She smiled as she formulated a rather daring plan for later that evening that would show him how she had changed. Jessica twisted her fingers together at her waist to hide her excitement from him. Gideon had a terrible habit of anticipating her actions and putting a stop to them. She’d once thought he could read her mind. If he read her mind now, he might be somewhat shocked by the direction of her thoughts.
“I suppose that’s one way to look at it. Jess?”
She smiled at him brightly. Everything had to change between them—starting tonight. “Yes?”
“Whatever you’re planning is a bad idea.”
She grinned. “I know what I’m doing, Giddy.”
His eyes bored into hers. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh, yes I do.” And tonight was only the beginning of challenging the status quo with him. “I had better go. Mama will expect me to entertain her guests until she returns.”
She hurried to the drawing room before he could argue or pry into her plans.
The difficulty, of course, would be leaving the house undetected. If the guests lingered too long over drinks or Gideon departed early, she might miss him entirely. And Mama sometimes checked on her after she’d gotten into bed for the night. She would have to chance that she wouldn’t tonight.
When Gillian finally arrived in the drawing room, appearing happy and content, Jessica made her way to her sister’s side to lay the groundwork for her later escape. “Is everything all right, sister? You’ve been so quiet on this visit.”
“I am always quiet.”
Given she had left the dinner table early, Jessica could not really believe her. “Why do you always lie to me when you are upset?”
“I am not upset,” she insisted. “Mind your own business.”
Rebecca was definitely hiding something. For a change, Rebecca had not been harping on about marriage and potential suitors too much. In fact, Rebecca was offering all sorts of advice to repel gentlemen like Lord James. “I’m old enough to know what is really going on,” she murmured. “You can trust me not to tattle. I never would do anything to embarrass you.”
“You’re not the one who could embarrass the family.” Rebecca turned to Jessica. “What do you think of Lord James now?”
“My opinion has not changed.”
“Yes, that much is obvious. You barely paid Lord James any attention when he spoke to you at dinner. Have you told anyone else our suspicions about why he is here?”
“Only Mr. Whitfield.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Whitfield?”
“He’s been most helpful in the past,” Jessica rushed to explain. “I trust him.”
“Do not be fooled. Whitfield is a man, much like Rafferty and his ilk.”
“Gideon and Lord Rafferty couldn’t be more different,” Jessica protested. “I know you don’t like Lord Rafferty very much, but don’t you dare tar Gideon with the same brush. He’s my friend.”
Rebecca stiffened. “You could have smiled more while you were in London.”
Jessica sighed, annoyed she’d have to defend herself yet again. “I wasn’t happy there.”
“Happiness is fleeting and friends are never as they seem.” Rebecca looked around the room and wet her lips. “You’ll come to understand that soon enough.”
“Well, I’m happy now, and I’m going to make my own decisions about who and when I marry.”
Rebecca shook her head. “You could still make an advantageous match if you tried a little harder.”
“I have done my best,” Jessica grumbled. “I do not want to marry a fortune hunter. I want someone who desperately wants me.”
She’d never been in a hurry to marry, although everyone else seemed to be. She wanted someone who could not wait to be with her. A man who valued her mind and opinions. A man who would make an effort to understand her. A man who could teach her about passion and desire and real kisses.
“You sound like Fanny,” Rebecca chided.