Page 55 of An Engagement with the Enemy

“Do you, though?” he asked, tone thoughtful. “I sometimes think you argue with me even when you know I’m right, just for the sake of the debate.”

“James,” she said, tone reproachful. “You mustn’t try to uncover all my secrets at once. It isn’t very gentlemanlike.”

The conversation was swiftly turning ridiculous. He brought it back to its start. “May I escort you home now, Jess?”

“I suppose so.” She hooked the fingers of her free hand around her pendant again, and her eyes grew distant. “Do you think it went well?”

“The fair? Yes, I am certain my parents will be pleased. Even though I avoided spending any time with our latest guests. Baron Wright will not thank me for ignoring his daughters, but I doubt he truly wants me for a son-in-law anyway. He’s the sort of man who thinks books a waste of time, and the mark of a true gentleman is to have as many gambling debts as possible.”

“Goodness.” Jessica kept pace with him easily as they walked down the road. There were others making their way home, but still some going the opposite way to get to the fair. “Have you not enough debts to please him?”

“I haven’t any debts at all.”

“Not true.” She gave him a rueful smile. “You have owed me sixpence since I was fifteen years old.”

He blinked and shook his head. “That cannot be. Whatever for?”

As they strolled away from the village, the noise of the fair growing fainter behind them, their footsteps stayed in sync as they made their way down the familiar path.

“You bet me that I couldn’t spit a cherry pit more than six paces,” she said with pride. “And, despite the threat to my reputation, I proved you wrong.”

That moment came back to him, and he chuckled quietly. “I’d quite forgotten. Leo and I had stolen the cherries from your tea with Catherine. You found us on the ramparts with the whole bowl.”

“And you said if I could spit a cherry that distance you would return them and give me sixpence for the show,” she finished for him. “You gave me the cherries, but never paid the sixpence.”

“I will rectify that tomorrow. Though one could argue that the number of sweets I bought you today ought to settle our debt.”

“That wasn’t part of the arrangement, and it would never stand up in court.” Her nose wrinkled. “At least I think it wouldn’t. I’ll have to ask Tom.”

Her adorable, sleepy smile made it difficult for him to ignore the urge to sweep her up in his arms and kiss her, right there and then.

They fell into a companionable silence, both lost in thought. As they reached Jessica’s home, James took her hand. Beyond then, the front door opened, indicating a footman must have seen them arrive. It made their farewell for the evening less private. But that may have been for the best.

“Thank you, Jess, for a wonderful day.”

“You didn’t mind being my keeper?” she asked softly, her gaze on his.

“Not even for a moment,” he answered truthfully. Then he bowed, and he waited until she walked inside before making his way back to the road, whistling to himself.

Something had shifted between them, that was for sure.

It was a subtle change, but it was one that left him feeling wholly, completely content.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The door closed behind Jessica, and she stood in the quiet of her home. The memories of the day played in her mind, leaving a smile on her lips and a flutter in her heart. She’d spent the whole of the day in James’s company, and she felt the happier for it.

After a nap, she rose to prepare for dinner with her uncle, aunt, cousins, Mr. Holly, and the rest of her family. She had gone to her room before anyone else returned from the fair, and she’d been lucky that Bessie had been present to help her wash from the day’s events before slipping beneath the covers.

Once dressed in a gown appropriate for dinner with an earl, Bessie filled the air with gossip about the fair. “Our Mr. Riley was seen escorting Mrs. Turner,” she said with obvious relish as she twisted Jessica’s hair backward into a soft arrangement. “It seems they have taken their courtship into the open, at last. He even bought her a glass flower at one of the vendor’s booths.”

Jessica glanced at her own little nosegay laying on her table, the prize simple but a perfect reminder of her day. She’d lifted it to her nose to inhale the sweet fragrances again and again, finding the flowers as practical to her needs of distraction as they were lovely to look at. “Is that such a certain sign of courtship?”

“Flowers given by a man to a lady in any circumstance ought to be,” Bessie answered with a wide smile. “And a glass flower? It will last forever. I’m certain it’s a token of love.”

If only Jessica could have such assurances. James’s attentiveness, the way he had looked at her all day, had distracted her mind and heart. Not completely. But somehow, every time her breath had seized or her head had grown dizzy, he had known. And he’d taken her to the edges of the fair, the shade of trees, the corners of quiet places, until she’d recovered.

As though he were completely aware of her. Completely dedicated to her.