The Notorious Bridegroom (17 page)

A knock on the door startled them. Lem leapt off the bed to hide behind the door. Patience’s heart beat a rapid dance.
Was it he?

“C-come in,” she called faintly, wiping her long knotty hair out of her face and patting it down.

It was the older woman Patience had seen in the parlor with Bryce. Her heart sank, yet she sighed in relief. Out of the corner of her eye, Patience saw Lem scoot around the door after the woman walked over to her bed. Stone followed with a painted teapot and a plate of rolls and toast on a tray, which he placed on a nearby table. He inquired politely after Patience’s health, then departed.

Lady Elverston’s soft blue eyes brimmed with concern as she studied Patience. Her voice was as pleasant as her graceful demeanor. “I’m glad to see you awake, my dear. I hope you don’t think my visit intrusive. I promised Bryce I would look in on you. It was the only way he would get a bit of rest. I thought you might wish for something to eat, if you felt up to it. How are you feeling?”

Patience stared at the woman dressed in fashionable mourning clothes and wet her dry lips. “My head still pains me a bit. I don’t believe we have been properly introduced. I’m Patience Simmons. Might I inquire your name?”

The older woman offered a warm smile. “I’m an old friend of Lord Londringham, Lady Elverston. My husband and Londringham have served the House together for several years.”

Patience’s ears pricked up at this news. This woman knew Bryce. Perhaps she would prove to be an ally for Patience.

Lady Elverston drew up a chair to enfold herself in the welcome glow of Patience’s candle. Her bedroom was cozy but dark since the grayness of the morning offered little light through the open curtains. “You’re a very brave woman to have saved Bryce’s life as you did. He told me how you came to have the bump on your head.”

Patience could not hide her astonishment. Bryce had confided in this woman? What else had he told his friend about her? With her kind face, it would certainly be easy to unburden her heart to Lady Elverston.

Accepting a cup of tea, Patience steadied her gaze on the woman. “Hopefully, the blow to my head knocked me sensible, and this logic I shall call upon in the future before attempting any more impulsive acts.” The hot tea soared down her throat, a welcome shot of heated energy to her well-being.

Lady Elverston pursed her lips before replying to Patience’s self-denigration. “In my years of experience, such impulsive actions as you have described benefit the most noble of causes. I shudder to think what may have happened to his lordship if you had not been there to save him.”

Patience gritted her teeth. She had a sinking feeling that she may have been the reason for both the causing and the saving of the almost tragedy, imagining that the pistol-wielding man had caught sight of her climbing the ladder and followed her to the rooftop and thus to Bryce.

Lady Elverston continued, “Dear, we weren’t sure how hard you had hit your head, although the physician assured us a few days’ rest would make you fit and ready for dancing.” She drew off her gloves, prepared for a longer chat.

Patience frowned. “In my position as his lordship’s house steward, there is not much call for dancing. I hope I’m not inconveniencing his lordship by my indisposed condition.”

“Nonsense,” Lady Elverston piped up heartily. “We have him right where we want him.”

“We…we do?” Patience frowned, wondering what this woman had in mind.

“Yes, I want to speak to you about this adventure of yours. If you feel well enough, I wanted to know what you were doing in the middle of the night following his lordship.”

Patience dipped her head to examine the white counterpane more closely. She hadn’t expected an inquisition from this quarter. Suddenly she felt very tired and overwhelmed. Tears welled in her eyes and dripped onto the back of her hand. Dimly, she heard Lady Elverston’s silky swish of her gown as she rushed to her side.

“My poor girl, please forgive me. I’m simply an awful nuisance! I didn’t mean to cause you distress. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Her weight sank the mattress on one side as she took Patience’s cold hand between her warm ones.

“I shall leave, and disturb you no longer. You owe me no explanations. Would you like the medicine for your head?”

Patience practically dissolved into more tears at the warm sincerity of Lady Elverston’s words. When the older woman started to pull away, Patience clung all the more tightly to the lifeline the marchioness had unwittingly given her.

“What can I do?” Her soothing voice floated over Patience like a warm bath perfumed with her favorite bath salts. And the motherly figure simply gathered the weeping Patience into her arms for several minutes, providing the younger woman with a portal in a storm.

Neither noticed the door open quietly nor saw Lord Londringham’s face in the shadows as he watched the unfolding scene with interest. It grieved him to note that he was not needed, and that Patience would rather seek solace from a strange woman than come to him. He left as quietly as he had arrived, alone with his thoughts.

Patience sat comfortably against the mountain of pillows at her back, her cup drained, her hunger assuaged. Lady Elverston’s exquisitely laced handkerchief was crumpled damply in her hand.

Lady Elverston had ignored Patience’s concerns over her rumpled dress. Nothing that a hot iron couldn’t fix.

She shook her head in amazement. “So you’re Miss Patience Mandeley, the sister of Baronet Mandeley? Do I understand that for the past few weeks you’ve posed as a maid and steward in the hopes of uncovering your cousin’s murderer and setting your brother free?”

Patience nodded hesitantly.

“And you thought his lordship was a French spy?”

Again, Patience nodded, her lips turned down in distress at her errors of misjudgment about the earl’s character.

The older woman leaned over to rub Patience’s shoulders. “Hmmm. Your shoulders feel rather thin. Certainly not strong enough to take on all these responsibilities. And your other three brothers, they allowed you to play this dangerous charade?”

Plucking at the handkerchief, Patience paused before replying. “Actually, I didn’t mention to them about my employment with his lordship. They believed I was staying with our cousin Carstairs while I cleared Rupert’s name.”

Lady Elverston kept shaking her head in disbelief. “I have never heard of such a story. Such loyalty for your brother. And when did you discover Lord Londringham was not responsible for your brother’s troubles?”

“When I spoke to my brother in prison, and he informed me that his lordship was trying to help him by finding the real culprit.”

Lady Elverston warmed to the story. “By his lordship’s presence in Town can I assume that the real culprit is here in London?”

“Yes, we both believe that the leader of the spy ring and my cousin’s murderer is a man called Sansouche, a cousin of his lordship’s ex-mistress. We had hoped to catch him the other night.”

The marchioness’s blue eyes reflected greater understanding. “You followed his lordship because you have a stake in the outcome of this entire affair?”

The two women looked at each other in comprehension before the older woman continued, “And how much does Lord Londringham know about your family and your brother?”

Patience found every place in the room to look other than at her new-found friend, and every reason to prevaricate. “I have been meaning to have a word with Lord Londringham, but the time has not seemed right.”

Lady Elverston shook her head. “I think now might be a good time to explain yourself, especially since Lord Londringham is indebted to you for saving his life.”

Patience’s flushed face hinted disagreement. “I’m not sure I saved his life. He looked up when the hammer was cocked, he probably would have saved himself.”

Lady Elverston patted her hand. “Ah, you’re too quick to dismiss your credit. Tell me, what did you think before you pushed a man off his feet who is three times your size?”

“There wasn’t time to think or feel. I only had to act and did so out of fear.”

“Fear of what?”

Thrusting a bothersome strand of hair from her eyes, Patience replied excitedly, “That Lord Londringham might be killed! I had to help him.”

“Listen, my girl. Has it occurred to you that by pushing him out of the way, you could have taken the bullet yourself?”

Patience stared at Lady Elverston in astonishment.

The marchioness continued, leaning against the headboard, “Now, I ask myself, why would someone save another’s life at the risk of their own? I suppose there are a number of reasons but one is rather obvious.”

Patience stammered, her heart hammered to be free. “Obvious reason?” She stared bewildered at Lady Elverston.

“Could you possibly in the time you have spent with his lordship developed a
tendre
for him?”

Patience was shocked into silence and not ready to divulge the secret of secrets so close to her heart. “I have to admit, at first I thought him a handsome but treasonous blackguard responsible for the death of my cousin and sending the law after Rupert. When I came to spy on him, I learned he wasn’t at all what I thought he was. He’s been kind to me and my brother. I feel gratitude for him, nothing more.”

If the marchioness remained unconvinced, she wisely refrained from disagreeing. “You say you wish to help Lord Londringham find this murderous French spy?”

Patience nodded, anxious to hear what Lady Elverston had to say.

“In order to learn any information, you must travel in certain circles. Your apprenticeship as steward will never do. We must present you in Society as Miss Patience Mandeley. You actually may be able to assist his lordship with his investigation.”

Stunned by this announcement Patience’s features froze. She even thought she had stopped breathing. She squeaked, “I am to be introduced into Society? But what will Lord Londringham say when he learns of my identity? He’ll be angry with me, I know he’ll send me home.”

Lady Elverston shushed Patience. “It will certainly be entertaining to find out. But first, I don’t want you to reveal your true identity or he might not approve of my plan.”

Patience’s eyes grew round in apprehension. “What plan?”

“We need to buy you a new wardrobe. Perhaps a few dancing lessons. We must have you ready by next week for Lady Leeds’s Grand Ball.”

Patience furrowed her brow. “I still don’t understand.”

“We’ll surprise Lord Londringham. Right now he thinks of you as a servant, his steward. He needs to see you as one of his own before he notices you.”

Ah, he certainly has noticed me,
Patience thought, remembering one recent night, but she didn’t offer this comment to Lady Elverston.

The older woman gracefully climbed off the bed. “I must get home, dear. I shall return tomorrow. Remember not a peep to you-know-who.” She waved her forefinger playfully. “I think I’m forgetting something. Ah, yes, you’ll need a chaperone. You cannot stay in this house with an unattached man. Let me see. I know, I will send you Miss Martha Krebs. A distant cousin of mine. She is a spinster with a delightful furry cat. I am sure you will get on divinely.”

“Wait.” Patience needed to forestall the woman, her mind spinning with what she’d heard the past few minutes. “But what about my duties as a steward to his lordship?”

Instantly, Lady Elverston paused at the door with a mischievous smile. “You leave the earl to me.” Patience could hear the marchioness down the hall talking to herself.

“Now where have I heard the name Mandeley before?”

Bryce watched Lady Elverston’s carriage from the front parlor on the first floor drive off with Patience and her new companion, Miss Martha. It had been three days since the disaster on the docks. The prime minister was anxious for news of the French spies’ plans for an invasion, and for confirmation that all was safe and quiet along the southeast coast.

News which, at the moment, was impossible to deliver. Bryce had had Red Tattoo following Sansouche again, knowing the spies would be seeking a new meeting place. He gripped the back of his chair, ready to toss it across the room. They couldn’t afford many delays. If only Red had learned something more the other night, such as where the invasion was to take place, and when.

England was on the brink of invasion, and a young man was wrongly imprisoned, who would soon be sentenced to hang for murder and treason if Bryce did not catch the real criminal in time.

Then there was Patience. He had barely seen her since that night she had saved his life. Every morning, Lady Elverston’s carriage picked up Patience and Martha from the front step, and he didn’t see them for the rest of the day.

Bryce kept busy in the House of Lords or with other members of Parliament or at the secretary of war’s offices while continuing to hunt for the spy ring.

Although Bryce was certainly glad of Lady Elverston’s interest in Patience, he would have preferred having Patience in the house where he could watch over her and make sure she was safe. At least, that is the reason he gave himself for the disappointment he felt at watching the carriage disappear on a daily basis. He did feel relieved she had suffered no lasting ill effects from their adventure.

And that chaperone Lady Elverston had insisted sending over to stay with them. Miss Martha Krebs. A pleasant yet somber woman with a vicious black cat. Just what Bryce needed if he was superstitious: more bad luck.

If only he could speak with Patience. There was still too much unsaid between them. Perhaps she
wanted
to avoid him.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the other night when he had brought her home unconscious. The longest night he could remember. Only one other night in his existence had he felt such helplessness. The night his brother had been killed. His emotions warred between wanting to shake her awake for placing her own life in danger and praying that she would sleep peacefully and suffer no lasting consequences of her impetuous brave act.

He ran a hand over his face.
What was he to do with her? Why had she followed him? Why had she saved him?
Although it was early in the morning, Bryce rang for spirits, wanting to feel fire burn his throat. Perhaps too it would ease the pain in his leg, still aching from the stress of carrying Patience through the streets over his shoulder. As he pulled away from the window, Bryce thought,
It looks like rain.
A mountain of paperwork sat on his desk awaiting his attention.