She nodded to Lord Rafferty and her father when they noticed her, but became distracted when Natalia suddenly appeared by her carriage.
“I thought you’d never get here,” Natalia complained.
Jessica stretched out her hand to help Natalia squeeze onto the gig seat with her and looked back to where she’d last seen Gideon. “I would not miss this race for the world.”
Natalia
nudged her shoulder. “Doesn’t Lord Rafferty have an air of danger about him today? He spoke to me, and I fairly shivered.”
“He is always that intense.”
Jessica frowned. She could clearly see Gideon but he’d still not turned to acknowledge her arrival. She needed him to know she was here to support him, too.
Natalia drew closer. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
Natalia brought her lips close to Jessica’s ear to whisper, “Is the duchess really increasing?”
“Yes,” she whispered back.
“And she’s not in good health?”
“Not always, unfortunately, but she’s thrilled just the same.”
Natalia giggled. “Mama was like that. She used to sing when she was increasing, even when casting up her accounts just before.”
“Mama does not sing. Not yet, anyway.”
Lord James strutted up to them. She took in his expensive silk waistcoat and gleaming riding boots and was not the least bit impressed. He presented himself as a wealthy man of good taste, instead of a heartless fortune hunter who had turned his back on a young woman who had probably loved him. “Good morning, Lady Jessica,” he exclaimed.
“Lord James.” She kept her response short, clipped. She did not wish to encourage him in the slightest. She had even waited until he’d ridden off that morning so she’d be spared the ordeal of talking with him again.
He eyed Natalia, and Jessica realized he’d forgotten Natalia’s name or if they’d been introduced. They had been, too. A man like that didn’t deserve to be reminded if he’d already forgotten someone so important to her.
A frown flickered in his eyes as she remained silent. “What a pretty pair you make in this quaint setting.”
Jessica suppressed a groan when Natalia fluttered her fan and smiled shyly at Lord James. Natalia had always enjoyed flattery far more than Jessica. “Thank you, my lord,” she murmured.
She looked toward Gideon again, and saw he was watching her at last. She waved, but he only nodded. He moved a few steps and bent down as a lady spoke to him. When they parted, Jessica saw Mrs. Beck.
Her breath caught as Gideon smiled at the woman.
Acid burned in her belly as he continued to talk as if he was in no hurry to leave Mrs. Beck’s side.
He was called to his horse then and joined Lord Rafferty, who was already mounted and ready to ride. Mrs. Beck followed Gideon, too, while Jessica silently fumed. How dare he encourage that woman after their kiss last night?
Lord James cleared his throat. “Can I assist you down, my lady?”
She scowled. “What? Oh, I’m fine right where I am.”
Her pulse grew loud as Mrs. Beck cast Gideon the most flirtatious smile Jessica had ever witnessed.
In public!
The harpy was practically drooling over her Giddy!
Her breath caught. “Oh, no,” she whispered.