were not alone, and he breathed a sigh of relief when her sister, Destry, and the stranger came through a door farther along the patio.
“I see, they are out here so Ceci can look at some plant.” There was relief in Beatrice’s voice as she made the announcement.
Jess sauntered over to them. “Your sister wished to see the night-blooming jasmine and have me experience its unique scent.”
As he finished speaking, Cecilia confirmed his statement by announcing to no one in particular, “Aha! I thought so. It’s planted in some special potting mix and fertilized, too. And the urn can be transported into the greenhouse on cool nights or for the winter. How perfect.”
“My lord, plants are her passion,” Beatrice began, but Jess would not let her continue. The code she was using could be easily translated: My sister did not lure you out here for a flirtation.
“Yes, that is quite evident, Miss Brent. I have learned a great deal in just these few minutes.”
The little Venus narrowed her eyes. Good, she found his response as opaque as he’d intended.
Recalling her manners, she stepped back and announced, “Lord Jessup, this is a friend of the family, Roger Tremaine. Roger, this is Lord Jessup Pennistan. Roger works on machine design for Papa. He came to say good-bye to us since he leaves for London in the morning.”
Each took the measure of the other before exchanging bows. Cecilia turned to Tremaine and wished him well with an absentminded affection. It was clearly Beatrice whom the man was most intent on seeing, or perhaps it was Beatrice who was intent on seeing him.
Nothing there but friendship on Tremaine’s side, Jess decided. As for Beatrice’s interest, why did he have the feeling she was using her friend as protection?
Destry rescued them from continued conversation. “So, Miss Brent,” he said, speaking to Cecilia, “why are you so fond of this particular flower?” Destry shepherded them over to the flowering shrub, which was fully as tall as he was.
“It blooms at night, which makes it unique and somewhat mysterious. It seduces one with its fragrance as surely as the moon and stars do with their distant light. It is from a tropical clime but flourishes here if it is well tended.”
It was the longest speech the beautiful Miss Brent had given before them. Jess was struck by how much more her intelligence appealed to him than her classic blond loveliness. But despite both, he still found Beatrice’s curiosity and liveliness far more appealing.
“And it was Mama’s favorite scent,” Beatrice Brent added.
“Yes,” Roger said. “You could always tell when she had been to visit Mr. Brent—that lovely scent would stay in the air for hours.”
Beatrice nodded, as her smile grew a little strained.
“Is it not a wonder how scent plays with our memory?” Jess said, doing his best to turn the conversation from dead mothers, though he did recall that his mother had favored a fragrance laced with violets. To this day he found the flower’s scent both melancholy and comforting. “I walk into a card room and the very smell of the place reminds me of the thrill of a wager and the absurd importance of a turn of the card.”
“Do you enjoy gaming, Miss Cecilia?” Destry asked, all eager interest.
“Gaming? I suppose it could be entertaining,” she began, and then hesitated. “I am, however, not quick with numbers so I would do better not to consider it.”
“There are all sorts of games that do not involve counting. I would be delighted to teach you some of the simpler ones.”
Jess could see, as Destry did, that Miss Cecilia Brent was going to say no.
“Why not include Miss Beatrice, too?” Roger suggested.
“And I will add my counsel as well,” Jess said.
Destry so clearly needed his help that Jess could not resist offering it, even though he was supposed to be avoiding the Brents.
Beatrice rescued Destry’s proposal by answering for her sister. “That’s a wonderful idea, Roger.” Then she turned to him. “And it would be great fun to learn from an expert.”
Jess was not sure if that was an insult or a compliment.
Beatrice went on without giving him a clue. “We should wait until Papa leaves as he does not approve of gaming.” She turned to her sister. “Ceci, I do think it is one of those aspects of London social life that we should understand, if not actively pursue.”
Despite the reasonable tone of her voice there was that mischievous twinkle again. It gave Jess an itch between