A Gentleman’s Vow

by Heather Boyd

  Lewis spoke first. “When?”

  “When what?”

  “When are you getting dragged to the altar?”

  “I don’t know,” he confessed.

  Mrs. Harrow took a pace forward, her smile was tentative. “Who are you going to marry, dearie?”

  He smiled. “Lady Jessica, if her father lets me,” he told them, and then waited for them to point out his unsuitability.

  The ladies shrieked and rushed to hug him. Since they never did that, or hadn’t since he’d been a boy, he found himself the shocked recipient of their boundless enthusiasm.

  “Oh, sir!”

  “Oh, my!”

  He squinted down at them. He’d never known them to be rendered that speechless ever before. “I assume by that you don’t actually object?”

  “Oh, indeed we do not, sir! She’s long been our favorite, hasn’t she?”

  “Indeed, sir. She’ll be a breath of fresh air about the place.”

  He snorted back a laugh. “I thought so, too.”

  Mrs. Harrow held out her arms suddenly. “But, sir. We should not be clearing out your mother’s room without Lady Jessica if this will be her home soon.”

  “I don’t know about soon.” He looked at the women in consternation. “But everything in there is covered in dust and I think I saw a cobweb at the cornice.”

  “We’ll freshen up the room for you, dust and clean everything before she visits us next. When might that be?”

  He sighed. “I’ve no idea.”

  “But you will be seeing her today?”

  “No. I am banished from Stapleton for the present.”

  “You shouldn’t let his lordship stop you seeing her,” Lewis suggested, scratching his chin. “If you want her for your wife, you’d better not take no for an answer this time.”

  Gideon scowled. He couldn’t think of a reasonable excuse to visit and he’d been racking his brain all morning.

  Mrs. Harrow wrung her hands. “I can’t fathom why his grace wouldn’t approve of you for his daughter. She’s always favored you.”

  “Perhaps my age is a factor.”

  “You’re a young man,” Mrs. Harrow exclaimed.

  He smiled at Mrs. Harrow’s foolishness. “Counting the years, I’m five and thirty, not eight, you know.”

  “You act young,” Mrs. Mills insisted. “But we are all looking forward to your next birthday, and now we’ll have Lady Jessica to plan a special party for you.”

  “She does put great stock in celebrating everything.” He smiled. “I’m sure she’ll like that very much.”

  “I’ll ready the carriage,” Lewis decided. He looked Gideon over. “Perhaps you should change. She should have flowers, too. I’ll pick her favorites for you to take to her.”

  Gideon gaped as Lewis rushed from the house. How the devil did his man know which flowers Jessica liked best?

  “We’ve so much to do before the happy day arrives!” Mrs. Harrow said. “We’ll need to air all the rooms, polish the best silver in the house in preparation for the wedding.”

  “His grace will host the breakfast, but I’m sure you newlyweds will host a dinner or two afterward,” Mrs. Mills suggested. “I’ll help by checking on the contents of the wine cellar and polishing the glassware. She likes sherry at dinner, doesn’t she?”

  He nodded slowly. “I’ll leave you to it then.”

  “That would be best.” The ladies urged him toward the staircase. “Off you go, dearie, and change into clothes better suited to courting. When you see her, do give Lady Jessica our warmest regards.”

  He headed upstairs to his bedchamber to change in a bit of a daze but glanced at the bed as he passed it.

  Gideon could not retreat now. Not when he and Jessica had made love last night. He’d enjoyed her too much, and Jessica had enjoyed him thoroughly, he was sure.

  In a sense, he was as much a scoundrel as Lord James might seem to be.

  Gideon dressed with particular care, wearing a blue waistcoat beneath his dark suit because Jessica had mentioned many times that she liked him in blue, and then headed downstairs to see if the carriage was ready.

  Mr. Lewis had the gig ready on the drive, Mrs. Mills and Harrow whispering to him. The man whistled, and then grinned at Gideon.

  Gideon strode to him. “Did you pick flowers?”

  “Aye, I did indeed. On the front bench waiting.”

  He glanced inside, eyeing the huge bunch Lewis had picked with delight. The man did know Jessica’s favorites. Daisy, rose, and lavender. He tugged on his gloves and settled his hat more firmly on his head. He gathered the reins and climbed into the gig.

  Mr. Lewis kept hold of the horse’s head, and his grin grew sly. “If I may say so, sir, you’ve made a wise choice. Lady Jessica is the only one for you.”

  “I agree.” He bid Lewis goodbye quickly. But as he drove toward Stapleton Manor, it occurred to him that the only time Lewis smiled lately was when Jessica was mentioned. And he scowled a whole lot more when Mrs. Beck was around. In fact, Lewis’ surliness had begun at the beginning of the month, soon after he’d been introduced to Mrs. Beck at the late Mr. Grieves’ funeral. He glanced over his shoulder. “Well, I’ll be damned. The old fellow must have been worried I’d marry the wrong woman.”

  He slapped the reins over the horse’s rump again and set off smartly for Stapleton Manor. Usually, he would walk the short distance, but he did not believe he had the right to come and go on foot anymore.

  He slowed the carriage through the turn of the circular drive and was met by Mr. Brown and a groom at the stairs.

  “Good to see you again, Mr. Whitfield,” the butler called, grinning as if his face would split open.

  “Hello, Brown.” He kept his response subdued but his anticipation was growing. It was impossible to keep secrets in a household this size. Brown most likely already knew he was interested in marrying Jessica. Gideon thought he might be happy about it; otherwise the old fellow would have acted far less friendly. “How is the family today?”

  “Fine. Fine. Lord Newfield departed an hour ago.”

  “Ah,” he said, delighted to hear the pair had been driven off. “That’s a shame.”

  Brown urged him to the door. “The duchess is expecting you,” he explained.

  “The duchess? I see. Of course.” He frowned though. His call was unplanned. The duke’s wife had not been privy to any of his conversations with her husband. With her health so delicate, they’d barely spoken this past week. Stapleton surely would have told her of Gideon’s request by now. No doubt she must be disappointed in him. He’d actually promised to keep a distance from Jessica last Christmas, even if, at the time, he’d not been a suitor. It must seem as if he’d broken that promise as soon as Jessica had returned from London unmarried. Most likely he was about to be scolded.

  Brown led him to a room he’d rarely spent any time in, a somewhat cramped, intimate chamber beyond the opulence of the white drawing room. The room was bathed in soft light, filled with pillows and comfortable padded chairs. It seemed the new duchess had chosen her own parlor for comfort rather than to make an impression on those who called upon her.

  He bowed deeply to her but kept his bunch of flowers for Jessica hidden behind his back.

  The duchess was alone, a piece of needlework in her hands. She studied him a few long and painful moments then patted the cushion beside her. “Come sit by me, Gideon.”

  He took a deep breath and crossed the room. “Thank you.”

  She smiled when she noticed the flowers in his hand. “What am I going to do with you?”

  He frowned and put the flowers aside. “I know you must be very cross with me. I am sure—”

  “My dear man. Do you think I’m angry with you?”

  He looked at her sharply. “You’re not?”

  “Of course I am not.” She leaned close. “I also know Jessica did not suddenly decide to kiss you because she wanted to convince Lord James he had competition. Do not for
get, I know my daughter very well now.”

  His heart raced, but he kept quiet.

  “Lord Newfield left in a snit this morning, and we are all very glad to see the back of him. I am grateful for the distraction your courtship with Jessica has afforded my husband.”

  “I am not allowed to court Jessica.”

  “So says the duke now, but let us not lie about this to each other. You are quite obviously engaged in a courtship behind his back.” She shook her head. “I saw her devastated expression when her father refused to invite you for dinner tonight.”

  “I couldn’t stay away.” He gulped. “Jessica knows how I feel about her. I will not abandon the chase as the duke clearly expects me to.”

  “I do not think Jessica will be easily persuaded away from you, either, sir.” The duchess laughed. “As we both know, Jessica has a mind of her own. She adores you. She always has.”

  “We both know there are other considerations. Jessica deserves so much more than to marry a mere gentleman of modest means.”

  The duchess made a sound of discontent. “When it is eventually announced that you are to marry, the size of your fortune and lack of title will not be important. When the family sees her smile at you, and you at her, they will believe it is a love match and be happy for the both of you. But until that day comes, it is important that everyone believes Jessica’s reputation is above reproach.”

  “I would never do anything—” he began, but the duchess held up her hand.

  “It was never you I worried about. I know your heart, Gideon Whitfield. I have known your feelings for Jessica existed for a long time. Jessica, however, can at times be impetuous and often acts without thinking of the consequences of her adventures.” She sighed. “All I am asking is that you continue to protect her to the best of your ability.”

  “I always will,” he promised.

  “Good. Now, you will find Jessica in the drawing room with Mrs. Warner. According to my husband’s wishes, you must be chaperoned at all times, and I apologize for that unnecessary obstacle in your courtship. My husband has always been overprotective of his youngest daughter, as you must already have seen,” she said. “Jessica will not tolerate his coddling for long. She can never bear to be cooped up inside. You have no idea of her unhappiness in London.”

  “Some. Jessica does love the freedom to come and go. But…” Gideon wet his lips. “I must say it is a great relief to know you support the match and don’t wish to throw a flowerpot at me.”

  “There’s still time.” The duchess smiled, and he realized she was only teasing him. “How could I think to harm you when Jessica has been floating about the place almost from the moment she saw you again? You make her so very happy, and that is all I want for her.”

  “Thank you.”

  The duchess gestured toward the door. “Now off you go. Do not be put off by my husband’s abrupt manner. He is ever slow to change.”

  Gideon bowed. “I’ll do my best to convince the duke of the benefits as soon as I can.” He collected his bunch of flowers and strode off toward the drawing room.

  Gideon stepped into the chamber—and his breath caught. My God, he was nearly betrothed to the most beautiful creature in existence. Not even Mrs. Warner’s scowling presence could dim his heart’s wild clatter.

  Jessica wore a pretty blue gown, hair swept up into an elegant arrangement. But it was her smile of welcome that drew him across the room. “Good afternoon, Lady Jessica. Mrs. Warner.”

  Jessica curtsied, and he bowed and then handed her the flowers.

  “Mr. Whitfield. These are lovely.” When Jessica’s gaze lifted, the look in her eyes was most definitely lusty.

  Chapter 19

  Gideon caught Jessica’s hand in his. “I’m glad you like them.”

  “They’re perfect, just like you,” Jessica whispered.

  “Oh please, just kiss the girl before she swoons,” Rebecca grumbled.

  “Swooning?” Gideon asked, taking in Jessica’s appearance. Her breathing seemed to be very quick and her cheeks were slowly turning pink.

  Jessica leaned closer to him to whisper, “How does anyone live with this feeling?”

  “Are you all right?” Gideon whispered.

  “Never better,” she whispered back. “I just can’t forget last night.”

  “Neither can I.”

  Mrs. Warner plucked the flowers from Jessica’s hands. “I’ll have these put into a vase. Father is being ridiculous about this.”

  “Thank you,” Jessica called when her sister strode out of the room. “That was very considerate of her to give us some privacy.”

  “Yes, quite surprising really.” Jessica drew even closer but he frowned. “We’d better behave, though.”

  “For now,” she agreed.

  Gideon took Jessica’s elbow in his palm and steered her toward the window seat. “She makes a terrible chaperone. Your father will not be pleased when he finds out she left us.”

  “Oh, I think she’s perfect. Besides, she knows you love me.”

  “Indeed.” He cupped Jessica’s face. “More than I ever thought I could love anyone. But I’ve taken more risks with your reputation than I ever intended.”

  “No more than I have done myself. I asked you to kiss me, and I want more,” she whispered. She inched closer. “I’ve always hated waiting to see you. You should have come to London with us.”

  “You were busy,” he reminded her.

  “Meeting unsuitable men. Fortune hunters.” She peered out toward the door and moved another inch in his direction.

  Gideon clenched his hands together between his knees. They shouldn’t be alone, but there were things he needed to tell Jessica about his life that required this very privacy. “What is your earliest memory of me?”

  “I don’t know.” She frowned, looking down at her hands. “Holding your hand, I suppose. Mine was tiny then.”

  He reached for hers now, sliding her palm over his. There was still a considerable disparity between them despite her growing up. There always would be. “I have been your father’s friend for a long time, but I was your brother’s friend first. Do you recall that?”

  She clenched his hand tightly. “You haven’t stayed friends with them. Did you argue?”

  “No. They always belonged to a younger crowd. We drifted apart as many men do.” He smiled quickly. “My first memory of you was a few months after your birth. After your mother died. I came to visit, and heard you crying in the nursery. The house was in something of an uproar at that time, and I thought your family might be with you, so I went upstairs into the nursery. Your sisters were there, Fanny and Rebecca. They were squabbling over the top of your cot, and you were just sitting there sobbing.”

  “I’ve never heard this story before.”

  She looked so worried, he hastened to reassure her. “It ends well. The servants were nowhere to be seen, so I picked you up and you stopped crying. I remember it was very sudden, and you clung to me and would not be put back down. So I kept you in my arms to keep you happy. Fanny and Rebecca flounced off in a huff, and I went to find the duke with you.

  “Your father hadn’t been coping well with the loss of your mother, I realized, but he was your father and responsible for you. So I took him to task for letting you cry for so long. I was quite angry back then. I thought all fathers were cruel, selfish creatures.”

  Jessica stared at him. “What did he do?”

  “Nothing I expected. You had fallen asleep in my arms, actually, while I was busy berating him. You didn’t know me, but somehow you trusted me from the first, and Stapleton couldn’t stop staring at us. His silence annoyed me, and I threw out a few more choice accusations about neglect, drunkenness, and warned him that if he didn’t start being your father, I would take you home and look after you myself. That got his attention. He ordered me to stay where I was. I had you in my arms still, and once my initial fury abated, I waited, trembling, for the duke to return to whip me for my impertinenc
e.”

  “Father would never whip anyone,” she promised.

  “Well, I did not know that about him at the time. My father had for less, so I figured holding on to you for as long as possible was the only way to delay a beating I deserved.”

  “No one deserves such treatment,” Jessica whispered.

  “When the duke returned nearly an hour later, your sisters had been banished to separate rooms for the next week, a few staff had been given their marching orders and the duke, more sensible than he’d been perhaps in months, promised he would quit drinking that very day. He asked for you back and swore to me that he’d never neglect you again.”

  “That is so sweet.”

  “It was a very long time ago. Your father started inviting me to dinner after that, mainly I think so I wouldn’t be by myself. Jess, I have watched over you from a distance for so long, it has become a habit. I let you tell me your secrets and kept them, even from him, but I could never tell you mine. You were too young.”

  She seemed shocked by that. “What secrets could you possibly have that I couldn’t already know about?”

  “My father beat me when I was a boy. Usually for no good reason. He hurt my mother, too. I was sixteen when I hit him back.”

  “Good.” Her expression changed to one of annoyance. “Is it because of him you never trusted yourself to love anyone?”

  “I broke his nose and his arm in that fight, Jessica. I lost my temper completely but he never hit me again, or hurt my mother until the day she died.”

  “I’m glad.”

  He frowned at her. “You don’t seem surprised.”

  “I’m not really. I saw his portrait when I was young, and he frightened me. I’ve since heard a few things to confirm that my feeling about him were right. He was a cold man, cruel, but you’re not like him. You’d hurt yourself before you ever hurt your wife or your children.”

  “There are no guarantees I won’t turn out just like him.”

  “That’s a risk anyone who really loved you would be happy to make.” She lay her head against his shoulder. “Didn’t we decide the other night that we are a team, Giddy? We want the same things.”