Page 79 of The Gentleman's Confession
The honorable Bartholomew Wimple discovered to be named after the family dog.
She giggled and set down the paper, saving the rest to read later. She was too overwhelmed with this burning glow in her chest. Miles had sent her the paper. No one else knew her better. The money for the charity, the poems, the auction—he had done it all for her. Even now he was probably assisting Mrs. Fortescue into her chair so they could have a picnic together.
How she loved him.
Why had she forced him from her life? He not only belonged in it, but he was also what made it worth living. She had to fix things between them.
“Oh, Jemma!” She chewed on her thumbnail. What should she do? Or maybe she should be asking what Mr. Romantic would do. Surely something in his lessons could help her. Or something he had not taught her but had demonstrated ...
If he was willing to humiliate himself on her behalf, well, so was she. She might regret it later, but she had an idea worthy of the next gossip column. All in the name of love, of course.
After this, no one would mistake how she felt about Miles Jackson—including him. Which was exactly what she wanted. It was time for the vicar to take a wife. If all went well,Mr. Romantic would no longer claim the title of most eligible bachelor but would have the title of most doting husband.
If it didn’t work, Jemma would likely be thrown out of Brookeside. As a Rebel, she always liked high stakes. As a woman in pursuit of a man, she utterly feared them. She went to her closet and pulled out Grandmother’s lace shawl and draped it around her shoulders. She went to the window and glanced up at the white, full clouds.
“Wish me luck, Grandmother. It isn’t about my promise to you anymore.” Her voice cracked. She cleared her throat to finish. “Even so, I would like you to witness my greatest effort yet.”
CHAPTER 35
The Dome, their favorite meetingplace, was to receive a thorough cleaning, upon Lady Kellen’s insistence, so Miles and his friends went to Gibbons’ instead so they could all hear about the picnic with Mrs. Fortescue. Two other gentlemen sat in one corner in deep discussion, and a single gentleman sat at a table alone with a newspaper in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. Miles collapsed into a chair at their usual table by the window and let his head fall back.
“It went that well?” Ian took a seat across from him by Tom, and Paul sank into the seat beside Miles.
“If you receive an invitation to our wedding ceremony, please have the dignity not to tell me and promptly burn it.”
“What if we want to attend?” Tom’s feigned look of sincerity drew a laugh from the others.
“You can go in my stead.” What an afternoon. The best part being that he would never have to relive the experience. The memory alone would be torture enough.
Paul sighed. “As the vicar, you really should be at your own wedding.”
“Well, this vicar is taking a holiday.”
They glanced at each other and back at Miles. Ian cleared his throat. “Are you in earnest?”
A server set drinks on the table with a bowl of nuts. Miles waited for him to leave. “I need to breathe some different air for a while and clear my head.”
“You mean your heart, not your head, don’t you?” Paul asked matter-of-factly.
“You would be correct.” Miles took a long drink, his glass clinking on the table as he set it down.
No one else seemed to be eating or drinking. Ian went as far as to push aside his glass. “Will you be back for Jemma and Mr. Bentley’s wedding?”
Miles shook his head. “It is one happy occasion I am intent on missing.”
“You really love her, don’t you?” Paul asked.
Miles stared at his glass. “Since we were children.”
Tom blew out a heavy breath. “I always knew you were the best actor among us.”
Ian folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. “I never guessed it either. I’m sorry for being hard on you.”
“Well,” Miles said ruefully, “you all saw how thrilled she was when she found out I kissed her. There is no doubt where she stands on the matter. You can be assured, my feelings won’t interfere with any wedding plans. I wish her and Mr. Bentley well.”
Ian drummed his fingers on the table. “From the beginning, you were against the Matchmaking Mamas, while the rest of us were against marriage altogether. I thought it was because of your attachment to Lisette.”
“We all did,” Paul added.
