by Rose Pearson
“I hope you had a pleasant time, Jessica,” Harmonia began, quietly, a slight smile on her face. “I think Lord Warwick thinks very highly of you and you certain engaged in a great many conversations!”
“He is an interesting man to talk to,” Jessica admitted, her soul still stirred by some of what he had said. “I have come to realize just how much he has been forced to give up in order to do what he believes to be right.”
Harmonia smiled, letting out a long breath. “And is that not something we all must do?” she asked, looking at Jessica. “After all, we might not all wish to marry but we know that we must.”
Jessica bit her lip, seeing her sister’s resigned look. “You do not wish to marry?”
“I am not saying that,” Harmonia replied, quickly. “Simply that such a thing is being pressed upon us and, as dutiful daughters, we must do what our father asks.”
Thinking on this for a moment, Jessica recalled what Lord Warwick had said. “Unless, mayhap, we find a husband who will allow us to live our own lives as vivaciously as we choose, who will allow us to continue fulfilling our dreams as best we can.”
Harmonia laughed, her eyes twinkling. “If you find that kind of gentleman, then you ought to marry him as soon as you can, for I do not think there are very few of their kind amongst the ton!”
Her words penetrated Jessica’s heart and, as she thought about what her sister had said, began to see Lord Warwick in a very favorable light. He was, as Harmonia had suggested, a rarity amongst gentlemen of his class. If Jessica was to continue with her attachment to him, then he might prove to be the kind of husband she needed – a man who would consider her dreams and do his best to fulfill them. And would she not do the same for him? It would never be that he would return to the army, but they both shared the same longing to see more of the world than just their little corner.
“You look pensive,” Harmonia commented, as silence descended.
“I am thinking about what you said, that is all,” Jessica replied, not willing to reveal too much about her innermost thoughts.
“Will you be glad to see Lord Warwick again?” Harmonia asked, lifting one eyebrow. “He appears to be enamored by you.”
Jessica smiled, warmth bursting in her heart. “Yes, Harmonia, I would say that I am very much looking forward to seeing the Earl again.”
Chapter Ten
George whistled to himself as he dismounted, handing the reins to the stable boy. He hoped that Lord and Lady Northfell would not mind an impromptu visit but he could not stop himself from calling on them when he had already been in the local village.
Besides, he had not stopped thinking of Lady Jessica since he had last seen her. To have her in his home had been wonderful enough but the conversations he had held with her and the time spent in her company had only hastened the growing affection in his heart.
The truth was that George was falling in love with the lady. However, he did not know what on earth to do with such a feeling and, so had considered that, for the moment, he would simply continue with his acquaintance and further their relationship before making any kind of decision. After all, Lady Jessica was only in the vicinity for a prolonged visit and would soon have to return to London. What then? Would her absence make his feelings lessen? Would there be anything of longevity between them?
Pausing before he climbed the steps to the front door, George paused and took a breath. He did not need to become so caught up with what he thought or felt, for he was not even sure what Lady Jessica might feel for him. Yes, she was wonderful in her conversation and paid him a great deal of attention but that did not mean that she considered him anything more than a friend. It would take a little longer for him to discern the true nature of her feelings, although he could not help but feel hopeful in that regard.
George smiled to himself as he climbed the steps, being admitted almost the moment he knocked on the door. He was shown into the drawing room and was greeted enthusiastically by all four of the sisters, each in the process of tying their bonnets.
“Lord Warwick!” Lady Jessica exclaimed, her cheeks dusted with pink as she walked over to greet him. “How good it is to see you!”
“I thank you,” George replied, giving a swift bow to hide his immediate smile upon seeing her, not wanting to make his feelings towards Lady Jessica so evident to the rest of her sisters. “I hope it is not a bad time to call on you all, I was in the village and thought I would visit to ensure you were quite well after your recent outing.” He chuckled as the rest of her sisters laughed and shook their heads, whilst Lady Jessica blushed and looked away, clearly a little embarrassed.
“I am quite well, I assure you,” she mumbled, fiddling with the ties of her bonnet. “Thank you again for your kindness.”
“Yes, you were very good to her, Lord Warwick,” Lady Amelia replied, coming over to them both. “Can I thank you again for all you did for her, it was a very great relief to know she was so well cared for after choosing to go out alone so late in the evening.” She threw a rather accusing glance towards Lady Jessica, who blushed all the harder and looked away, although a small smile lingered around the corners of her mouth.
“I am very glad to hear it,” George said, inclining his head a little. “But I can see I have come at rather a bad time. Do excuse me.”
A hand caught his arm, making him pause as he made to turn away.
“Please,” Lady Jessica said, quietly, “you are welcome to join us. We were just now about to take a short walk in the woods just beyond the estate since it is such a fine day.”
The moment George looked into her eyes, it was as though the rest of the sisters did not exist. There was only Lady Jessica looking up at him, that shy smile on her face, her eyes lit with expectation.
“I would be delighted,” George replied, feeling his heart soar with happiness. “So long as you are certain I would not be intruding.”
“Not in the least,” Lady Amelia answered, with a wide smile. “Your presence will be a most welcome addition, Lord Warwick.”
Lady Harmonia and Lady Jacintha came over to them both, a knowing look on Harmonia’s face as they joined them.
“Mayhap we can take a small picnic,” Lady Jacintha suggested, grinning at George in an impish way. “After all, if Lord Warwick would be able to carry it, then we need not trouble one of the servants to do so and can be quite alone.”
Lady Harmonia nodded in agreement, going to ring the bell at once. George smiled broadly and agreed to take whatever it was they wished, knowing that he would do all he could to help if it meant spending more time with Lady Jessica.
Some four hours later and George was walking back towards the house, Lady Jessica’s hand on his arm. They had spent a glorious afternoon together, their conversations barely interrupted by the other sisters – albeit deliberately, he was quite sure. Lady Jessica had not seemed to mind, however, for she had never once turned back to see where her sisters were. Their conversations had ranged from his experiences in the army to their future plans – which had been a little awkward, George had to admit. As they had begun to walk home, George had, of course, needed to state that he would need a wife and an heir, in time, but Lady Jessica simply studied him for a moment and smiled, clearly not embarrassed in the least.
“It may not come as much of a surprise to you to know that my father wishes for all of us to marry,” she said, quietly, glancing over her shoulder at Lady Amelia. “Amelia was the first to wed, of course, given that she was the eldest.”
“And now the responsibility falls onto your shoulders,” George finished, her heart picking up speed. “Then I can understand why there might have been the suggestion that you were already engaged.”
Lady Jessica laughed and tossed her head, her dusky blonde ringlets bouncing. “Indeed, I believe that most of the ton are now aware that the Duke’s daughters are seeking husbands!”
George felt a stab of sympathy for her. “Then you must have a great many gentlemen seeking your hand, then – although I
would guess that not all of them truly care for you.”
“Indeed,” she replied, sighing heavily. “I have never been particularly inclined to wed, I will confess it, for I feel as though I enjoy dancing and the like far too much.” She glanced up at him, evidently a little embarrassed. “I believe you will think me vastly silly to admit such a thing, but you must understand that we did not have much of an outing within society after my mother died. For father to take us to London was quite overwhelming, although I was not aware of the reasons he did so of course. I had thought that we might enjoy a season or two before fixing our intentions, but my father has quite the opposite idea!”
George frowned. “Then you are feeling rushed into it?”
“I was,” Lady Jessica admitted, softly, “but Amelia has given me very wise advice and so, I do not feel the angst I once did over the situation.”
Nodding, George felt her fingers tighten on his arm. “I do not want to pretend that my intentions towards you are not honorable, Lady Jessica. I know it is early yet in our acquaintance, but you are aware of what I feel. However, I do not ever intend to force what may be. I am only just coming to terms with the new status in which I must acquaint myself, so I quite understand the desire to move through the next stage of life carefully.”
Her eyes were warm as she looked up at him. “I am glad to hear it, Lord Warwick.”
He paused and glanced behind him, aware that the other three sisters were not anywhere near them. They had deliberately, it seemed, remained well behind Lady Jessica and himself, allowing them to talk freely.
“Might I ask, Lady Jessica, whether I might have any hope in my regard for you?” he asked, his heart thundering in his chest and his stomach churning wildly. “I do not mean to press you, not after what I have just said, but I cannot help but know whether my attentions might be leading us somewhere, together.” He found that he could not look at her, keeping his gaze fixed on the path ahead as he waited for her response.
“Lord Warwick, I am surprised at you,” came the quiet reply, her voice tinged with laughter. “I must think that you do not know me very well at all if you have need to ask!”
A huge wave of relief crashed over him, making his breath rush out of his chest with one hearty sigh.
“It never hurts to be absolutely certain,” he replied, weakly. “I look forward to our next meeting, Lady Jessica. A tea party, I believe.”
She laughed and patted his arm. “Yes, indeed. I will say that I am looking forward to it also, for, in case you are not aware, I find your company very appealing.”
He chuckled and turned to her, a little embarrassed. “Forgive me for my confused way of speaking, Lady Jessica. After my initial error, it seemed best to ensure that I was on the right path.” He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it, glancing up with delight when she blushed.
“I had best return home before it gets dark,” he said, as the other sisters joined them. “Thank you all for your kindness and hospitality.”
“Not in the least,” Lady Amelia declared, her eyes bright. “We look forward to seeing you again very soon, Lord Warwick.”
George smiled and nodded to each sister in turn, before returning to the stables in search of his horse. Mounting quickly, he turned his stallion towards the road back to his own estate, a smile permanently fixed on his face.
Lady Jessica had been warm and welcoming but had assured him that there was something between them, something that might lead to a permanent arrangement. It was more than he could have hoped for, although he was still a little embarrassed by his lack of clarity when he had spoken to her. At least she had not found his question offensive in the least, which he greatly appreciated.
Coming to a split in the road, George took the path to his right and spurred his horse into a gallop. A sudden sound came from behind him and, slowing his horse down again, he looked around only to see another rider coming along the other path, heading back towards the Northfell estate. From his colors, George saw that it was a military man and, for a moment, wondered if it could be Major Ridding. For who else had a close enough acquaintance with Lord Northfell so as to call upon him at such a late hour?
Pulling his horse to a complete standstill, George narrowed his eyes and tried his best to study the horseman further, even though he rode away. The colors were that of the military but he could not tell whether or not it was Major Ridding or simply another man from the army.
Turning back to the path, George muttered darkly to himself and spurred his horse again. It did not matter whether or not it was Major Ridding, for after what he had shared with Lady Jessica, he need not worry about what might be ahead for them both. After all, Jessica was honest and true, so she would not deceive him.
Putting the thought from his mind, George began to ride back towards his estate, his mind filled with nothing other than Lady Jessica.
Chapter Eleven
You are keen to see Lady Jessica again, I think.”
George chuckled, sitting back in against the squabs as the carriage continued to roll towards Lord Darlington’s tea party. “You could say that, yes.”
Major Ridding shook his head, a long sigh emanating from his lips. “What a pity she is engaged, then.”
“She is not engaged.”
Major Ridding blinked, no smile crossing his lips as George grinned at him. “Oh. Is that so?”
“Yes, indeed,” George replied, wondering why his friend did not seem as pleased as he had expected. “I spoke to her sisters and then to the lady herself. There is no truth in the rumor, which I will confess brought joy to my heart.”
Major Ridding sniffed and looked out of the carriage window. “Very good,” he mumbled, no expression of delight on his face.
For a moment, there was silence, nothing spoken between them. George shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat, wondering at why his friend seemed less than pleased with the news.
“I think Lady Jessica garners a great deal of attention from a great many gentlemen, however,” Major Ridding continued, sniffing heavily. “How lucky I am that she had shown me such favor!”
Frowning, George tried not to let Major Ridding’s words get under his skin. After all, the man had always been a little inclined to boast, almost in an attempt to force himself to believe that he had made the right choice in choosing the army over his own responsibilities to the title.
“She is always so good to me, always looking to me for conversation and the like,” the Major continued, airily, settling himself against the squabs a little more comfortably. “I am looking forward very much to spending a little more time in her company, I must confess. I am quite sure that she will seek me out the very moment I set foot inside!”
George bit his tongue, hard. The urge to say something ugly to the Major in response proved almost too much to bear, but he forced himself to stay silent. Whatever the Major wanted to think of Lady Jessica, George knew the truth. After all, it had not been the Major to whom Lady Jessica had smiled, assuring him of her affections, was it?
“Ah and here we are,” the Major exclaimed, as the carriage rolled through the gates. “I must say, I am quite excited to see Lady Jessica again.”
George did not know the last time he had been so eager to exit a carriage, relieved that he would not have to continue with the conversation any longer. He strode ahead of Major Ridding, not caring whether or not he Major Ridding knew he had got under his skin. The familiar way he talked of Lady Jessica grated on George’s nerves.
“Ah, Lord Warwick,” his host smiled, bowing deeply. “My wife and I are so glad you could make it, especially when you are so new to the title.”
George managed to speak pleasantly to the couple for a few minutes before Major Ridding began to bluster his way into the conversation and, growing weary of his friend’s continued interruptions, excused himself and stepped away.
His eyes were immediately caught by none other the lady in question, her eyes bright as they met his. A soft s
mile crossed her face in welcome and, immediately, George felt himself relax. Major Ridding’s conversation faded into the background and he hurried forward, urgently.
“Lord Warwick,” Lady Harmonia exclaimed, stepping forward directly in his path. “How good to see you.”
George smiled, stumbling just a little as he tried to keep his conversation polite. He wanted nothing more than to greet Lady Jessica and, just as he was about to leave Lady Harmonia’s side, none other than Major Ridding strode past him and pressed a kiss to the lady’s hand.
“I do apologize,” Lady Harmonia exclaimed, as George’s eyes traveled towards Lady Jessica. “Of course, you wished to speak to her.”
“Pray, do not apologize,” George replied at once, trying to smile. “I have no claim on your sister, as yet.”
“I am quite sure she will finish her conversation with the Major very soon,” Lady Harmonia replied, softly. “Do excuse me.”
George watched her leave, frustration in his heart. For over an hour, he tried his best to converse with the other guests, taking tea as he was expected, but still, he was unable to reach Lady Jessica. Major Ridding seemed to capture her whole attention, even though her gaze had been so expectant the moment he had first arrived.
Determined to keep his thoughts away from the lady for a moment, in the hope that Major Ridding would soon be finished with her and allow him a moment to speak, George threw himself into conversation with the other guests. There were a great many excited mamas, keen to introduce their daughters to the new Earl of Warwick, and George bowed and smiled and tried desperately to recall their names before forgetting almost all of them entirely. No-one compared to Lady Jessica.
Finding a quiet corner, George allowed himself a long breath, sagging against the wall for a moment. It was far too much, taking on this title. He had gone from a rather uninteresting second son to the Earl of Warwick, a man with responsibilities, a title, and a rather large fortune. He had never been as popular as this.
