A Gentleman's Vow (Saints and Sinners 2)

At that moment, the gentlemen strolled into the drawing room in a mob, talking amongst themselves about tomorrow’s challenge. Her eyes lingered on Gideon, and she yearned to rush across the room to join him, to hear what he had to say about his chances. She thought too about his fingers on her palm, and she tingled all over again when she remembered their recent conversations.

Gideon was a man who knew about passion and desire and real kisses, even if he never wanted to be a husband. And Jessica wanted Gideon to kiss her so very much.

Jessica moistened her lips as she studied Rebecca with fresh eyes. Her sister had never seemed happy with her life, and she’d married for prestige if not a title. Jessica wanted more for her life than that. “I think Fanny had the right idea, to marry for love and never settle for less. She said the only reason men sought her out before and after sh

e was widowed was to take her fortune off her hands. I want to be loved.”

Rebecca frowned. “Love is not easy to find or keep, sister.”

“Well, I’m young and patient,” she promised. “I’m not in a hurry. I’ll wait for the right husband to notice me.”

When Gideon moved toward her, she made room for him. He took the hint and squeezed in beside her on the settee. The warmth of his body resting briefly against hers, the scent of his cologne, filled her with a happy warmth. But when Jessica looked around from greeting him, Lord James was scowling at her.

She raised one brow at the fortune hunter, daring him to go away. Thankfully he took the hint. He tossed back his drink and then stalked off without saying good night to anyone.

With her unwanted suitor gone, Jessica leaned her body a little closer to Gideon’s. Now she could really enjoy herself at last.

Chapter 11

Dinners at Stapleton usually left Gideon in a happy mood. Good food, excellent wine and the conversation of intelligent friends to round out the occasion. Tonight, however, the wine had not appealed, and his friend had disappointed him beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The idea that Lord Rafferty would turn his amorous gaze on Jessica made him angry and more than a little worried. Jessica was too trusting. He was afraid that, despite her words to the contrary, she would not be strong enough to reject Rafferty should he seriously pursue her.

He slapped his hat against his thigh as he walked along toward his home in the moonlight. What he wanted to do was turn around and lock Jessica in her room to protect her from all scoundrels—men like himself, too.

He couldn’t forget he could have kissed her, but he must do so soon for the sake of his own sanity.

Pining for what he shouldn’t want, what he must deny himself, would drive him mad.

He stopped and silently berated himself. That gown Jessica had worn tonight…damn, he should not be thinking about the way the soft fabric had clung to her curves. Rafferty and Lord James had been ogling her cleavage all night, too.

Their interest made him sick to his stomach.

Both men held titles; only Rafferty was genuinely wealthy, but Lord James’ father was powerful. Both men had merit as potential suitors, he supposed. Rafferty might marry Jessica if he let himself fall in love with her. Lord James would marry her for her dowry alone.

But any man could love Jessica if they spent more than a minute in her company, besides considering the enormous size of her dowry and connections.

“The stars are lovely tonight, aren’t they, Gideon?”

Gideon let out an oath and turned around. Standing in the shadows of a nearby tree was Jessica. She was alone, dressed as she’d been for dinner, stunning him yet again by her sudden appearance. “Devil take it! How long have you been standing there?”

“A while.” She smiled without any hint of embarrassment or contrition. “I knew you would walk this way home. You are as much a creature of habit as I am.”

“Then we had better change our habits if we are that predictable.” He glanced back at Stapleton Manor. They were far enough away not to be seen, thank heavens, but their voices might carry on the night air. “Predictable undoubtedly makes a gentleman dull company,” he confessed in a whisper.

“There is nothing dull about you, Giddy. I like you exactly as you are,” she promised in an equally low voice. “If you were less predictable, I’d have the devil of a time catching you unawares.”

He glanced at her again and noticed her smile had widened. “Why would you want to catch me?”

“It’s always been fun surprising you.” She drew closer and grinned. “I don’t get to do it very often. You’re always so careful to observe the proprieties, too. Don’t you ever get tired of always being proper, always making sure that nothing we do or say can get us into trouble?”

He frowned. Keeping Jessica out of harms way was becoming a full-time occupation. Her father would be furious to know she was traipsing around the gardens alone in the dead of night. It was after midnight! “You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

“I’m not alone. I’m with you.” She moved closer still, looking up at him with a pleased expression. “And I am undoubtedly safer with you than in there. Lord James is prowling the house. I think he might even be inebriated.”

He grabbed her arm, but Jessica wasn’t so safe with him wearing that dress. Not now, that much was certain. She was close enough to capture. To kiss. All he’d have to do is lean forward and their lips would touch.

He closed his mind to the overwhelming yearning to do something that would shock her.