A Gentleman's Vow (Saints and Sinners 2)

Jessica caught Lord James’ eye. “Lady Hannah must be missing you as much as I did Mr. Whitfield while I was in London. She did seem quite taken with you.”

Lord James’ eyes narrowed on them. “Yes, Lady Hannah is a fine woman. Very proper,” he murmured with a frown for their proximity.

That was almost an accusation that Jessica was not! Undeterred, she smiled anyway. She would be married to Gideon. Soon, she expected. “We hope to read happy news about you both soon in the papers.”

Lord James took a pace back, but his eyes flickered to Gideon, questioning. “I hope to read a similar notice for you, too.”

“There will be,” Gideon promised.

Lord James ran a hand over his mouth then scratched his head. “Would you excuse me? I need to be…somewhere else, I think.”

“Of course,” Gideon said as he held his hand out to Lord James. “I wish you good hunting.”

“Groveling is always a good idea,” Jessica suggested as the pair shook hands. “But hurry. You never know who might be trying to take your place in her heart.”

Lord James nodded and then rushed across the room. The young man said good night to Mother and Rebecca, who had remained locked in their own conversation.

She and Gideon stood side by side for a moment, and then he turned to her. “I really missed you, Jess.”

She grinned. “You did?”

“Every damn day you were gone was agony,” he admitted with a shy shrug. “I tried not to worry, but I’m not very good at that.”

“What did you worry about?”

“That someone else might love you as much as I wanted to,” he admitted.

Jessica laughed. “Then I am grateful my season was such a failure.”

He drew close. “It wasn’t a failure. You came back to me.”

She nodded but she could feel tears forming in her eyes.

She turned away before he noticed, but Reb

ecca was watching them now, a triumphant smile hovering about her lips.

Jessica ignored the smile and moved toward her mother. “What were you pair talking about?”

“Christmas.”

Jessica let out a sigh of relief. At least Rebecca hadn’t revealed her pursuit of Gideon to Mother yet. She wanted to be the one to tell her.

“Mrs. Warner has offered to organize everything for Christmas this year,” Mother murmured with a smile of gratitude. “And I have agreed.”

Jessica smiled. “But—”

Mother placed her hand on her expanding middle. “I will be a new mother at Christmas, and I don’t know how difficult this little one might be.”

“She will need to rest. Before and after,” Rebecca murmured, eyeing the small bulge with a frown of her own.

Jessica stared at her sister, wondering what she really thought about the impending addition to the family. Rebecca had never had children, but she was very good with their brother’s children. Everything they both knew about birthing a child came from observing other women go through the experience. But it was kind of Rebecca to offer her help with the manor. “Are you going to stay in the country then? Stay at Stapleton until the child comes and beyond?”

“If Father will allow it,” she murmured. “I’d be happy to.”

“I’ll convince him.” Mother’s statement shocked Jessica so much, she gaped.

Neither one of them had liked the way Rebecca had behaved toward Gillian last Christmas. When Jessica had not been paying attention, Mother and Rebecca seemed to have made peace, and that was such a relief, too. When she married Giddy and moved to Quigley Hill, Rebecca would be here to take Jessica’s place.