long. He had a feeling they would be joining the ladies quickly, which suited him. Jess might not have seduction on his mind, but he did.
Chapter Fifteen
“WHAT IN THE world were you and Lord Jess doing?” Cecilia asked, not bothering to hide her dismay.
The ladies were in the music room, where chairs were set up facing the piano, which held pride of place even though not quite in the middle of the room.
“Isn’t this a lovely salon?” Beatrice asked. It was clear to Cecilia that her sister was trying to change the subject.
That wouldn’t work. But the room was amazing. There was a harp with a stool, with music on a stand in front of it as though someone had only just left off playing. There were cases in which other instruments were stored—or was it displayed—including some that looked so old she would not dare touch them.
“Yes, the best part is the gorgeous flower arrangements in those wall niches. They add color and life.” She pulled her sister by the arm. “Come, let’s examine this one.”
She tugged her sister toward an unoccupied corner of the music room. Once they were out of hearing, Cecilia confronted Beatrice again.
“He was practically in your lap, Bitsy,” Cecilia admonished. “What I mean is, you looked as though you were welcoming his advances.” She paused and then held up her hand. “I’m not even sure you should tell me. If that was not a seduction then I do not know a violet from a rose. Do the two of you have plans for a midnight assignation?”
Beatrice shook her head. “Of course not! We were discussing Miss Wilson’s night-sky visitor and he suggested that we gather a party of guests and go out to a field to see if we can find it again.” Beatrice decided it would not be a good idea to tell Cecilia that she rather hoped the party would be small and willing to leave them to their own interests.
“That was what you were talking about?”
“Yes. What else could it have been?”
“He has a reputation, Beatrice.” Cecilia tried to calm herself with a deep breath. “What I mean is, Lord Jessup spends all his time in London. There is no doubt in my mind that he is an expert at seduction. Everyone at the table was watching you.”
“They were?”
“Yes, and it did not look as though you were discouraging him.”
“Yes, we were flirting a little. I was practicing, just as we are supposed to. And it’s not nearly as awkward as I thought it would be.”
“Beatrice, exactly when did the countess tell us we should practice flirting? What I recall is Papa telling us to have nothing to do with Lord Jess. You know he was the one who brought Ellis home when he lost all his allowance gaming.”
“Yes, yes, I do,” Beatrice admitted, as though it was a tiresome bit of old news. “And I feel grateful for it. Listen to me, Ceci. Have you noticed how kind Lord Jess is?”
“Kind? No, I have not. It is hardly the first word that comes to mind when I think of him.”
“What is the first word?” Beatrice asked, distracted from her main point.
“Detached. Dangerous. Cynical.”
“That’s three words, and they are each a little of the truth except for dangerous. I don’t think he is dangerous at all, only misunderstood. I think he behaves as he does to hide his kindness, perhaps even his goodness.”
“Beatrice, you are not smitten, are you?” Cecilia made it sound like a dread disease.
“No. Really, not at all.” Not so much smitten as attracted. That was the only way to describe how she felt when she was near him, as if being right next to him was not close enough. “Ceci, I have seen his kindness a number of times in just these three days.”
“Perhaps he is only acting that way to seduce you.”
“You don’t believe that any more than I do.”
Cecilia agreed with a reluctant nod.
“Lord Jess has assured me he is on his best behavior here.”
“Then I would hate to see him at his worst. He looks as though he is ready to beat Lord Crenshaw to a pulp whenever the baron says something the slightest bit patronizing.”
“He may look like he wants to but he does not. So I think he deserves credit for controlling his sensibilities.”
Before Cecilia could comment further, the giant doors to the room opened again and the gentlemen joined them.
As soon as the gentlemen found seats there was a crashing sound