Page 50 of An Engagement with the Enemy

She ate breakfast at a full table, the only person missing her aunt who had taken her breakfast in bed. No one noticed that Jessica remained quiet. How could they, when her five cousins kept up a steady stream of chatter about other fairs they had attended and their great enjoyment of “country entertainments.” They kept Mr. Holly’s attention, and her father was occupied in conversation with her uncle and Tom.

When she rose from the table, a footman came forward and bent to inform her in a quiet voice, “Mr. Aldwick is in the foyer, Miss Westcote. He asked that you be informed after the meal.”

Blushing as she thanked the servant, Jessica hurried from the room. As she descended the stairs and saw James waiting, hat in hand as he paced the floor, her lips curved in an involuntary smile. Whatever this day brought, just his presence was comfort enough.

“Good morning, James,” she greeted, still leaning over the rail.

His gaze snapped up to hers at once, and a slow grin appeared on his handsome face. “Jessica. Good morning.”

For a moment, they only stared at one another. She knew she returned his grin without meaning to, and hoped he didn’t think her a simpleton for her unabashed relief. He lifted his hands out to either side when she said nothing, then turned about in a circle. “Will I make a suitable escort, do you think? I couldn’t decide between green or blue.”

“So, naturally, you chose gray.” She descended the steps slowly, pretending to consider his choice of coat. As her half-boot touched the ground floor, he made a show of tugging at his coat sleeves.

“Naturally. Matching my coat to the color of your eyes.” He gestured to the lavender gown she wore. “I chose well. When you wear that color, the gray stands out even more. Complimenting one of your finest features is an admirable reason for fashion choices, I should think.”

Jessica laughed, though her heart fluttered at the circumspect route he’d taken to both compliment and reassure her. “I have never heard of a man matching his coat to a woman’s eyes.”

“Nor have I. I imagine a more fashionable fop would take me to task for committing some cardinal sin of style.” His glance took her in again and he came closer, his eyes still merry though his expression grew more serious. “You look lovely today, Jess.”

Her heart stuttered and warmth spread across her chest. Had he ever said such a thing to her before? Her lips parted, but she didn’t know quite what to say. Then a rather dismal thought came to the forefront of her mind and left via the tip of her tongue. “Are you saying that because of what I told you last evening?”

James slowly shook his head. He stepped forward to take her hand.

“I am only saying aloud what I have previously kept to myself. I can only blame some misguided thought that if I paid you compliments it would give you an advantage in our verbal sparring. A silly, childish notion. It’s the truth, Jessica. You look radiant today,” James said softly. Despite the gloves they both wore, her fingers tingled beneath the fabric.

Jessica’s breath caught, warmth flooding her cheeks.

Before she could respond, Mr. Holly’s voice called from above. “Mr. Aldwick. I wasn’t aware you were joining us today.”

James straightened abruptly, while Jessica stepped away from James and tucked her hands behind her back. As though the mere sight of them might tell others what James’s touch had made her feel.

“Miss Westcote and I have often attended village entertainments together. My sister usually accompanies us, but she is preoccupied with assisting our mother today. I decided to continue with tradition as well as I could without her.” The bend of the truth didn’t bother Jessica in the least if it meant she needn’t advertise her weakness and James’s kind offer of support.

The other gentleman nodded his understanding as he came down the staircase. “Your family is sponsoring the fair, are they not? I imagine that creates a lot of responsibility for all of you.”

“Indeed. It is our duty to make certain everyone is enjoying themselves.”

Mr. Holly drew even with them and glanced first at Jessica then at James. “It seems you have already found some success. Miss Westcote is somehow more radiant now than she was a moment ago. I imagine it’s the promise of an enjoyable day ahead.” Yet the knowing look in Mr. Holly’s eyes made her suspect there was much he didn’t say that he could have.

Her cheeks, warm before, now felt as if they were on fire. “Of course. I am looking forward to it.” And she was. Mostly. Because of James.

“I think it will be some time before Lord Wyndham and his family are ready to walk to the village. Are the two of you making an earlier start of it?”

James gave a firm nod, his tone amicable. “I like to arrive before things grow too crowded. It makes the exploration of the grounds more enjoyable.”

“A splendid idea. I think I’ll linger until Tom is ready. But don’t let me keep the two of you.” He gestured to the door. “I hope we find each other later, Miss Westcote. Mr. Aldwick.”

They took their leave, and the moment the door to Fairbrook Lodge closed behind them, Jessica heaved a sigh of relief. “I thought he would insist on coming with us.”

James raised his eyebrows at her, amusement twinkling in his warm eyes. “Did you? He seemed happy enough to let the two of us leave together. Which is something of a relief to me, if I am honest.”

“Really? Why? Do you think he’d make the day difficult?”

“For one of us, perhaps.” James’s gaze went forward, the corners of his lips turning up slightly. “If he had the interest in you that your brother hoped for.”

Oh. Jessica adjusted the reticule hanging from her wrist. “It was rather underhanded of my brother and father to bring that man into our home, hoping the two of us would form a connection. As pleasant as Mr. Holly is, he isn’t of interest to me in that way. Though I am grateful for his friendship with Tom. My brother needs steady gentlemen like that if he is to become a serious man of the law.”

James let her prattle on, that slight and secretive smile lingering on his lips. As though he had some thought that brought him delight, especially as he kept it to himself.