Page 74 of Irresistible
“Miss Goodfellow?” The butler came into the drawing room. “Your—”
Before he could say whatever he’d planned to say, Jess’s parents walked into the drawing room. It was as if the mere thought of spinsterhood had roused her mother to appear.
“Jessamine, sit up straight,” her mother admonished as she perched on a chair near Jess’s.
“It’s a pleasure to see you too,” Jess murmured. She glanced toward her father. Tall and thin with a nearly bald pate, he had round, kind eyes. “Good afternoon, Papa.” She rose and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“You look well, my girl,” he said with a fond smile. “How was your visit to Hampshire with Lady Pickering?”
“It was lovely, thank you. I found Hampshire quite beautiful.”
“You begged us to allow you to remain in London while we went to Goodacre to visit your poor grandfather, and then you traipse off to Hampshire.” Her mother sniffed.
“It’s good for her to experience new things,” Jess’s father said calmly. He took another chair as Jess sat back down.
“Thank you, Papa. And thank you, Mama, for allowing me to remain in London with Lady Pickering.” Jess knew it was better to soothe her mother before she became too agitated. Particularly when Jess wanted to win her over. “She has been an excellent chaperone and guide.”
“I do hope she made a positive impression on you.”
“I think she has.” Jess gathered her courage and prayed for luck. “I’ve had plenty of time to think over the past several weeks, and I am more than ready to embrace spinsterhood. Won’t it be wonderful to no longer concern ourselves with chaperones or expenses for the Season?” She gave them a broad, serene smile.
Her mother responded with a tight…no, it wasn’t quite a smile. At best, it was an expression of tolerance. “I will be quite delighted to no longer spend my Season trying to see you wed. Indeed, I think we may have, at last, found the perfect husband for you.”
Jess gritted her teeth while maintaining her smile. “That isn’t necessary. I’m quite enthused about becoming a spinster.” Which they already knew. Just as they knew Jess didn’t want to marry. Particularly someone her mother selected.
“Just hear us out,” Papa said gently, surprising Jess. Had he turned on her? “I believe this may actually be a good match. Lord Gregory Blakemore is intellectual. I think you will have much in common.”
Jess had met Lord Gregory several times. She’d even danced with him. He was intelligent and charming, not at all annoying, but he was also a religious scholar and intended to take a living as a vicar. Since he was the son of a marquess, he might even aspire to become a bishop one day. Jess had no interest in becoming a wife,especiallythat of a vicar. They’d be tied to his church. She’d never go anywhere. She suppressed a shudder.
“All we ask is that you give him a chance,” Papa said. “Will you do that?”
Sliding a glance toward her mother, she addressed her father. “Does Lord Gregory know you are trying to orchestrate this match?”
Despite Jess trying to converse with her more reasonable father, her mother answered. “No. He has been in mourning. Perhaps you forgot that his father died last spring.”
Jesshadforgotten. But it wasn’t as if they were close friends with their family. Why should she have remembered?
“There is to be a ball in a few days where you can reestablish your acquaintance with him.” Before Jess could ask why he was expected to be there when he was in mourning, her mother went on. “The ball is being given by Lord and Lady Ringshall in honor of their daughter’s engagement to the Marquess of Witney—Lord Gregory’s brother. Lord Gregory will be there.”
Jess’s father looked at her earnestly. “I promise, Jessamine, that if you try with Lord Gregory and it doesn’t progress to courtship, we will let you alone.”
They’d never said anything like that before. Jess flicked a look toward her mother. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap and her expression was stoic. She did not return Jess’s attention.
“No more Seasons?” Jess asked.
Her mother’s tongue clicked the roof of her mouth before she spoke. “It is our hope that you and Lord Gregory will suit and become engaged this autumn. I don’t expect there will be any need for another Season.”
“Papa just said that if a courtship with Lord Gregory doesn’t occur, you’ll let me be. So either way, there will be no Season. Correct?” She asked the question of her mother, but glanced toward her father in happy anticipation.
He was the one who answered. “Yes. But you must respect our promise to you by making your own, Jessamine.” Her father’s surprisingly stern tone broke into her jubilation. “You must try. That means you can’t dismiss Lord Gregory out of hand.”
“But what if I spend time with him at the ball and I know immediately that we won’t suit?”
“You can’t know that so quickly,” her mother answered sharply. “I’ve always told you that everyone has bad days or nights. You certainly do. You will meet him a minimum of six times in a variety of settings for different lengths of time.” She pinned Jess with a humorless stare. “I know you think refusing to wed hurts us, but it really only hurts you. The life of a spinster is not what you anticipate. You will no longer be invited many places. Some people will no longer associate with you. It will not be the same for you.”
Biting her lip, Jess nodded solemnly. She wanted to say she’d be invited to the Phoenix Club and that would be enough for her, but she didn’t.
“I really do think you’ll like Lord Gregory when you spend time with him,” her father said with a hopeful smile. “You promise to give him a chance?”
