By the time Harmonia arrived, Jessica was already warm and dry, and much cheered by copious cups of tea and plentiful conversation. Lord Warwick insisted that they both remain overnight, particularly after hearing that Harmonia had found the roads rather slick with mud on the way to his estate. Jessica and Harmonia had retired soon after she had arrived and greeted the following morning with anticipation.

“The day looks brighter at least,” Jessica murmured, as they made their way downstairs to the dining room. “Mayhap we shall be able to return home today.”

“Oh, I should think so!” Harmonia exclaimed, sounding astonished that Jessica would question whether or not there would be any difficulty in doing so. “In fact, I would say there is very little question about it. The roads will be dry enough – although I am sure we can tread a little longer on Lord Warwick’s kindness.” She shot a sly glance at her sister who colored at once. “I saw just how much you were enjoying your time with him.”

“I had a maid present at all times,” Jessica replied, firmly, hating that her cheeks were already burning. “There was nothing improper, I assure you.”

Harmonia laughed softly. “That is not what I meant, my dear sister. What I was trying to state was just how much you seem to enjoy spending time with him, even though you were quite determined not to have any feelings for him whatsoever!”

Jessica could find nothing to say in response, glad that they had almost reached the dining room by this point. The door was opened for them and they walked inside together, seeing Lord Warwick already waiting for them.

“I trust you slept well,” he said, after greeting them both. “The carriages are at your disposal for whenever you wish to return home.”

Glancing over at him, Jessica wondered whether it meant that he wished for them to leave – only for her concerns to be brushed aside as he smiled at her.

“Of course, I would be delighted to show you around my home and gardens first, if you wish,” he continued, as they took their seats at the table. “Although if you have pressing matters back at the Northfell estate, I quite understand.”

“No, we do not,” Jessica replied, quickly, afraid that Harmonia would say otherwise. “I would very much like to see your home. It was difficult to see anything much last evening!”

“It was very dark, was it not?” he chuckled, shaking his head. “Although I am relieved to see you are not any worse for wear.”

Jessica smiled as Harmonia picked up the conversation, allowing her to eat quietly. Her anticipation mounted as their breakfast came to an end, suddenly eager to spend time with Lord Warwick and see around his home.

“Shall we?” he asked, holding out his arm to her as Harmonia, quickly, made her way past them both. “The gardens may be a little damp, so I can send the maid for your things, should you need them.”

Jessica shook her head and took his arm, not wanting to be separated from him for a moment. “I am sure we will be just fine,” she murmured, as they began to walk together.

Harmonia remained a few steps ahead, allowing Jessica and Lord Warwick to walk together.

“These are the portraits of my family,” Lord Warwick murmured, as they came to a vast array of paintings spread along one wall of a beautifully decorated hallway that was both long and wide. Jessica paused and looked at each of them, seeing the family resemblance in the unusual combination of fair hair and dark brown eyes.

“You look very much like your father,” she murmured, as they walked to the end of the hallway. “Did your brother look much alike?”

Lord Warwick gave a rather sad smile. “He took after my mother, whereas I took from my father. His portrait does not yet hang up here, although it will, once it is completed.”

“He had not had his likeness taken before he died?” Harmonia enquired, gently. “I would have thought that he would have done so the moment he took the title.”

Lord Warwick shook his head. “No, my brother did not sit for a large portrait such as this, although he did have a few miniatures done. I have already employed an artist to take those miniatures and use them to create a larger work that will sit here amongst the rest…. just as it ought.”

Jessica allowed silence to fall, choosing not to speak for the moment. There was a deep-seated pain in Lord Warwick’s words, an agony in his expression that she could not easily overlook. She was caught up in considering what it would be like to lose one of her own dear sisters and, for a moment, her heart tore into pieces, making her take in a sharp breath.

“Are you all right, Lady Jessica?”

She smiled wanly and took his arm once more. “Yes, quite well,” she replied, seeing the concern in his eyes. “I was just thinking about how much you must miss your brother.”

His smile faded as sadness overtook him. “Indeed. I miss him a great deal, even though we were not particularly close as we grew older. I have a great many fond memories of childhood, however, and I cling to those happy moments in times when the grief seems as though it will overtake me.”

Jessica, seeing Harmonia linger behind, continued to walk with Lord Warwick, thinking just how much better she had come to know him of late. “You have given up a great deal in order to take on your brother’s responsibilities,” she said, finally. “I must tell you how much I respect that?”

“Oh?” He looked down at her, a little surprised. “I would have thought that Major Ridding’s decision would have been much more to your liking.”

“Major Ridding?” she replied, astonished. “No, indeed!” Her cheeks burned as his eyebrows rose, still evidently quite astonished. “I will not pretend that the sense of adventure and the tales he tells of his life abroad do not entertain me somewhat for, often, I dream of such things knowing that I shall never be able to undertake them.”

He looked down at her, his arm tightening a little under her hand. “Why do you think you might not, Lady Jessica?”

“Because a lady cannot do such things as men do,” she replied, with a sigh. “You are quite free to join the army and travel the world if you wish, but I, however, have not the same freedom.”

“Then you must find a husband willing to indulge in your dreams,” he replied, his words sending swirls into the pit of her belly. “A good husband will do all he can to make his wife happy, even if it is traveling to whatever part of the world she chooses!”

Jessica laughed, glad that the sadness of the portrait hall had passed. “Well, that closes that matter,” she replied, as she patted his arm. “But no, do not think that Major Ridding holds any more respect than you. I have considered what he has done and the choices he has made and I find that there are some difficulties presented there.” She paused, looking up at him. “No, indeed, I find that my respect for your decision is much greater, Lord Warwick. You have given up what you love, what you truly wish to do, in order to serve your family’s needs. I cannot help but admire that selflessness.”

Lord Warwick’s eyes looked deeply into hers, bringing them almost to a standstill. “You honor me with your words, Lady Jessica,” he said, quietly. “I will tell you now I am quite overwhelmed by all that is required of me. I feel as though I am a drowning man with very little to cling to! It is your presence and your presence alone that seems to lift the burden from my shoulders and calms my mind. All in all, Lady Jessica, I find you quite remarkable.”

Jessica could not find a word to say, her mind whirling with a myriad of thoughts and feelings. He had revealed so much to her that she could not take it all in at once, suddenly deeply aware of the intimacy growing between them.

“Might we go for a stroll in the gardens? It looks as though the sun has come out.”

Harmonia’s interruption could not have come at a better time, giving Jessica the space and time she needed to simply breathe and think about what Lord Warwick had to say. Together, they walked into the gardens and, soon after, it came time for them to depart.

Much to Jessica’s surprise, she felt a twinge of sadness upon leaving the estate and the gentleman behind, watching him for as long as she could until the carriage turned around a gentle corner.

“I hope you had a pleasant time, Jessica,” Harmonia began, quietly, a slight smile on her face. “I think Lord Warwick thinks very highly of you and you certain engaged in a great many conversations!”

“He is an interesting man to talk to,” Jessica admitted, her soul still stirred by some of what he had said. “I have come to realize just how much he has been forced to give up in order to do what he believes to be right.”

Harmonia smiled, letting out a long breath. “And is that not something we all must do?” she asked, looking at Jessica. “After all, we might not all wish to marry but we know that we must.”

Jessica bit her lip, seeing her sister’s resigned look. “You do not wish to marry?”

“I am not saying that,” Harmonia replied, quickly. “Simply that such a thing is being pressed upon us and, as dutiful daughters, we must do what our father asks.”

Thinking on this for a moment, Jessica recalled what Lord Warwick had said. “Unless, mayhap, we find a husband who will allow us to live our own lives as vivaciously as we choose, who will allow us to continue fulfilling our dreams as best we can.”

Harmonia laughed, her eyes twinkling. “If you find that kind of gentleman, then you ought to marry him as soon as you can, for I do not think there are very few of their kind amongst the ton!”

Her words penetrated Jessica’s heart and, as she thought about what her sister had said, began to see Lord Warwick in a very favorable light. He was, as Harmonia had suggested, a rarity amongst gentlemen of his class. If Jessica was to continue with her attachment to him, then he might prove to be the kind of husband she needed – a man who would consider her dreams and do his best to fulfill them. And would she not do the same for him? It would never be that he would return to the army, but they both shared the same longing to see more of the world than just their little corner.

“You look pensive,” Harmonia commented, as silence descended.

“I am thinking about what you said, that is all,” Jessica replied, not willing to reveal too much about her innermost thoughts.

“Will you be glad to see Lord Warwick again?” Harmonia asked, lifting one eyebrow. “He appears to be enamored by you.”

Jessica smiled, warmth bursting in her heart. “Yes, Harmonia, I would say that I am very much looking forward to seeing the Earl again.”