Page 19 of The Hidden Heart

“We are very informal here in the country,” Richard put in.

“Fortunate, isn’t it, Lady Vesey?” Jessica said in a bright voice. “For I am sure you must be rather travel stained.”

“Yes,” Leona said absently, then turned a brilliant smile upon Richard, sweeping forward, hand extended, forcing Richard to offer her his arm to escort her to the dining room. “Richard…it has been ages since I’ve seen you. You’re looking very well.”

Richard gave her a perfunctory smile. “And you, Lady Vesey, but, of course, that goes without saying.”

“Ah, but I like it so much better when you say it.” Leona smiled, giving Richard an arch look.

“I am surprised to see you away from London,” Richard commented as they walked into the dining room, where Baxter, ever efficient, had set the footmen to laying several more place settings. “It is hard to imagine you in the country.”

“Nor you. It is well-known that you rarely leave the city,” Leona replied, sitting down in such a way that it afforded Richard a full view of her swelling breasts. Jessica, watching, thought sourly that it was a wonder the woman’s breasts did not completely fall out of her dress, so low cut was the neckline.

“What brings you this way?” Richard looked over at Leona’s husband, who strolled into the room after them and sat down on Richard’s other side.

Jessica took a quick look around, unsure which was the lesser of the two evils—sitting beside Vesey or his wife. One of the footmen decided it for her by pulling out the chair beside Vesey.

“I am sure the governess has told you, hasn’t she?” Vesey replied casually. “Came up for General Streathern’s funeral. Great-uncle, you know.”

Richard found that the way Vesey referred to Miss Maitland as “the governess” grated on his nerves, the obvious inference being that she was not important enough to know her name. Richard, who knew the names of all his servants and tenants had always despised such snobbery.

“Miss Maitland,” he said pointedly, “did tell me that you were related to my ward.”

“Yes. Cousins. Darling girl,” Vesey drawled. “Where is she, by the way? Why doesn’t she dine with us? Would even the table, don’t you see?”

“She has already eaten,” Jessica said flatly. She did not add that she had eaten, too. The prospect of courses of food in this company was not appealing. She wondered if she could plead illness and escape the table. However, she wanted to hear everything that was said between the Duke and Vesey, so she rejected that thought.

Vesey looked at Jessica as if amazed to find that she could talk. “Indeed? Well, perhaps I can pay my respects to her after we eat.”

“She will be asleep.”

“Never knew you to be so familial, Vesey,” Richard commented as the footman whisked away the now-cold fish platter.

“Well, you know…I’m the only relative she’s got now.”

“Sad,” Richard murmured.

“Yes,” Vesey went on, unaware of the irony of the duke’s comment. “No one on her father’s side.”

“Of course, Lady Vesey and I would have been happy to take the girl ourselves. No children of our own, you see.”

“Not, of course,” Leona put in, “that I am old enough to be her mother. But, still, I would enjoy helping her navigate the shoals of the season, when it comes time.”

“Oh, but I am sure that is too much trouble for a woman as lovely as yourself, Lady Vesey,” Richard said. “I shall take care of it when the time comes.”

Leona’s full lips curved up in a seductive smile. “It would be no trouble, Richard. I place myself entirely at your disposal.” There was little mistaking the double entendre of her words, but Cleybourne blandly ignored it, turning his attention to his plate.

The conversation continued in the same way throughout the seemingly interminable meal, with Vesey bringing it around at every opportunity to the matter of Richard’s ward and Leona flirting madly with Richard, and neither of them addressing a remark to Jessica. If the Duke had hoped to use her to deflect the Veseys, Jessica thought to herself, he had failed miserably. As far as that couple was concerned, she didn’t exist.

Leona found every possible opportunity to touch Cleybourne’s arm, and she frequently put her hand on her chest as she exclaimed about one thing or another, thus drawing attention to the lush curve of her bosom. At one point, Jessica was sure that she saw the woman surreptitiously tug down her neckline even farther. Richard, she saw, with amusement welling up inside her, seemed not to notice any of Lady Vesey’s little ploys. By the end of the meal, Jessica could see that Leona’s luscious mouth was growing tighter and tighter with irritation. It was a sight that made sitting through the meal almost worthwhile.

“Good of you to put us up,” Vesey commented at one point.

“Am I? Good of you to tell me.”

Vesey let out a little chuckle. “You were always fond of a jest, Cleybourne.”

“And exactly why would I put you up, Lord Vesey?” Richard went on.