A Gentleman’s Vow Read online

  Gideon was a little puffed by the time he reached his bedchamber, though he tried not to show any fatigue. He eased Jessica down onto her own feet so he could shut and lock the door quietly behind them.

  While he shrugged off his coat, Jessica drifted away, moving through his room, studying his possessions in the poor light. He caught her expression when she passed the window—she was smiling as she looked at everything that mattered to him. She stopped near the bed, where the robe she’d had made for him rested. She turned around and leaned against the foot of his bed. “Well?”

  He drew near, looking for signs of doubt. He should have known better though. She had chosen—him.

  Jessica lifted her hands to his cravat as soon as he was close enough and concentrated on untying the knot.

  Gideon let her attempt it, and then finished the job when she proved unequal to the task. He pulled the long length from his neck and stood to wait for what Jessica would do next.

  She unbuttoned him from his waistcoat and started on his shirt sleeves. “I’ve never wanted to undress a man before.”

  “I’m happy to hear that.” Gideon lifted a hand to her hair. “How many pins should I look for?”

  “A dozen.”

  He searched for them, pulling them out gently. His breath caught when Jessica’s dark hair hung loosely about her shoulders. He’d expected it to be longer. “Did you have your hair trimmed?”

  “While I was away.” She touched her head self-consciously. “It’s not too short, is it?”

  He ran his fingers through the soft, silky strands. “I was only surprised, not disappointed that you’d cut it.”

  “It’s lighter, easier to pin up now.”

  “You always look lovely.”

  She tugged his shirt up without bothering to unbutton his breeches, and Gideon reached over his shoulder to pull the garment over his head. Jessica splayed her fingers over his bare chest before he’d even managed to toss it aside.

  “Oh my,” she whispered. “Your skin is so warm.”

  Her hands on his body were torture but sweet. She poked him, squeezed his biceps and made him feel more manly than he’d ever felt before. He turned away to sit and remove his footwear, taking his time in case Jessica decided to leave.

  Instead, she removed her slippers and set them neatly under the bed, as if his bed was already hers.

  When he stood again, she came forward, and her fingers went to the waistband of his breeches. He sucked in a breath as she figured out how to unbutton those, innocently brushing her fingertips against his erection. When his breeches began to slip from his hips, he caught Jessica against him and made a meal of her willing mouth.

  He kicked off his breeches and left them on the floor.

  But knowing he couldn’t avoid his unveiling much longer, he eased back a little and waited for Jessica’s reaction to his nakedness.

  A smile played over her lips as she gazed at him, then she brushed her hand along his length. Her touch made him close his eyes, fighting a shudder of want that coursed through his soul. She explored him eagerly, thoroughly, as she did everything else he’d ever introduced her to.

  She found moisture at the tip of his erection and teased her finger over the head.

  “Hell,” he grumbled, and then clenched his jaw to stop further outcries. They had to be quiet, or they would be found by his servants—women who must always respect Jessica.

  Jessica chuckled softly. “Men really are as sensitive as Fanny claimed.”

  He looked down at her and shook his head. He would strangle Fanny the next time they met. “Especially there.”

  She nodded and maneuvered him to sit on the edge of the bed. Gideon got a glimpse of their future love life then and there. Nothing surprised her—and nothing would stop her being with him. Jessica was having an excellent time seducing him. He wasn’t at all unhappy about that. He was going to marry her.

  He eased back on the bed at her urging.

  “Take off your clothes,” he whispered.

  She grinned. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Her fingers flew down the line of buttons at the front of her gown, and when she shrugged out of the garment, she was bare beneath.

  She’d come to Gideon, traipsed across two estates with him, wearing nothing but a thin gown!

  He reached for her and dragged her naked onto the bed with him. They kissed and kissed, until they were both panting and feverish with lust. Gideon explored her curves eagerly. Pressing kisses as he moved down her body.

  Jessica sighed and panted to each caress, her fingers tangled in his hair. When he reached her breasts and made love to them, her moans and enthusiasm for what he was doing left no doubt that she was enjoying herself.

  He ran his fingertips down the outside of her long legs, and then detoured toward her soft inner thighs. Jessica breaths began to churn, and he looked up at her quickly. She said nothing…not even when he moved his fingers to the apex of her thighs. She trembled a little and bit her bottom lip to muffle her moan. Gideon moved to a more comfortable position, so his face was directly over her sex.

  “That’s where you wanted to kiss me, wasn’t it?” she asked in a rough whisper.

  He nodded. “This is where I will kiss you, repeatedly, as often as you want me to.”

  She collapsed onto her back and widened her legs for him. Intrigued, he teased his fingers through her hair and then parted her gently. Jessica twitched a little as his fingers explored her folds. He found her already damp, and the scent of her arousal nearly undid him.

  Keeping a tight grip on his desires, he found her clitoris and played with her. Jessica threw an arm over her eyes, her other over her mouth, and even so, her moans took on a desperate edge.

  He lowered his head and kissed her once, twice, a third time. And then he flicked his tongue across her as she cried out in surprise. He settled in to feast on her hungrily.

  Jessica grabbed his hair suddenly, holding him against her sex as if he wasn’t close enough. He sucked a little, licked a lot, and it wasn’t long before Jessica was writhing—lost in passion.

  Gideon pushed her thighs wider with his shoulders then pinned her body in place. He loved her until she bucked and thrashed against his face and gasped his name.

  He eased her back to earth with soft kisses, and then moved up her body slowly, taking his time before meeting her eyes again.

  She had a dazed look about her, and she’d never looked more lovely with her dark hair spread across his pillows. He braced himself above her, keeping his weight on his arms as she came back to him.

  She wet her lips. “Oh my. That was…”

  He grinned and aligned his hips with hers. “Only the beginning.”

  Jessica shifted beneath him, glancing down to where his hips pressed against hers. “I can still feel the sensations.”

  He nodded. “That’s the way it should be.”

  He was in no hurry to bed her, but he eased his hips into position. He raised one of her legs and set her foot on the mattress beside his hip. Jessica lifted the other on her own.

  She touched his face, caressed his cheek, smiling the whole time. “I’m ready.”

  Gideon set his hand over her hip and tilted her up a little. “I know.”

  He pressed forward with steady pressure, stopping when Jessica hissed and braced herself against him. She remained that way a while, and then softened slowly. When she was relaxed enough, he pushed in farther, but this time her fingers only stroked him.

  When he was inside her all the way, he lowered himself to his forearms. “You are amazing.”

  She smiled as he began to move. Her fingers tangled in his hair once more, and she closed her eyes. “This is lovely,” she whispered after a while. Her eyes opened slowly and locked on his. “I can feel you inside me. You’re exciting me again.”

  Gideon groaned and buried his face in the crook of her neck. He moved his weight to one arm and pushed his fingers between them to tease her sex once more.<
br />
  Jessica ground against them eagerly, and he let her drive their passion even higher.

  “Stay with me. Don’t… Please,” Jessica begged as her back arched once more, and her body thrashed in the grip of a second release.

  Gideon lost what was left of his control and muffled his groan against her skin. Panting hard, body hot and slick, he attempted to roll to his back so as not to crush Jessica while he caught his breath.

  He might have succeeded if she’d released him.

  As it was, Jessica followed him, draping herself loosely over his body, gasping for breath too.

  He settled a hand behind her head, holding her against his chest as their mutual passion faded to a lovely memory.

  After a moment, Jessica stirred. “Fanny was right.”

  “What about now?”

  “Making love is far better than talking about mushrooms with you.”

  He started to laugh at her statement and had to grab a pillow to muffle his mirth when he couldn’t stop.

  Jessica shifted, climbing over him, caged him with her arms and legs and wrenched the pillow from his grip. “Oh, you think talking about mushrooms with me is funny now, do you?”

  He dragged one finger from her chin to the tip of her breast, relishing her small gasp as her sensitive nipple pebbled. “I do.”

  Jessica pushed her breast harder against his hand. “I love our silly nonsense.”

  “So do I. But this is not nonsense.” He drew a circle around the fullness of her breast. “We could still have a lot of fun in bed together even when we’re an old married couple.”

  “Samuel mentioned that.”

  He grasped her waist and moved her so she was sitting over his hips. “What else did your other instructors mention about making love?”

  “That making love once will never be enough for me. I am a Westfall, and we are a passionate people.”

  He cupped her sweet derriere in his hands and squeezed. “Then I’m the most fortunate of men to have been well and truly captivated.”

  He tumbled her onto the mattress and turned her under him, eager to discover how adventurous in bed she might turn out to be. She seemed in no hurry to leave his bed, so he decided to make the most of his good fortune. As her legs wrapped around his hips and her hands slid down his back to his own rear, he shuddered in her grip.

  “I’m so grateful you chose me, Jessica,” he whispered. “If you hadn’t demanded a kiss, I might never know I could be this happy.”

  For an answer, Jessica dragged him down for more kisses that lasted until dawn lightened the room.

  Chapter 18

  Jessica tapped on the Stapleton study’s open door a little after nine the next morning and let herself in. Her father’s summons had brought her rushing downstairs as quickly as she could make herself presentable, hoping to hear Father was at last ready to be reasonable about Giddy. “You wanted to see me, Father?”

  “Yes, come in. Come in.”

  He waved her in urgently. Her father’s face was grave, and she was instantly on her guard when he shut the door behind her. “What’s the matter?”

  “Sit down.”

  He came back to a chair and waited until she complied, but his tone kept Jessica in a panic. Did he know she’d been with Gideon last night?

  “I have had a great many interesting conversations about you in recent days,” he began.

  She swallowed. “Oh?”

  “Lord Newfield spoke to me about arranging a marriage between you and his son early last night. He indicated that you would be gratified to be his son’s wife.”

  “No! I don’t like Lord James at all,” she cried. “What did you say to him?”

  “I told Newfield that I would not consider his son’s request until he came to see me himself.”

  “Lord James left last night. We think he’s gone to propose to Lady Hannah Alexander at last.”

  “His father does not know that.” Father pursed his lips, and then tapped on the arm of his chair. “Do you want to hear about another conversation concerning you?”

  What could be worse than Lord Newfield claiming she’d want to be a fortune hunter’s wife? “Yes, Father.”

  “Whitfield asked permission to court you two days ago. I said no, of course, even though he confessed he had kissed you. A lesson, he said it was. There will be no more lessons.”

  They were way beyond mere lessons in kissing now although she’d never admit it. She tried not to blush harder as she thought of last night and Gideon’s large hands holding her close against his bare skin.

  Jessica knew who she was meant to marry. She could not wait to call Quigley Hill home and Gideon her husband.

  “Do you understand my dilemma? I have two bachelors interested in claiming your hand in marriage in the space of a week. One I discovered would use any means, even offering to buy Quigley Hill with your dowry, to gain my approval.”

  “What?” she shrieked.

  “Whitfield refused the sale,” her father promised. “But then in the next breath announced his interest in you, too. Very suspicious timing. I can only imagine you appealed to Gideon for help in thwarting Lord James and to make it appear Lord James had competition.”

  She stared at him in shock. “I did no such thing,” she confessed. “Was that why you refused Giddy a chance to court me? You think I would stoop so low as to put him up to it?”

  “Whitfield was considered a trusted friend until this week, now I am not so sure I know him at all. How many men can be persuaded to set aside long-held beliefs and upend their life in the space of a week?”

  She gaped and sat forward. “You would deny Whitfield your friendship because I kissed him.”

  “You defend him?”

  “I love him,” she whispered. “I love Gideon.”

  “Oh, you love him now do you?” Her father’s brows shot up. “You’ve managed to twist him around your fingers since you were a child. I did not wish to believe your sister’s accusations of a flirtation, but I believe her now. She would not lie about something so important as your future, and I saw you together in the music room. To think I trusted you both implicitly.”

  “You were right to trust him.” Jessica lifted her chin. “He’s been a good friend to me, and a confidant. I never hid from you that I liked him. But my feelings have changed. I’m not a little girl who can be content with him ruffling my hair anymore. I do love him! I hated being in London because he was not there with me.”

  Father lifted a finger, and then his head tilted a little to one side. He squinted at her, and she hoped he was finally understanding the truth behind her words.

  Suddenly his expression grew even darker. “I would have preferred not to be the last to know that your respect went deeper before everyone else did. Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

  “It was a very sudden realization, made without discussing the matter with anyone. I never imagined you would object that I loved Giddy.”

  Father sighed and looked away first. “From now on, you will always be in the company of a suitable chaperone when he is around. There will be no more whispered conversations together, no more duets. You will remain in this house and in our company until I make my decision about your future, young lady.”

  That didn’t seem so bad. Jessica had wanted to remain in the country. Closer to Giddy was preferable to not having any chance at seeing him. Gideon had suggested patience, and while not usually her habit, she would try to be very patient for their sake. “Yes, Father.”

  Jessica jumped as the door to Father’s study rattled loudly with the force of a knock. She spun about in her chair, hoping Gideon had come to ask for her hand in marriage again.

  “One moment,” Father called. He came around the desk. “I have known Whitfield for years, and just the other day he swore to remain a bachelor all his life. You heard him yourself.”

  Jessica blushed. “It is not so strange. People change their minds and their hearts all the time. You did.”
r />   Father slumped against the desk. “Indeed, but I was never opposed to marriage the way he had been.”

  “I know.”

  Her father frowned. “I insist you behave yourself.”

  The knock came again on Father’s study door, startling them both to turn around, and she heard Lord Newfield call out impatiently. Father looked at her. “Do you know for a fact Lord James went back to London?”

  “No, but that is where Lady Hannah usually resides.”

  Father stared at the door as another knock came. “Damn rude fellow. I think I will send the father toward Cornwell instead.”

  Father kissed her on the top of her head. “Return to your room, and we will talk again later. When Lord Newfield learns that his son has fled without proposing to you, I expect he will be quite surly.”

  “I’m going,” she promised before she fled upstairs via the connecting library door.

  Gideon glared at his tardy servants. “About time,” he snapped.

  “Sorry, sir. I had to finish putting on a pot of stew for your supper,” Mrs. Mills admonished.

  “I was just about done tallying up the housekeeping accounts,” Mrs. Harrow protested. “I always do it on Saturdays.”

  He turned his attention to Mr. Lewis and raised one brow. “Well?”

  The fellow shrugged. “Didn’t know it would be this urgent.”

  “Well, now you do.” Gideon turned away. They were not to blame for his mood but their responses were not helping improve it. “I want the room across the hall cleared out completely today.”

  “But sir, it were your mother’s room,” Mrs. Harrow cried out.

  “And it will be my wife’s next.”

  He wanted the work to start on clearing out his mother’s old sitting room today so that Jessica could arrange everything as she liked it, when her father finally approved him to be a husband.

  Everything in there was covered in dust cloths, except for his mother’s old pianoforte, which he’d been practicing on. That was not good enough.

  He turned around when his staff said not a word more.

  Mrs. Harrow’s cheeks had turned pink, and Mrs. Mills had become pale. Mr. Lewis folded his arms over his chest and his stare was decidedly belligerent.