A Gentleman's Vow (Saints and Sinners 2)

“I did not.” Mrs. Warner closed her eyes briefly. “But stand straight and smile. They are both too important to offend.”

Jessica was heartily sick of hearing that she had to be agreeable to every stuffy bore who wanted a moment of her father’s time. When Lord Newfield engaged Father in conversation about the latest debate in parliament, and mother and Rebecca began whispering together, Jessica found herself more or less alone in the son’s company.

Lord James bowed deeply to her. “Lady Jessica! How well you look today.”

“My lord.”

She did not like that he would just turn up unannounced and uninvited.

Lord Newfield returned. “London is not the same without your beauty to brighten up the ballrooms, is it, son?”

“What rubbish,” she muttered under her breath. Lord James had never noticed her when she’d been in London. He’d had his eye on another woman. She looked directly at him now. “I trust you left Lady Hannah in good health.”

A flicker of surprise showed in Lord James’ expression. His jaw firmed, and he seemed to almost shake his head. “I expect she is well,” he said softly.

But maybe not happy? Determined to give Lord James no encouragement, she turned to his father. “Lord Newfield, I heard you were needed in parliament for the debates still.”

“Indeed I am.” The marquess nodded. “Your sister mentioned the jewel of the family had returned to the country unexpectedly soon, depriving the marriage mart of the finest debutant.”

Jessica’s stomach turned over at that ridiculous statement. “I see.”

“My son is not one to give up the hunt so quickly,” Lord Newfield announced.

It was hard to mistake his meaning. When Lord James said nothing to deny it, she took a tiny step back and planned to make more.

Lord James smiled in her general direction but his gaze flittered around the room. “It is good to return to Stapleton Manor.”

“I thought so too.” Until now.

He frowned. “I very much enjoyed the Christmas I spent here with you.”

“With my family. There were a great many others present, too.”

“Yes, it is indeed good to be here. I should have liked to have met you before the season had begun,” Lord Newfield promised, slapping his son on the shoulder. She heard the air whoosh from Lord James’ lungs as if it were her own. She felt exposed and desperate to escape them.

Jessica forced herself to stand firm. “Yes, I had thought coming home a good idea too, once,” she repeated. “It is usually so peaceful.”

Lord James winced.

However, Lord Newfield beamed, missing her meaning entirely. “We look forward to seeing more of the beauty Stapleton has to offer.”

Jessica could not say the same anymore. She had hoped she’d left the marriage mart and the fortune hunters behind. But here was Lord James, acting as if Lady Hannah had never existed. She never imagined he would follow her home. Oh, she wished they hadn’t come, that she could turn tail and run into the gardens right now. But appearances mattered, even at home, as did not giving offense to men her father needed the support of in the House of Lords.

She stood in awkward silence for a moment, and then Lord James asked if she might like to take a walk in the garden together.

“I’ve spent most of the morning in the gardens,” she informed him quickly. “It’s a busy time of year for the estate.”

“I’m sure it must be,” he agreed. “So what new sights might I see on this visit?”

“Everything is different since your last visit. There is no snow to cover up the real beauty of Stapleton.” She smiled suddenly, remembering Gideon’s advice last winter. “But of course, you must have come to study how Stapleton’s famous mushrooms grow in the warmer season.”

“Mushrooms again?” he muttered under his breath.

Bless Giddy. The mushroom conversations Jessica had started with her unwanted suitors in London bored almost everyone to tears. Lord James had already suffered through several different conversations about fungus. It was his own fault if he must endure another. “Oh yes, the gentry come from miles around just to learn how they are propagated, so it is not as great a secret as it should be.”

“Propagation of mushrooms. Isn’t it enough to simply have the servants pick them from the fields?”

“Oh, no. The farming of mushrooms is so much more complex than that.” She nodded enthusiastically and smiled, determined to drive Lord James away. She didn’t care if he thought her completely dotty. That was part of her plan too.