“Remove any part of her body that I could reach.”
Jessica played with the food on her plate. “But the countess is really such a nice lady. Yesterday she took care of Samuel all afternoon.”
“And thus freed Nathaniel to get into mischief. Do you know where he got that dory?”
“What dory?” Jess asked listlessly.
Eleanor took a seat across from her sister at the table. “You are concerned about that woman, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely not. You know Alex and I don’t have a real marriage. He said he…”
“What?”
“He said he loved me, but I guess that was before he remembered his love for the countess.”
“Jess, why don’t you fight her? Why don’t you go to Alex and tell him you love him and that you’ll set fire to that woman’s hair if she isn’t out of your house in thirty seconds.”
Jessica stood. “Me in love with Alex? What a preposterous idea. He whines and complains and he—”
“Saves your life and waits up for you and takes care of you and—”
“Yells at me all the time. Where’s the countess now? Maybe I can get rid of her another way.”
“Sitting by the kitchen garden, the last I saw. Jessica, what are you planning?”
“To help my country,” she said before leaving the house.
Jessica wasn’t about to let Eleanor or anyone else see how the countess’s presence bothered her. When in the world had she fallen in love with Alexander? She thought love was that wild beating of the heart. Love was closer to what she felt for the Raider—or at least once she’d thought so. But lately she’d been much happier to see Alex than she’d been to see the Raider.
Twice the Raider had come to her window since the night she’d been wounded, but each time she’d felt less inclined to leave with him. She knew she’d have a wonderful night in his arms but that was all. In the morning she’d wonder what had overtaken her and she’d look forward to Alex’s company.
Since Alex had returned to Warbrooke, they had spent a great deal of time together, and it seemed to Jess that she’d never cared much about Alex. At first she’d resented the way he always wanted her near him, but gradually she’d come to enjoy him. And, now that she wanted to be with him, he wasn’t there.
Jess couldn’t blame the countess for wanting to be with Alex—after all, he could be charming. He could read sea stories with such gusto that you felt the wind on your face, and he could read romances in a way that made you blush.
Slowly, he was repairing the damage Pitman had done to the Montgomery fortunes. In the few weeks of their marriage, she and Alex had been able to put the Montgomery household in order. Together, they’d been a good team.
But now here was this countess, hanging on Alex’s every word, looking up at him with big eyes that told him how strong and wonderful he was. And Alex acted as if all the Taggerts had disappeared. His attention was now solely on the beautiful Italian woman.
Jess stood at one end of the kitchen garden and watched. The countess was sitting under a tree, a thick shawl about her shoulders, a book open before her. Jess wanted to tell her to get out of Warbrooke and to leave her husband alone, but she couldn’t do that. First of all, Alex would laugh himself to death if she did something that foolish. And later, he’d never let her live her jealousy down. He’d gloat and brag and do all the obnoxious things men do when they think they’ve won.
No, she had to be more clever than that. There had to be a better way to get rid of the countess.
“Hello,” Jess said and the woman lifted her pretty face. “I hope you’re enjoying your stay in Warbrooke. I haven’t had much time to look after you, but perhaps Alex has been caring for you.”
“Yes,” the countess said cautiously. “He has been caring for me quite well, thank you.”
Jess smiled and sat down on a low wall near the countess’s chair. “Has Alex told you about what is going on in Warbrooke? About the opression we’re under?”
The countess’s eyes widened. “No, not really. I’m sure he mentioned it but…”
Jess leaned forward and the countess moved back sharply, as if she thought Jess might strike her. “I wondered if you might help me,” Jess said. “You’re so very pretty and I need help from a pretty woman.”
“Oh?” the countess asked, obviously interested. “Help doing what?”
“You’ve heard of Admiral Westmoreland? He was sent here by the English to stop the Raider, but so far he hasn’t succeeded.” Jess smiled. “The Raider’s had some help from a few of us.”
“Alexander told me about your participation in what he called a raid. The English soldiers—” She halted at the look on Jess’s face. “He didn’t tell me much.”