Page 108 of Irresistible
Evie joined them, which thankfully prevented Jess from falling deeper into her emotions. “This is the gentleman you spoke to me about?” she asked Jess.
“Yes.”
“I feel a bit like a fool when he showed up that day and you didn’t seem to know each other.” Evie shook her head. “You could have told me the truth. I’m excellent at keeping secrets. Besides, if I’d known it was Dougal, I would have given you different advice.”
Dougal looked at Evie in bemusement. “What would you have said?”
“That you are in need of a wife and Jess would be hard-pressed to find someone better.”
Dougal smiled. “You are a dear friend.”
“How are you two friends anyway?” Jess asked.
“Lucien,” they answered in unison, provoking them all to laugh.
“Isn’t that how everyone knows each other?” Evie’s eyes sparkled with humor. “I am delighted everything has worked out for you both. I so enjoy when my friends fall in love, which seems to be happening often.” She glanced around at several couples in the drawing room.
“When will it be your turn, I wonder?” Dougal asked.
She swatted at him. “Never, as you know. I’m going to get champagne. Ask me that again, and I’ll dump it over your head.” She flashed a wink at him before leaving.
Dougal sidled close to Jess. “You talked to her about me?”
“You know she helped me come up with the Mrs. Smythe disguise. Since she’s a widow and I was to portray a married woman, I asked for certain…advice.”
He grinned. “Do tell.”
Jess rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t like that. Though as it turned out, I should have asked for more detailed information. Mostly, she told me how to act so that our marriage would not be questioned. I told her my trip might include an assignation with a gentleman and that we would need to pretend we were wed.”
“You fabricated a story?”
She nodded. “That came in handy again later when the Chesmores recognized us at the engagement ball.”
“I’ll add prescient to your ever-growing list of talents.” His gaze moved to the doorway where the couple she’d just mentioned walked in. “You’ve done it again, for here are the Chesmores.”
Gil looked toward them, and he grinned as he escorted Mary in their direction. “Congratulations!”
Mary looked uneasy. “Are you truly Lord and Lady Fallin?”
Jess took her hands and gave them a squeeze. “Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Smythe were our…” She turned her head toward Dougal.
“Aliases. It’s imperative you don’t share what you know about our…visit with anyone. This isn’t typically what happens. We weren’t ever supposed to encounter you again.”
“You may not have,” Gil said. “We rarely come to London. Mary insisted on seeing her cousin’s daughter wed to a marquess.”
“You’re staying until the wedding, then?” Jess asked.
“She talked me into it.” Gil sounded beleaguered, but then he flashed a bright smile at Mary. “But then, I would do anything for my duckling.”
Jess suppressed a smile, wondering if she would ever grow used to Gil’s pet names. “You’ll have a splendid time. There is much to do and see here.”
“I hope you’ll show us some of it,” Mary said eagerly.
“For as long as we’re in town,” Jess agreed. “We’ll be leaving for Scotland in a week or so.”
Mary shook her head. “I still can’t believe you aren’t Welsh. You were so convincing.” A shadow passed over her features. “And I amsovery sorry about the ball the other night.”
“Please do not give it another thought,” Dougal said. “Just promise to keep our secret, and all is well. In truth, we should thank you for ensuring we came together.” Dougal slipped his hand around Jess’s waist.
