A Gentleman's Vow (Saints and Sinners 2)

“But as a member of parliament, his father may find a way to punish my father later in some devious way.”

“You don’t like Lord Newfield at all, do you?” She was wise to fear parental manipulation. “What does your father say to do?”

She looked up at him. “Father says he loves me, and it is my choice who I wed. I just never thought my decision could affect him.”

He brushed his fingers from her shoulder to her elbow, wishing there was something he could do to ease her fears. “It shouldn’t be like this for you.”

“That is why I desperately need you at dinner tonight. I can’t fake another megrim for the third evening in a row.”

“Do you want me to monopolize Lord James’ attention for you?”

“You managed that very well at Christmas without me even asking you to,” she noted.

“I wasn’t aware I’d been so obvious.”

“Oh, I noticed, and I did not mind at all.”

Gideon had been justified at Christmas—Jessica hadn’t been out, and her father had wished for his involvement in keeping an eye on Lord James. “A bachelor with no interest in marriage has his uses.”

Her fingers landed on his arm. “I might need even more help than just having you step between Lord James and I tonight. I fear he’s actually becoming interested in our conversations about fungus now. He’s asking all kinds of questions that test my knowledge of the subject!”

“Well, that is inconvenient.” He considered what to do. Many lords were in need of funds and an heir, and the simplest way to remedy the shortfall was to marry a young lady with a large dowry from an impeccable family.

And Jessica had a dowry of twenty thousand pounds.

A clever man could do a lot with that level of funds at their disposal. An ambitious man could bribe the servants to look the other way and ensure Jessica had no choice in the matter of who she wed. He did not like to think Stapleton’s servants were so mercenary, but it wasn’t unheard of when there was a lot of money involved. The first time could be more than enough to land Jessica in a scandal she couldn’t escape.

Gideon stared across the garden, jaw clenching. He had always hoped Jessica would be pursued by someone who loved her. “Perhaps I could be of use—with the right incentive.”

“What sort of incentive?” Her gaze flashed to his, mischief shining brightly in her eyes. “I could pay you in kisses? Real ones, and not that clever trick you did with your finger on my palm.”

He shook his head. He’d walked directly into that trap all by himself. “How about you play the pianoforte after dinner instead? I haven’t heard you since Christmas. I have missed the sound.”

She nodded, but it was apparent his answer had disappointed her. “Then I will play for you all night if it keeps Lord James at bay. No duets. What would you like to hear?”

He smiled. “Any music that makes you happy.”

She smiled back. “I’ll play just for you then. I know your favorites by heart.”

“Done.” He would enjoy that—the music and thwarting a rival for her affections. He tried to lead her toward Stapleton Manor, but as had happened before, Jessica resisted and turned the other way.

“Jessica, where are you going?” He pointed in the direction she should be going. “Home is that way, or have you forgotten.”

“Please don’t make me go back yet. I will be cooped up with Lord James soon enough. I just want to walk a while more with you.”

Reluctantly, he nodded. Those odd desires he’d experienced earlier had not returned. Jessica was safe, and he wanted to put the troubling moment firmly in the past. He pointed to the path that would bring them back to Stapleton manor in a roundabout manner, past fields where Stapleton’s servants always toiled.

They would be seen together every step of the way.

Jessica stopped to speak to several of the oldest fellows, enquiring what they were doing and how they had been while she was away in London. There was a new man on the estate, and she asked the land steward to introduce them.

Gideon was not happy about that when he got a look at the great hulking fellow. The new man was young and obviously strong, arms and legs like tree trunks, and he towered over Jessica. And over Gideon, too, for that matter.

When the fellow looked upon Jessica with a lusty eye, that set Gideon’s teeth even more on edge. “Lady Jessica,” he said, raising his voice to interrupt. “You are expected back at the manor.”

“So I am. Goodbye, Mr. Sweet. We’ll talk again soon.”

Mr. Sweet? Ridiculous name. The damn man looked dangerous, especially around Jessica.