She spoke of the dowry only to her close friends, careful to do so within the hearing of select members of their staffs — particularly those known to have a penchant for gossip. Also, she let mention of dowry slip at the dressmaker’s, disregarding ladies eavesdropping from the next fitting room. Jessica’s wardrobe was not completed before she began receiving invitations from single men — young and old — for carriage rides in the park, and other off-season events, properly chaperoned, of course. More curious than flattered by the flurry of attention, Jessica sought Devlin’s advice when they met incidentally in the library one morning as Patterson supervised the arrangement of new books on shelves there. “Is your mother weary of me that she tries to auction me to every household with an eligible male?” His eyesight present for most of each day now, Devlin saw the perplexity in her lovely face and was scarcely able to keep himself from telling her not to pucker that captivating mouth.
