Page 18 of Unfettered

Her eyes then found his good-looking countenance framed by his windswept black hair. He made a dashing figure in all, and it was difficult not to stare. She realized her mouth was open and closed it shut before she said something inappropriate.

Rodrigo took in the scene that met his eyes with the experiences he had collected over the years. Jessie’s aunt did not seem to object to the fact that her great-niece was sitting on the young man’s lap. Was this perhaps a love-match? Had Jessie and the puppy...? No, he couldn’t believe it, and the thought of Jessie already promised to someone did not sit well with him.

He saw at once, Jessie was looking ravishing in her gown, white with red velvet dots speckled throughout. Her trim waist was tied with a matching red ribbon, but in her cascading flame colored hair were white ribbons. She had style. He also saw she was blushing crimson.

It was at this point that the puppy said, “Slap me, Jess, if your cheeks ain’t as bright as your...”

As the lady was standing, she did an unladylike thing and trod on his foot. “Hush up, you dolt,” she said on a low hiss as she watched Rodrigo cross the room to her great-aunt.

Rodrigo heard this and a grin formed in his mind and made his lips twitch. The puppy would be nose-led if he was engaged to this spitfire. Again, he felt irritated at the notion she might already be taken. He shrugged it off and collected himself as he made the dowager a neat bow.

“Don Rodrigo,” the dowager said brightly. “How good to see you again. Didn’t have the opportunity to speak with you the other night. Wanted to tell you that I knew your mother. What a nice gal she was. A bit lightheaded, but a nice gal. I was surprised when she married your father and went off to that godforsaken country of yours.” The dowager sighed heavily. “I am sorry for your loss. I heard the fever took her.”

Don Rodrigo immediately wondered if the dowager knew all the circumstances surrounding his mother. He had only learned of his mother’s death recently, even though she had died only a year or so after she had abandoned him. “Yes, it was the fever,” he said briefly. He rarely spoke of his mother. He turned to take a step towards his real quarry and the reason for his visit.

Damn, but she was a beauty! Her violet eyes were open wide as her cherry lips pursed. She drew a reluctant smile from him as he bent over her hand. “Lady Jessica,” he said softly. “My visit feels...inopportune?”

Faith! What must he think of her? He saw her on Pauly’s lap. What else did he see? “Oh no, no, not at all,” she hurriedly told him. “Lord Bellamy and I are old friends...and have forever been in one another’s pocket.”

“So, I surmised,” Rodrigo returned dryly.

The viscount had popped up by this time. He smiled and went forward, his hand extended. “Don Rodrigo, I have heard a great deal about you, I am the Viscount Paul Bellamy.” He shook Rodrigo’s hand vigorously and added, “The word is that you beat the Nonesuch in a race to Dover, and you drive a high-perch phaeton to an inch, and if that isn’t enough, they say you display to advantage in the ring with Gentleman Jackson!”

Rodrigo grinned. “They say a great deal, don’t they? I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Indeed, you know,” he put in an aside, “Jess and I...well, we go back forever. No formalities between us. There was nothing in...well, what you just witnessed.

The two of them are children, Rodrigo thought at once. “Of course,” he said with an inclination of his head.

“Heard tell you’ve taken Carstare’s challenge and mean to drive a pair of greys against his bays all the way to Brighton,” Pauly said brightly.

The dowager had been studying Don Rodrigo with a frown forming over her eyes. It was obvious to her from the way the rogue’s dark eyes regarded Jessie that he was attracted to her great-niece. Here was food for thought. He was quite a catch...true, but she wasn’t pleased. Not at all. Yes, he had breeding and money. He also had a reputation with women. In addition to that, she sensed a hardness in him, a hardness born of bitter disappointment. She looked at Jessie and bit her bottom lip. The dowager was no fool. Jessie was more than a little intrigued by the Spanish rogue.

“Don Rodrigo?” the dowager called his attention. “You will, I know, excuse Lady Jessica and the viscount. She has promised the scamp to attend some frippery fair with him this morning, and must now run up and change her gown.”

Jessie turned an astonished expression to her great-aunt. The viscount, too, looked at the dowager, his eyebrows well up. Pauly, out of respect, kept silent, but Jess was never one to keep her thoughts to herself. “I don’t need to change, Aunt Charlie. I have a matching spencer and hat that will be fitting enough for the fair.”

“Right then, better get along and fetch them, for I am certain Pauly will be wanting to get on with it,” the dowager responded, not in the least embarrassed by a high-handedness she had perfected over the years.

The viscount suddenly beamed. “I have an idea, Don Rodrigo. Why don’t you join us? I think you will enjoy the fair immensely.”

“Do you think so?” Rodrigo couldn’t keep the tease from his voice, the twinkle from his dark eyes, and the curve from his lips.

Jessie’s eyes were open wide. She very nearly swatted the viscount. It was all she could do to keep her hands from pinching him when she managed to say, “Oh no, Pauly. Don Rodrigo doesn’t want to go to some silly old fair.” She didn’t look at Rodrigo and added, “You must know he is not a tourist but has lived in England for many years, and attended Cambridge during his youth.” She glanced his way and was tickled to see she had irked him.

Indignantly, Pauly turned on Jessie. “Silly fair, is it? If you think it is a silly fair, then why drag me to it?”

“As to that, I would enjoy it, and I am persuaded you will enjoy it, but I don’t imagine Don Rodrigo...”

“Ah, but I would enjoy it immensely,” Don Rodrigo interrupted.

“You would?” The viscount turned a surprised expression to him. “Good. Right then.” He turned back to Jessie. “Off you go, fetch your spencer and hat. We’ll await you in the hall.”

Jessie nearly stomped her foot at her dear friend. Here was a muddle indeed. She didn’t think she wanted Rodrigo to go with them to the fair, so why then was she suddenly exhilarated by the fact he would be with them? As she opened the door and started to leave, she noticed her great-aunt in the background, and was surprised by the dowager’s displeased expression. However, the prospect of the fair with Pauly and the annoying Don Rodrigo shoved all other considerations aside as she skipped off to get her things.

~ Seven ~

“Drink today, and drown all sorrow,

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