“Her eyes weren’t cold when she looked at me,” Simon said out of the side of his mouth just as the music started. “However, the same cannot be said for you.”
Mathew met Patience in the middle and took her hand in his. “I owe you an apology, Patience.”
“Whatever for, Lord Belmont?”
“For the way I treated you during your debut season.”
She stumbled and would have fallen had he not caught and steadied her.
“Forgive me. It has been over long since I last danced in company.” She smiled at those around her.
“These steps can be a trifle confusing, my dear, and I dance them repeatedly,” the elderly gentleman to her left said, waving her words away.
She danced away from Mathew then, and when she returned he saw her embarrassment. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes bright.
“Patience—”
“I have found the weather to be pleasant since our arrival in London, Lord Belmont,” she said quickly as he started to speak.
“It rained yesterday.”
“Did it?”
“All day.”
“I am obviously so pleased to be back in London that I did not notice the inclement weather, my lord.”
Mathew laughed at her insincere tone. She then moved away again, and when she returned he was ready with another question. “My mother told me that you left London during your first season due to an illness. I hope it did not lay you low for long.”
“No.” She offered no further explanation, just the one word accompanied by that cool smile.
“Are we to be polite strangers, Patience?” Mathew found himself saying.
“We have seen so little of each other, my lord, that I fear we can be nothing else.”
“We were once friends,” he said as the dance drew to a close. When he held out his arm, she placed the tips of her fingers on his sleeve.
She didn’t answer him until they were clear of the dance floor.
“Circumstances dictate that change is inevitable, Lord Belmont.”
“I would ask that one day soon you listen to my apology, Patience. Perhaps a drive in the park, or I could call upon you?”
“There really is no need, Lord Belmont.” She looked up at him, forcing a tight smile onto her lips. “Truly, all is forgotten, and I am of course pleased to see you again. However, I am here with Lucy, and must devote all my time to ensuring her debut is a success. I’m sure you understand.”
She then offered him an elegant curtsey before walking away. Mathew followed her movements until she disappeared, wondering why he felt angry and confused when he had been unable to feel anything but numbness for so long.
CHAPTER TWO
The Allender family town house was in Curzon Street, a very respectable address with other peers located to the left and right. It had been decorated by their mother, and as they had not inhabited it for the many years since her death, Patience had employed people to refurbish the inside before they arrived in London. The dark walls had been replaced with pale green and trimmed in white, and the furnishings had been reupholstered in lighter colors. The effect was pleasing; however, for Patience, who remembered her time spent here the most, it still evoked many memories of her parents.
The family were taking their morning meal in the breakfast parlor, a sunny room overlooking the gardens behind. Not overly large, it sufficed for the three siblings, and offered a cozy haven in which to start their day.
“Don’t slurp your tea, Charles,” Patience said before lifting the Times and once again attempting to read the article she had started minutes ago.
“Sorry, but I sometimes think it tastes better when I slurp it.”
Lowering her paper, Patience gave her brother a stern look, which of course had no effect, but it was expected of her. With Lucy’s coloring, Lord Charles Gideon Peter Allender had a cheeky smile and a body he had yet to grow into.
“No, you don’t. You slurp it because it annoys your sisters.”
“There is that, too,” Charles smiled.
At eleven years old, he was a sweet-natured boy for the most part, but sometimes he showed a tendency towards mischief, which, considering the life he had been forced to lead, pleased his sisters hugely.
“We are going to the animal husbandry talk after your morning lessons, Charlie. Once I have sat through the visitors, who are no doubt as we speak lined up outside the door to call upon your sister.” Patience waited for the protest, and it was not long in coming.
“Must we? The stench will be horrific.”
Charles had not inherited Patience’s love of farming and animals. He would rather spend the day flying a kite, or constructing something.
“You can stay at home and further your lessons, as I’m sure Mr. Gordon will not mind spending more time with you. Or you can come with me, as Lucy is going shopping with Amanda,” Patience said. “The choice is yours.”
“Amanda who used to visit us and giggle a lot?” Charles wrinkled his nose.
“Yes, and she is a very nice lady, so pray do not scowl if you see her, brother,” Lucy said.
“She talks in a silly voice,” he said.
Patience listened as her siblings bickered and wondered at their resilience. The Allender family had not had it easy after the deaths of their parents and the events that had unfolded shortly thereafter.
“So, Charlie, what is it to be, animal husbandry or more lessons with Mr. Gordon?” Patience interrupted when the argument became heated.
“Pigs over Latin? The choice is a difficult one,” Charlie said. “But I choose pigs, because you may feel sorry for me and stop on the way back to the town house and procure me something nice, like sweets or cake.”
“I might,” Patience said. “And we will practice your fencing this afternoon upon our return.”
Patience remembered the dark day when she had come to the realization that her cousin was trying to kill her brother. From that day onward, she had insisted on both Lucy and Charles learning to defend themselves.
“I shall, of course, win.” Charles gave Patience a smug look that had her eyes rolling.
“You shall not, because I always beat you.”
“I beat you last time, Patience.”
The door to the breakfast room opened, and in walked the Toots brothers, Lenny and Paul. After the incident with her cousin, Patience had realized that they needed protection, so she had hired the Toots family. Mr. Toots was their butler, Mrs. Toots the housekeeper, and their two strapping sons, Lenny and Paul, were footmen who doubled as protectors. Charles never left the house without one of them at his side, and one always slept in his room. They had accompanied the Allenders from the estate in Sussex to London for this season because Patience trusted no one more to watch over her family.
“Tell her that I won last time we fenced, Lenny,” Charles demanded.
“Lord Allender, you know I cannot lie in the presence of a lady,” Lenny said, brown eyes twinkling even as his face remained serious.
They were big men in their late twenties, both blond with brown eyes, and were devoted to the Allender family and most especially Charles.
“I’ll show you all this afternoon,” Charles said, leaping from his chair to mimic the movements of swordplay.
“No, you won’t, because Lucy and I always beat you,” Patience said calmly. “But right now go and take your lessons with Mr. Gordon. Then in an hour we shall leave.”
“I am to visit pigs, Paul,” she heard Charlie mutter as he left the room, followed closely by the Toots brother.
Mr. Gordon was a sweet-natured, elderly gentleman who seemed to get the best out of Charles even though her brother was not the easiest of students, and Patience was glad to have found him.
“I shall have the carriage brought ’round when you are ready, and both Paul and I shall accompany you, Miss Allender.”
“Excellent. Thank you, Lenny. I shall let you know shortly what time we are to leave.”
“I shall chan
ge, Patience, and see you soon.” Lucy kissed her cheek as she rose from her chair to leave the room.
Patience battled the tug of anxiety she felt, knowing her sister was about to receive her first visitors after her successful debut last night, and then leave the house with someone other than Patience herself.
For years it had been just the three of them in Sussex, with the occasional visitor paying a call, but now that they were in London everything was about to change, and she could do nothing to stop that from happening.
“Please be careful, Lucy.” Patience tried to sound calm, tried not to let the panic she felt show in her voice.
“I will, and you must not worry the entire time I am gone, as Amanda has both her mother and her maid accompanying us. Therefore, I shall be in safe hands, and you will be with me to receive the visitors.”
She didn’t want to say the words, but knew she must. “Brantley may be here in London, Lucy. You have to be vigilant.”
Her sister came to her chair and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I promise that if I see our cousin, I shall ask to be immediately returned home.”
Patience placed her hand over Lucy’s briefly before her sister left the room.
The problem was that she had seen to her sibling’s welfare for so long that she trusted no one else to do so. She had trusted someone else before, with disastrous results, and she would never do so again. No man would again turn her head or soften her heart.
She rose on a sigh, then followed Lucy from the room to prepare herself for the visitors she knew were coming to woo her sister.
Two hours later Patience and Charlie stepped from the carriage outside a large warehouse. She could smell the earthy scent of animals, and around them bustled carts and men leading cows, goats and pigs about.
“You are smiling, Patience,” Charlie said, moving to her side.
“I have just sat through several inane conversations with men in our parlor, Charlie. Most simply wanted to wax on about themselves to Lucy, who in turn smiled and took every comment as if it had been delivered with wit and intelligence. I tell you it fair made me gnash my teeth.”
“She is far more tolerant than you and I, though, Patience. Remember back in Sussex it was always she who talked with the vicar’s wife, while we made excuses not to.”
“True.” Patience took her brother’s arm. “However, if I have to sit through that every day until she is married or the season draws to a close, I shall probably be fit only for Bedlam.”
“How many men were there?”
“Five, and three ladies.”
“Perhaps tomorrow you could raise a topic you want to discuss?”
“Good God, no,” Patience laughed. “It is not done to discuss anything too risky, Charlie, like politics or farming. A lady must not speak of such things.”
“You really shall need a sweet treat after this, then,” Charlie said, fooling no one. It was obvious that it was he who wanted the sweet treat, not his sister.
“Yes, I think you may be right, brother.”
Inside the warehouse the sound of animals was louder and the smell stronger. She and Charlie made their way to where a gathering of men had circled a pen.
“I wonder perhaps, Miss Allender, if you and Lord Allender wouldn’t be more comfortable standing right here at the rear of the group.”
“But I will not be able to see from there, Paul,” Patience said as she led Charles closer.
“It is quite wet underfoot, Miss Allender, and there appear to be only men standing around that pen.”
“Fear not, Lenny. I have my sturdy walking boots on.” She gave him a gentle smile. “As does Charles, and with you and Paul both to watch over us, we shall be quite safe.”
Her cousin would never step foot in such a place, a small consolation that would allow both Patience and Charlie to relax briefly.
“I am used to being the only woman at these gatherings,” Patience said, forging ahead. “And as I was forced to endure the torture of men fawning over my sister and spouting flowery drivel for several hours this morning, I’m looking forward to some intelligent company.” She ran her hand gently down the silken neck of a horse as she passed it by. “And I’m not talking about the men present, but the animals,” she added.
Paul snuffled at that.
“I’m glad I did not wear my good boots,” Charles muttered as he leapt nimbly over a pile of excrement.
“It’s hard to believe you were raised in the country, brother,” Patience teased him as she looked around. She saw no familiar faces, and it was not likely she would. This was not a place to be ‘seen’ by those who frequented society. “At least here I am also unlikely to bump into him.”
“Pardon, Patience?”
“Nothing, Charlie,” Patience said, waving her hand in the air.
She had thought about Lord Belmont last night as she lay in bed. Thought about how her body had once again betrayed her in his company. She had loved that man desperately once, the silly, foolish love of a girl who had not yet reached womanhood, and he had dashed that love during her first season by treating her with cool disregard. That had hurt, even knowing where his behavior stemmed from. Losing his brother had devastated him, and to enter society so soon after the mourning period had, to her mind, been unwise. He had done so anyway, and had broken her heart. Age had excused him in her eyes, and also strengthened her resolve to never allow her heart to rule her head again.
“Shall I find something for you to stand on, Miss Allender?”
“Not to worry, Paul. I shall get us to the front.” Patience tapped a man on the shoulder and ignored her brother’s groan.
“Excuse me,” she said with a wide smile.
As he turned, she pushed in front of him, dragging Charlie with her, and then again as she nudged two other men aside. Ignoring their disgruntled ripples of surprise that there was a women in their midst, Patience made her way forward until they were standing before the wooden pen. She could feel Paul making his presence known at her back, while Lenny would remain at the rear, watching for any dangers should they present themselves.
“What’s the world coming to when a woman comes to see pigs?”
“My sister has as much right to be here as you,” Charles said to the man who had spoken.
“It’s all right, Charlie.” Patience patted his shoulder. “Look in the pen,” she said as she urged him forward.
“Ohhhh,” he cried as he saw the five piglets that were all milling around the sow. Even he was not immune to such a display.
Patience had two loves in her life, other than her siblings: farm animals and poetry. The first her family was well aware of, as she always looked after sick animals and had spent the majority of her days outside tending their stock when they were in the country. The second was her private passion.
“Welcome to Advances in Animal Husbandry. My name is Squire Rawlinson.” A large, raw-boned man leapt nimbly onto the railing Patience was leaning against. “Shortly I will be joined by a colleague who is at present achieving a great deal of success in this field.”
“’Ere, Harry, you better watch your language. We have a lady present!”
Patience squeezed Charlie’s shoulder to reassure him that she did not mind the comment. Why was her presence such a shock? Surely she should be allowed to listen like everyone else.
“I assure you I am here to listen and observe like everyone else present, sir,” Patience said. “Pray do not let my presence deter you.”
“T’aint right, is all I’m saying,” another voice said.
“Don’t you fret, miss. It’s lovely to have a pretty face to look at when usually I have ugly ones,” the squire said, giving her a wink before he continued.
Charlie played with the piglets and scratched the sow as she listened. Paul moved forward to stop him from tumbling over the wood and into the pen while Patience took it all in and then asked a few questions as Squire Rawlinson’s speech drew to a halt.
“And now I will hand you over to a friend who will talk to you about his success in this field.”
Patience stood on her toes to see who was approaching and then felt her stomach drop as Mathew stepped up beside the squire.
“Charlie, Paul, we are leaving,” she said, looking about for the easiest escape route before Mathew could spot her. However, she was penned in on all sides.
“We have a special guest with us today, Lord Belmont,” the squire said, and Patience watched in horror as Mathew then looked down at her, the look of astonishment on his face no doubt mirroring hers. It was then replaced with a slow smile.
“I am acquainted with Miss Allender, Harry,” he said, his gaze holding hers steady. “Good morning.” Balanced on a narrow piece of wood, he managed to offer her an elegant bow, which made the men laugh and Patience grind her teeth.
“Good morning, Lord Belmont. If you will please excuse us, we have an appointment and must leave,” she said. “Thank you for the informative talk, Squire Rawlinson.”
“Do you know that man, Patience?” Charlie had moved back from the pigs to study Mathew.
“Yes. You remember the Belmont family,” she whispered in his ear. “Well, that is the eldest son, Lord Mathew Belmont.”
“Just stay for a while, Patience,” Mathew said.
“I-I was not leaving because of you, my lord.” Patience felt the words dry in her throat as Mathew raised a brow. “Well, perhaps we can stay for a few minutes,” she amended.
“I really do know what I’m talking about, I promise.”
“I never doubted that, my lord, as I remember you know a great many things.”
“I am not sure that is a compliment.” He smiled down at her, and her heart lurched.
“Are we leaving or not?”
“Just a few more minutes, Charlie. For now, go back to the piglets.”
Shrugging, her brother did as he was told, while she tried to still the thumping of her heart.
Stay calm, she warned herself. He is an acquaintance, and one who you will see occasionally during the season. Surely with exposure this ridiculous fluttering and silliness inside her would ease.
Unsettled, she tried to ignore his deep voice as he began to talk about the methods he used at his estates. She was soon impressed as he spoke about the implementation of several successful changes he had made to his lands.
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