like the silly maids have done.”

Chastened, he looked away. “I should hope not.”

Jessica laughed again and clutched Gideon’s arm. “Giddy, there are days when I think you know me better than I do myself, and others when you don’t know me at all.”

Gideon walked on a few steps in silence, Jessica’s arm firmly curled about his. “About your suitor?”

“Lord James isn’t a suitor I want, Giddy

. When I came home, it was with the assumption that I had none.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Gideon anticipated that Jessica would release him soon, but she moved her hand along his arm, fingertips pausing at the inside of his wrist. They danced lightly over his pulse in the most maddening way. He stared down at where she touched him and gulped back a moan. “I’m sure you will not remain unmarried for long. When you return to London next year, who knows who you will meet then.”

“Did you ever doubt your decision not to marry, or did you always want to live alone?”

“I never really thought about it.”

Jessica squeezed his wrist and sighed. “You could change your mind.”

They were veering into territory he’d rather not speak of. He shook his head quickly. “I won’t. Not now.”

Jessica pressed her cheek against his shoulder suddenly, like she had when she’d been a child and scared during a thunderstorm. “I missed you,” she whispered.

Gideon bit his tongue rather than admit he’d missed her, too. He untangled himself from her grip regretfully—before Stapleton Manor appeared through the trees and anyone saw them nearly embracing.

Just as well he had, too. The duke was walking the gardens, speaking with a stranger just ahead. Lord James trailed behind, snapping off the heads of flowers while no one stopped him. “Is that Lord Newfield with your father?”

Jessica slid behind him as if trying to hide. “Yes.”

Gideon studied the gentleman strutting along at Stapleton’s side carefully. Older than himself, slightly portly with a booming voice that carried across the grounds. He turned his attention back to Lord James following behind. The young man slouched and displayed none of the bravado he had at Christmas. At Christmas, Lord James had exuded confidence as if he owned the world.

Perhaps his father was the one who owned him.

If that were the case, Lord Newfield was not a man Jessica should ever be related to. When they all stepped into one of the walled gardens surrounding the manor and disappeared, he turned to her. “I’ll escort you directly to the doors.”

She nodded. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re here. After you go home, I am going to remain upstairs in my room until you return at dinnertime. I’m not giving them a chance to catch me alone tonight.”

Gideon inhaled sharply. “Are you that afraid of them?”

“No.” She shrugged. “Well, perhaps a little, but only in that if they say he wants to marry me, I am going to refuse on the spot. That would be awkward.”

“I won’t let Lord James corner you tonight.” He had no right to get involved, but he certainly could make a nuisance of himself. Title or not, money or not, Jessica deserved to be pursued for who she was, not how much money she might bring to any marriage.

Chapter 10

There was something so right in having those she loved most gathered together at Stapleton. Jessica was seated in her usual place at her father’s table, Gideon on her right, Rebecca seated opposite. Mama and Papa were next to each other at the end of the table, whispering as they often did. They proved that friendship and marriage went together so well.