Page 10 of A Lady by Chance

“You two had the opportunity to reject your suitors. It is only right that Jessica should be given that same choice,” Chastity said.

“Of course,” Lucy began. “It’s just—” She looked at Olivia, who said, “It’s just that Jessica is more likely to reject him out of rebellion rather than any true feelings for the man.”

Chastity stood back, angling her head to examine Jessica’s hair. “That is the chance we will have to take.”

“What if I already am in love?” Jessica said.

“What?” Three sets of Roxburgh jaws dropped.

“You heard me.”

“So we did,” Lucy said. “But you’re not making any sense.”

Olivia narrowed concerned eyes on her. “Can it be you did hurt your head when you fell off the ladder? Doctor Belch said not, but—”

“I am fine.” Jessica stood. “There is nothing wrong with me at all. Except… except…”

The other three women exchanged glances.

“Except what?” Chastity urged.

“You said you are in love,” Olivia said.

Jessica’s face heated. “Aye.”

“Who are you in love with?” Lucy asked.

“He came into the yews and caught me, caught us, when I fell off the branch.”

She didn’t mention that the beautiful young woman behind him chose that moment to vanish. Whoever the man was, he had a ghost following him. Jessica had thought the woman was his wife. Her sisters wouldn’t believe her. They might even call stinky Doctor Belch to reexamine her head. She couldn’t bear that. Still, she wouldn’t deny her unexpected reaction to the man. She wasn’t sure it was love. How could she know? He was tall and broad-shouldered, well-muscled, and just plain dashing. She’d felt a prickling all over and couldn’t look away from him. Then the branch began to crack, the woman—the ghost—disappeared.

Then Jessica was in his arms, and flooded by the most extraordinary sensations. Feelings she absolutely would not feel with Sir Stirling’s stodgy, live-by-the-rules husband candidate.

“Jessica.” Chastity’s voice broke into her reverie. “Who was this man?”

Olivia frowned. “He might have been a deer poacher. The woods verge onto the high moors.”

Lucy turned her attention to Chastity. “Remember how Lord John kidnapped her for your inheritance? Maybe this was another man trying to kidnap Jessica.”

Jessica scowled. “He rescued me. I could’ve broken an arm or leg, maybe even my neck. And,” she sent a pointed look at Lucy, “he was dressed quite nicely. He was most definitely a gentleman. A truly fine one.”

“How fine?” Chastity asked.

Perfection sounds about right.

“Very fine,” Jessica said, and again a prickly sensation rippled along her skin. “He is perhaps the most handsome man I have ever seen. Dark hair and green eyes. Though he walked with a very slight limp. Not that it made him look any less handsome.”

“A limp?” Chastity repeated. She glanced at Olivia and Lucy. “Good Lord, could it be…?”

“How nicely dressed was he?” Olivia asked.

Jessica rolled her eyes. “He wore a black topcoat with a snowy white cravat, and his boots were polished brighter than a mirror—just like Sir Stirling’s.”

A strange silence descended as her sisters exchanged glances.

“Was he dressed for a wedding?” Chastity asked.

Jessica blinked. “A guest?”

All three of her sisters shook their heads, and Chastity said, “Lieutenant Patrick Chalmers.”

Jessica stared, unable to speak. Her heart pounded.

"You think him handsome—and,” Lucy beamed, “you said you were in love with him. It is just as I said. You have already been swept away by him.”

Jessica clapped both hands to her cheeks. “Oh, my.”

Olivia and Lucy laughed and rushed to hug her, both at once.

“Come, ladies.” Olivia broke free. “We must get Jessica dressed. It won’t do to keep her groom waiting.”

Lucy smiled. “The man you fell for – quite literally – is your groom!”

“I cannot believe it.”

A smile spread across Jessica’s face, then she realized her dashing groom might not want a kitten-chasing, tree-climbing, bruise-faced bride.