He squinted down at them. He’d never known them to be rendered that speechless ever before. “I assume by that you don’t actually object?”
“Oh, indeed we do not, sir! She’s long been our favorite, hasn’t she?”
“Indeed, sir. She’ll be a breath of fresh air about the place.”
He snorted back a laugh. “I thought so, too.”
Mrs. Harrow held out her arms suddenly. “But, sir. We should not be clearing out your mother’s room without Lady Jessica if this will be her home soon.”
“I don’t know about soon.” He looked at the women in consternation. “But everything in there is covered in dust and I think I saw a cobweb at the cornice.”
“We’ll freshen up the room for you, dust and clean everything before she visits us next. When might that be?”
He sighed. “I’ve no idea.”
“But you will be seeing her today?”
“No. I am banished from Stapleton for the present.”
“You shouldn’t let his lordship stop you seeing her,” Lewis suggested, scratching his chin. “If you want her for your wife, you’d better not take no for an answer this time.”
Gideon scowled. He couldn’t think of a reasonable excuse to visit and he’d been racking his brain all morning.
Mrs. Harrow wrung her hands. “I can’t fathom why his grace wouldn’t approve of you for his daughter. She’s always favored you.”
“Perhaps my age is a factor.”
“You’re a young man,” Mrs. Harrow exclaimed.
He smiled at Mrs. Harrow’s foolishness. “Counting the years, I’m five and thirty, not eight, you know.”
“You act young,” Mrs. Mills insisted. “But we are all looking forward to your next birthday, and now we’ll have Lady Jessica to plan a special party for you.”
“She does put great stock in celebrating everything.” He smiled. “I’m sure she’ll like that very much.”
“I’ll ready the carriage,” Lewis decided. He looked Gideon over. “Perhaps you should change. She should have flowers, too. I’ll pick her favorites for you to take to her.”
Gideon gaped as Lewis rushed from the house. How the devil did his man know which flowers Jessica liked best?
“We’ve so much to do before the happy day arrives!” Mrs. Harrow said. “We’ll need to air all the rooms, polish the best silver in the house in preparation for the wedding.”
“His grace will host the breakfast, but I’m sure you newlyweds will host a dinner or two afterward,” Mrs. Mills suggested. “I’ll help by checking on the contents of the wine cellar and polishing the glassware. She likes sherry at dinner, doesn’t she?”
He nodded slowly. “I’ll leave you to it then.”
“That would be best.” The ladies urged him toward the staircase. “Off you go, dearie, and change into clothes better suited to courting. When you see her, do give Lady Jessica our warmest regards.”
He headed upstairs to his bedchamber to change in a bit of a daze but glanced at the bed as he passed it.
Gideon could not retreat now. Not when he and Jessica had made love last night. He’d enjoyed her too much, and Jessica had enjoyed him thoroughly, he was sure.
In a sense, he was as much a scoundrel as Lord James might seem to be.
Gideon dressed with particular care, wearing a blue waistcoat beneath his dark suit because Jessica had mentioned many times that she liked him in blue, and then headed downstairs to see if the carriage was ready.
Mr. Lewis had the gig ready on the drive, Mrs. Mills and Harrow whispering to him. The man whistled, and then grinned at Gideon.
Gideon strode to him. “Did you pick flowers?”