Page 33 of An Engagement with the Enemy

Shaking her head, she turned back to the other ladies to find Catherine staring at her with wide-eyed shock.

Oh dear. Perhaps she hadn’t been as circumspect as she’d hoped. But at least James had seemed to approve. Jessica could make amends with her friend later. What mattered at that moment was working in harmony with James.

Bessie met Jessica at the kissing gate at the agreed-upon time to keep her mistress company on the walk home. The baron’s family was hosting a card party after dinner.

“Did you have an enjoyable afternoon, miss?”

“I did, thank you. Everything about it was most satisfactory.”

What were the chances that James would have a book on hand to keep glancing at throughout the evening, pretending to have more interest in its pages than the company? She felt certain he would match his performance to her words. Knowing him as well as she did, she couldn’t imagine anything else.

Bessie raised her eyebrows. “That smile on your face says so well enough. I thought you didn’t like the earl’s sons?”

“Oh, I didn’t see them at all. I spent the afternoon with Catherine and Lady Helen.”

“Ah, I see. Do you think Lady Helen will be the one for our Mr. Aldwick?” Bessie asked, facing forward and sounding almost uninterested. Strange. Usually, she adored gossip of this sort.

“No. I doubt it. She’s quite young, and I doubt she would want to settle for a man who would rather be home with a book than out at balls. Not at her age.”

“I thought Mr. Aldwick enjoys dancing. He certainly seems to at the assembly balls.” Again, something about Bessie’s tone seemed off. Her disinterest in the matter didn’t sound right.

“He does. But Lady Helen doesn’t know that.” Jessica smiled to herself. “I think I will have all the young people to tea tomorrow. To give Catherine a change of scenery.” And watch James smuggle a book to the event.

“I will let Cook know, of course. And Mr. Riley.”

At mention of the butler, Jessica turned the conversation that direction, inquiring if there was more yet known about Mrs. Turner, the Amoret housekeeper, and Mr. Riley’s budding romance.

At last, Bessie seemed like her usual self, speaking with animation about all the supposition regarding the two upper servants. They had been observed sharing a hymnal at the last evening service they attended, which was nearly as telling as a kiss in Bessie’s opinion.

They stayed on that topic as the entire time Bessie helped Jessica dress for dinner and an evening at the castle.

As the sun lowered in the sky, painting it with hues of orange and pink, Jessica wasn’t thinking about the placement of pearls in her hair. Instead, she pictured what James would look like that evening, with an elbow propped on a card table and his nose in a book.

Jessica’s heart warmed like a cat in a pool of sunbeams. The sensation was quite pleasant. It had to come from her sense of accomplishment. She had fulfilled her promise to James. Lady Helen would be gone within the week. Her brothers with her, thanks to their strange preoccupation with not standing near a woman taller than themselves. They seemed quite content to speak amongst themselves, giving occasional attention to Catherine that she returned with polite disinterest.

What had Lady Helen said of James? That he was unusual? That he was different.

She nearly laughed aloud at that thought.

Yes, that was one way to define him.

He possessed an intelligent mind, but was quick to laugh, forever keeping her on her toes with his unpredictable pranks and unique sense of humor. She couldn’t remember now what had started their rivalry. It had been so long ago. Likely, whatever that first jest had been, neither had expected it to begin a lifelong series of battles. A single spark had ignited into a constant blaze of wit and repartee.

As her father assisted her into the carriage that evening, she had only one regret. If James busied himself with pretending complete absorption in a novel, she would lose her most interesting conversation partner for the evening.

James was an ever-present challenge, a provocation that had honed her quick tongue and sharpened her intellect.

“Are you certain neither of the earl’s sons are of interest to you?” her father asked.

“None at all. And I assure you, Papa, the feeling is quite mutual. They looked at me as though I was one of those long-necked creatures from Africa. A giraffe.”

Her father huffed. “Your mother was tall. Graceful as a queen, too. I cannot understand letting such a thing hinder a chance at coming to know someone as charming as you are, my dear.” He patted her hand. “Never fear. There is a man out there who will treasure you. I have no doubt on that account.”

She certainly had several of her own. Thanks to years of war, there was a dearth of men in England. Likely in all of Europe. And since she never left home, she was unlikely to find a gentleman on her own. He would have to stumble upon her, somehow. A perfect fit for her, someone who loved her—and she wouldn’t waste her life waiting for such a man. It wasn’t practical. Even if such a man appeared, prepared to devote his life and heart to her, would he still want her when he witnessed her hysteria firsthand?

She couldn’t ask it of a man she loved. So it was better not to worry about such things. Better to convince her father to bequeath her the funds set aside as a dowry for her to set up her own household, when the time came for it.

Jessica shook away the melancholy thought. She had better things to think on. Such as her agreement with James. For the first time in years, she felt excited about what each new day would bring. Most of her days followed an unvarying schedule, which made for a contented life. A predictable one, too.