Pascale Duguay (10 page)

“I will not be going down to dinner tonight. I am tired and am coming down with the headache.”

“Then you had better rest, miss. It wouldn’t do for you to be ill just before the ball! I’ll have Cook prepare a tray for you.”

“That would be kind of you. Thank you, Trudy.”

The maid left after adding the dress to the growing collection in her armoire. These seamstresses must be working day and night to be able to produce so many garments in such a short time. Her arrival had caused so much work for so many people. It was a shame that she could not appreciate their efforts to their full value. If only she had not waved down Julius to take her up in his phaeton on that fateful day. Had she met him under different circumstances, her life could have taken on a completely different turn. They might even now be enjoying each other’s company instead of being at one another’s throat all the time.

Trudy came back with a tray of food, which she set on the small gilded table next to the window.

“A note addressed to you was delivered not long ago, Miss Patty. I’ve put it here on the tray. I’ll come back later to tuck you in.”

Patience gave a genuine smile at that. It had been years since anyone had tucked her in. She was so used to taking care of others that it felt strange to receive so much attention.

“Thank you, but there is no need. I will see myself to bed. Good night, Trudy.”

Patience went to sit at the table. Ignoring the food, she reached for the note lying on the tray. Unfolding the note, she read:

My dearest Patience,

Please forgive me for my impudent behaviour earlier in the garden. All I can say in my defence is that my love for you made me act in ways which I am now ashamed to own. As this note cannot possibly convey my deepest feelings, and as I am not welcomed on my cousin’s estate at the moment, please meet me at the end of the drive tonight. I must speak to you urgently. There are things you should know.

Philip.

Patience read the note a second time before putting it back on the tray. The last thing she felt like doing right now was meeting an unwanted suitor out in the dark. She looked at her bed longingly but gave up all thought of retiring early. She would have to meet Philip to make sure he understood that there was absolutely no hope of her returning his love. Philip, for all his polished airs and pretty words, was still just a boy. And if she was going to run away from her betrothed, it would certainly not be to another man belonging to the same family where she would be bound to meet Julius all the time! Patience did not give much credence to Philip’s last sentence. That had obviously been put there to arouse her curiosity sufficiently so that she would go out and meet him.

She looked at the clock over the mantelpiece. It was getting late. Dinner had been set back tonight due to the day’s commotions. If she was going to meet Philip, she had better get ready now. The drive was a long one, and to reach the end by foot would be quite a walk. She changed her gown for her old grey one, not wanting to sully the hem of her new dress, should it drag on the damp evening ground. Hiding her bright curls under the grey bonnet and throwing a matching shawl over her shoulders, she headed for the servants’ stairs, not wishing to be seen by her aunt or Lady Rutherford, or worse, Julius himself! Hopefully, if she ran into a servant, she could easily fob them off by telling them she was just going out for some fresh air to alleviate her headache. However, this turned out to be unnecessary as the stairs were quite empty.

Making sure to keep well out of sight, Patience contoured the house until she reached the front drive. Thankfully, there was no moon to give away her presence. Dressed as she was, no one would see her should they happen to glance out of a window.

Patience reached the end of the drive in good time. The whinnying of a horse ahead told her Philip was already there. She could barely discern the black carriage that stood on the side of the road a few feet beyond the drive.

Patience advanced purposefully toward the vehicle wishing to swiftly put an end to this conversation so that she could return to bed. Although she had to admit that the walk had done wonders for her headache.

“Philip?” she called as she reached the vehicle.

The door of the carriage opened and a dark silhouette motioned her inside. Patience shook her head. A tête-à-tête in a dark carriage was not what she had had in mind when coming here. A hand reached out, and before she knew it, she was propelled inside the coach.

Patience landed on the seat none too gently. “What do you think you are about?”

“Is that any way to greet your father?”

Julius returned home late that evening, having spent most of the day following his encounter with Patience riding all over his estate accompanied by his steward. If the latter found his employer’s humour to be to be out of sorts, he had the good sense not to mention it. Nor did he mention that the inspection was not due for another two months.

At least that part of his day had been productive. They had made a thorough inspection of every corner of the property, and a list of improvements had been compiled. Work on the most necessary repairs would commence after the ball.

Julius had made sure to stop at the Marlows’ cottage. He had found Mr. Marlow in good health and back at work in the fields. Mrs. Marlow had insisted he partake of her freshly baked pies.

“How is our Miss Patty doing? We haven’t seen her these last couple of days.”

“Has she been visiting you?”

“Aye, that she has. She comes almost every day. She says she enjoys a good early morning walk across the fields.”

Julius frowned. It was at least a two-mile trek from the house. Had he known, he would have lent her the use of one of the vehicles sitting idle in the carriage house.

“I’m afraid we will miss her greatly when she goes up to London. She has been spoiling us, she has. She never comes without bearing a piece of ribbon for the girls’ hair or a scrap of fabric for their dolls. When the boys fell into a patch of poison ivy, she whipped up some ointment and the itches were gone in no time. Why, she even made up a batch of bread one day I was feeling poorly. You’ve got yourself a real gem, if I may say so, m’lord.”

Julius had merely nodded, unsure how to respond. Now sitting alone in his study, staring at the amber liquid in his glass, he was still perplexed over his fiancée’s actions. Was she the money-grabber he imagined her to be, or the caring, selfless person she showed the outside world? If it were not for her father being a gamester always in need of funds, he would not hesitate to think her the latter. But experience had taught him to be wary of gamesters. They had no qualms about putting their families and dependents at risk as long as they had something worth gambling. If his own father had not died when he did, Julius had no doubt that he would now be living a very different life. This meant that he could not allow his emotions to rule his head as far as Patience was concerned. If she were in league with her father, then all the work he had done to restore the family fortune would be for naught. He could not and would not risk all for a woman whose charms could so easily ruin him.

A knock sounded at the door, bringing him out of his reveries.

“My lord?” a quivering voice sounded from the doorway.

“What is it?” Julius asked.

Trudy stumbled in wringing her apron between her hands. “I’m worried about Miss Patty, my lord. I left her in her room with a dinner tray as she was not feeling well and did not wish to come down for dinner. When I came up just now to check on her, she was not there, and the food was untouched.”

“Maybe she is somewhere else in the house.”

“There is more, my lord. A note was delivered to her this evening. It was left open next to the tray.” The maid reached out and handed the note to the Earl with trembling fingers. “I did not read it, my lord as I did not see it fitting. But I think that maybe you ought.”

Julius took the note, read it, and stuffed it into his coat pocket.

“You did well to bring this to my attention. I will see that your mistress is returned to her bedchamber presently. You may go to bed now.”

“Thank you, my lord.” The maid curtsied before closing the door behind her.

Julius frowned at the door. Something was definitely amiss here. Not only had he made sure his cousin had returned to London, but that note had not been penned in Philip’s handwriting. He had received enough missives asking for monetary assistance to know as much.

Julius tossed off the remaining whiskey in his glass and pulled the bell cord. He spoke up as soon as the door opened. “Simmons, send word to the stables to have a mount ready on the moment and fetch my cloak, hat, and riding gloves.”

“Yes, my lord. Right away, my lord.”

“Papa? What are you doing here?”

“Why, taking my loving daughter to London, of course!” Lord Bingham knocked on the roof, and the coach lurched forward sending her back against the squabs.

“You can’t just take me away!” cried Patience.

“What’s to stop me? Am I not allowed to drive my own daughter where I please? In case you have forgotten, our dear friend, Sir Rupert, has been waiting for you. By tomorrow, we will have procured a special licence, and you will be married to your true betrothed.”

“I have told you before, I will not take part in your mad scheme! You cannot possibly force me to marry against my will!”

“Oh, but I can! What if I tell you that if you do not comply obediently, I will — ”

Just then the carriage veered wildly sending both its occupants onto the floor.

“What the devil!” cried Lord Bingham, trying to regain his seat.

“Stand ’n deliver!” Patience heard a familiar voice yell.

Quickly, she yanked open the carriage door and flung herself out.

“Pray, kind sir! Do not do us any harm!” She held up her hands in supplication at the highwayman, sitting astride a sturdy farm horse she recognized only too well.

“Are you mad, girl? Come back inside the carriage!”

“Papa, this ruthless man nearly killed the Earl of Rutherford but a few days ago for refusing to comply. You must hand him all of your money at once!”

“Aye, or I’ll be puttin’ a bullet right between your eyes,” said the highwayman waving his gun in the direction of the carriage. Patience bit back a smile at the boy’s act. He was doing much better than the last time, she noticed. She was quite sure that the deadly gun was none other than a finely carved imitation covered with the Earl’s own boot blacking.

Lord Bingham descended from the carriage on shaky legs. Reaching into his coat pocket, he retrieved a bulging purse.

“Hand it to the lady,” ordered the highwayman.

Lord Bingham complied and Patience walked over to the highwayman. She looked up at him with a sparkle in her eye. “Good work, Jessup,” she whispered as she handed him the purse. “Now go home before anyone else sees you.”

Jessup nodded down at her, turned his sturdy mount and disappeared into the night.

Behind them, another rider suddenly appeared out of the darkness. He reined in next to the coach and dismounted.

“Patience, what are you doing out here? Is everything all right?”

“Oh, thank God you are here, Julius! We were accosted by a deadly highwayman!” Patience rushed to the Earl and threw herself into his arms.

Julius caught her, surprise written on his features.

“What is this all about?” he murmured into her ear.

“Please follow my lead. I cannot explain now,” she whispered back.

Julius responded by wrapping her in his arms and caressing her back in a comforting gesture. His mind knew very well they were putting on a show for the benefit of the man watching them, but his body seemed to think otherwise. After a moment, he released her to look at her companion.

“I do not believe I have the honour,” the Earl said.

“My lord, this is my father, Lord Bingham. Papa, this is my fiancé, the Earl of Rutherford.”

Both men stared at each other, seemingly taking the other’s measure.

Julius finally extended his right hand. “I had hoped we would meet under different circumstances, but my health has precluded me from journeying to your home. I was told you would not be arriving before the ball tomorrow. I see your plans have changed.”

“Quite so! I was so eager to see my little Patience that I rushed ahead a day earlier, knowing full well I would arrive at a late hour. Not wishing to disturb your household, I thought I would simply take my daughter out for a drive to make sure all was well with her. Had I known these parts were prey for highwaymen, I would certainly not have done so. I seem not only to have put my daughter in danger, but I have lost all of my money as well! I now find myself without the funds to even acquire a bedchamber at an inn for the night!”

This little speech was pronounced with such earnestness that Julius would not have suspected anything were afoot had he not caught Patience’s furious glare at her father.

“Yes, this particular neighbourhood seems to have acquired some extremely unsavoury characters lately,” responded the Earl. “But do not trouble yourself, sir. You are more than welcome to stay at my home. If you would but advise your coachman to follow me?”

“Thank you, my lord. You are too kind!”

Julius merely nodded. Lord Bingham helped Patience back into the coach before stepping into it himself. Patience watched Julius through the window as he remounted his horse and set off next to the carriage toward Hawkridge Manor.

“Do not think you have escaped marriage to Carlton, girl. If it were not for that damned highwayman, and the Earl coming as he did, we would be long gone by now.”

“I really do not see what is to stop me from telling what you plan to the Earl. One word of this and he will have you out of his house by the ear!”

“Ha! It’s more likely he will kiss me for getting him rid of a bad bargain! I have heard you quarrel in that fancy garden of his. This is certainly not a love match, and as you have no dowry to speak of, he will not be looking to you to increase his coffers. To sum it up, you have nothing to offer him at all!”

Patience felt the muscles in her stomach clench. Her father was right. Julius would have the perfect excuse for turning her over to Sir Rupert who was not only perfectly ready to take in a penniless girl but who also had the good fortune not to be related to him in any way.

“In fact,” continued Lord Bingham, “I intend to broach the subject with him first thing in the morning. Tonight was not a total loss after all. Better pack your bags, girl. I have a feeling we will not be making a long stay!”

When they reached the house, Julius summoned Simmons to see that Lord Bingham was conducted to one of the guestrooms and to arrange for his trunk and carriage to be taken care of. As Simmons issued orders to various footmen, Julius turned to Lord Bingham. “Should you require anything, please do not hesitate to call on Simmons.”

“Thank you, my lord. Very gracious of you. May I hope that you will give me the pleasure of an interview in the morning?” he asked, his gaze dwelling briefly on Patience as he did so.

Julius did not miss the pained expression that came over Patience at these words, making him wonder what the pair was concocting now.

“Of course. I was just about to propose that we meet in my study right after breakfast.”

“Splendid! I will wish good night to the both of you then.” Lord Bingham bowed to Julius, then bestowed a fatherly kiss on his daughter’s rigid cheek.

Julius waited until they were alone in the hall. “I think you and I need to have a little conversation now.” Not waiting for her agreement, he took hold of Patience’s cold hand and steered her toward his study.

Patience groaned. “It’s getting late. I should really be going up to bed. It would not be seemly for me to be alone in your study with you at such an hour.”

Julius chuckled as the door closed behind them. “That excuse won’t do, my dear. After what happened at the Marlows’, everyone in this house believes me to be visiting your bedroom every night!”

Patience’s cheeks took on a bright, rosy tint.

“In fact, I do not see why we should disappoint them.” Julius took hold of her waist. Pulling Patience to him, he brought down his face until it was merely a few inches away from hers. “I discovered something tonight. Would you like to know what it is?”

Patience swallowed before nodding hesitantly.

“I quite like having you in my arms.” He paused, feeling the tremors coursing through her body. He brought his mouth even closer and whispered against her lips, “Kiss me.”

Patience melded her lips to his. Bringing up her arms, she gently cradled his face, forcing him closer to her still. Julius lifted her off the floor so that she stood on tiptoes, his obvious arousal pressing against her femininity. Unbidden pleasure shot through her, causing her to open her mouth wider and deepen the kiss. As their tongues entwined, the sound of a knock broke through his consciousness.

“Julius,” Patience muffled against his mouth.

“Hmmm?” He squeezed her more intimately against his body.

She leaned back away from the distraction of his lips, and managed to utter, “I think there is someone at the door.”

Julius, choosing not to attend to her, interpreted her exposed neck as an invitation to shower it with kisses.

Patience pummelled his shoulders with her fits. She heaved a sigh of relief when he finally lifted his head to look at her. But the sight of her swollen lips had him bending his head once more. The knock sounded again, louder this time. Julius groaned in frustration and released her slowly, allowing her feet back onto the floor.

Not caring that his arousal was much in evidence, he strode to the door and pulled it open.