Jessica by Sandra Heath

Author:Sandra Heath [Heath, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1980-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

She did not hear Nicholas arriving. He pushed open the door and looked inside in amazement.

‘“Miss Durleigh?”

She started, sitting up from where she had slumped her face on her arms on the table. Her eyes were red from weeping and there was nothing she could do to conceal the fact. “Sir Nicholas?”

He came in, flinging his tall hat on the table and taking off his fine leather gloves. “What happened?”

She told him, omitting the fact that she suspected Rosamund to be the culprit.

“Was anything taken?”

“I don’t think so. The only thing of value I possess was on my person.”

“The necklace?”

“Yes.”

“And Miss Davey?”

“She’s upstairs. The physician prescribed some laudanum. Whoever broke in hit her on the head. But she will be all right, I’m assured.”

“And you?” he said gently.

“Merely shaken.”

His riding boots squeaked slightly as he went to the window to look out. “I came the moment my mother told me what she had done. I am sorry she treated you so appallingly.”

“She felt justified.”

“You were my guest. She should not have spoken as she did.”

“I had forgotten. This terrible mess had put it from my mind.”

“You are too kind.”

“No.” She smiled a little. “I gave Lady Amelia as fine a verbal set-to as she’d had in a long time, I fancy.”

“For her that would be a novel experience. To make amends for all you were forced to endure, though, I shall send some maids over from Woodville House to tidy up here.”

“There is no need.”

“I insist.”

“Then I accept. Sir Nicholas, I think Cluffo Dowdeswell may be one of the smugglers. He drove me back here this morning, and he was most interested in your coachman’s accident. He asked me if I had seen anything in Ladywood last night, and when he asked he knew that I had been with you. I wondered if he was suspicious of you.”

“He was bound to be nosy about the accident—it was inevitable.”

“Nonetheless....”

“I shall be more circumspect in my dealings with him. I am honored that you sought to warn me.” His eyes were dark.

“I would not wish any harm to come to you.”

He came nearer, bending to cup her face in his hands. “Do I detect any gentleness in your heart, Jessica?”

“I pray not,” she whispered, “for it would be so unsuitable.”

His lips were warm as he kissed her, and she closed her eyes. Suddenly she stood, moving away from him. “Don’t, please.”

“Because of Philip? Answer me, Jessica, for I must know,”

“I don’t know, Nicholas. Don’t you see? I don’t know if it is because you look so like him, or if it is you that I.... I am confused and uncertain of myself. So much has happened in so short a while.”

“The devil, Jessica! What it is to envy a ghost, for that is surely what I do now. You loved him in life and now you love his memory almost as much.”

“Would you think any more of me were I to forget him so quickly?”

He straightened. “No. But I feel bitter that a man like Philip could so keep his hold on you.

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