One More Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page B

and she tells me she is the one who should have kept better control of her dog.”
    Jess watched the girl make a pretty curtsy to Nora Kendrick and accept the dog’s lick of apology. He was not the only one impressed with her manners. Then she turned to Mrs. Wilson and her daughter.
    “I do so beg your pardon and apologize for such an inappropriate greeting.”
    To Jess’s surprise Mrs. Wilson made a dismissive sound and her daughter did the same.
    “There is nothing to apologize for, miss. We have dogs ourselves and they are endless mischief.”
    Lord Belmont and Mrs. Kendrick had gone on down the passage. Mrs. Wilson and her daughter followed.
    “Dearest.” The countess put her hand on Venus’s shoulder and patted sympathetically. “I am so sorry. What will you do without your spectacles?”
    “I do have another pair; it is only that they are even more unflattering than these were, if that is possible.” She shrugged. “It’s not as if anyone will pay attention to me once they meet Cecilia.”
    Jess was set to escape, had moved toward the passage when the countess called him back. He came to her side and bowed.
    “Beatrice, this is Lord Jessup Pennistan. And Jess,this is Miss Beatrice Brent. She and her twin sister are my very special guests this fortnight.”
    “Miss Brent.” Jess bowed, wondering if she had a brother. The name was familiar, but Jess was sure he’d never met this “very special” guest before.
    “I do believe her father knows your brother Lord David and his wife.”
    Miss Brent stared at him and he was not sure if the intensity of her gaze was because she was missing her spectacles or because she was waiting to gauge his reaction to her paternity.
    “You are Lord Jessup Pennistan?” Miss Brent asked as though she was hard of hearing as well as shortsighted.
    “Indeed, yes, since birth,” he said glibly, bowing slightly.
    “You know my brother, Ellis Brent,” she stated, and then turned to the countess. “He brought Ellis home after he lost his allowance and more in London while gambling and,” she paused before adding, “and engaging in other activities.”
    His pocket Venus was Ellis Brent’s sister? God help him. His time with Ellis had made him consider giving up the gamer’s life altogether. He had not only lost the land to Crenshaw at that time, but had been down to his last guinea.
    Ellis had not fared any better. Worse, in fact. He’d ended up with no money and in debt to a particularly wicked group of moneylenders.
    Jess had hoped that taking him home would help Ellis’s chances of surviving a brutal retribution.
    “I never heard from your brother again, Miss Brent. I trust he is well?” No longer gaming at least.
    “Yes, he is. He seems to have learned his lesson and is now settled, married, and living in Scotland.”
    “I am happy to hear it.”
Better him than me
, Jess thought.
Married and living in Scotland in less than a year
. Marriage was bad enough but living in Scotland sounded like hell.
    The countess was anxious for him to be gone, if the stone-cold expression in her eyes was any indication. Then why had she introduced them? He aimed his smile at his hostess and bowed.
    “If you will excuse me, my lady and Miss Brent, I will join the other guests and look forward to seeing you later.”

Chapter Four

 
    “I KNOW F ATHER disapproves of Lord Jess,” Beatrice said to the countess after she was sure Lord Jess was out of hearing. “But don’t you think Lord Jessup did entirely right in insisting that Ellis return home before he lost more than money? He even escorted him.”
    “Yes, my dear, I am sure that is how it appears to you,” the countess said. “However, Lord Jess was equally responsible for introducing Ellis to all manner of debauchery.”
    “My lady godmother, we both know that Ellis had discovered those sins well before he left Birmingham.”
    “Do not champion Jess, Beatrice. He can handle his own defense,” the countess