Tempting Miss Allender (Regency Rakes 3) (8 page)

“Release me, please, Mr. Dundrill.”

“There really is no need to be coy with me.” He lifted a hand to touch her cheek, so she turned her head and bit him. His yelp was accompanied by his fingers releasing her, so she stepped around him, and made her way back to the ballroom.

“Patience, is something wrong?”

What fates had determined that in one evening she was to run continually into the three men she was trying to keep her distance from?

“No. Now please excuse me, Lord Belmont. I am trying to find Lucy.”

“Outside?” He moved in front of her, his gaze running over her face.

“As I was coming in from outside, that is correct, my lord.”

“You really should have been named Impatience.”

“I believe in speaking my mind.”

“And I seem to be without a partner for this dance, so you will do,” he said, taking her hand in his.

“I have no wish to dance with you. I need to speak to my sister.” She needed to tell Lucy that their cousin was here before she saw him.

“I shall escort you, then,” he said, holding out his arm.

“Must you?” she sighed. Why would this man not leave her alone?

“I am determined to show you what an excellent friend I can be.”

He was teasing her, and Patience told herself she was not amused.

“Friendships are formed if both parties are willing, Lord Belmont.”

He ignored her, instead leading her around the room until they found Lucy, who in turn gave Patience a glare that suggested all was not yet forgiven.

“Good evening, Mr. Stanhope.”

Patience drew Lucy to one side as Lord Belmont greeted the man Lucy was talking with.

“Brantley is here, Lucy. Have a care. I just encountered him outside, and he tried to converse with me, but I walked away.”

“Cad!” Lucy snapped. “And thank you for telling me, but do not think that excuses you for your earlier behavior.”

“We have more problems than your delicate ego, Sister.”

“My ego is not delicate. You were rude,” Lucy hissed.

“I have no wish to discuss this now, in the company of so many. I suggest we leave at once, as I do not want to run into our cousin again this evening.”

“That man has disrupted our lives enough. I will not let him do so here. I am going to dance the waltz with Mr. Stanhope, and then I shall be ready to leave,” Lucy said. Then, turning, she placed her hand on Mr. Stanhope’s arm and walked away, leaving her sister alone once more with Lord Belmont.

“I would ask you to dance again, but as there is every chance you will refuse and my ego cannot take the blow, I shall simply stand silently at your side, a pillar of strength and friendship should you require it, but also undemanding,” Lord Belmont said, taking a step backward to lean against the wall. “Silent and invisible.”

She didn’t want to smile. She wanted to be cross and agitated, not to mention scared. Her cousin was here, which she’d known was a possibility, but she had hoped he would not attend this season. That idiot Dundrill seemed to favor her. Then there was the tall devil behind her, who she was sure looked as comfortable perched there as he did anywhere.

“I simply wanted to sit in the rear of the room every evening and chaperone my sister. Is that asking too much?” she muttered.

“You’re beautiful. Therefore, yes it is.”

Of course he’d heard her words. “I’m not, and surely that is my choice.” Patience kept her eyes on Lucy, not stepping backward to stand beside Lord Belmont. To anyone watching, they were not together. “And there is nothing about you that could be deemed invisible, Lord Belmont, as is evidenced by the longing looks thrown your way by the two giggling young ladies directly to my left.”

“It is hardly my fault that my height makes me easy for people to find,” he drawled.

“And your title and wealth play no part in your attraction?” Patience watched Lucy smile up at Mr. Stanhope and felt her stomach clench. It seemed her sister was smitten.

“Ouch. I do believe that hurt.”

“Were it that easy to bruise your ego, I would have spoken that way long ago.”

“Why do you wish to bruise me?”

“Not you, your ego,” she said, knowing he was alluding to something else.

“I’m sorry.”

His words made her spine tingle. “Why are you apologizing, Lord Belmont?”

“Because I now know there is more to your anger toward me, even though you have stated otherwise.”

“Why do you believe that?”

“I spoke with the Earl of Stadler two nights ago. He said that he’d seen me dancing with you, and was pleased to see you did not hold a grudge.”

Patience could do nothing to stop her reaction. Her shoulders stiffened and the breath hissed from her throat.

“When I asked him what I’d done, he said he wasn’t entirely sure, only that his sister, who I believe was your friend, had once said that Lord Belmont was a cad for what he’d done to Miss Allender.”

Sarah had been her only friend. She had visited Patience before she left London, and in her distress Patience had told her what had happened.

“Tell me what I did, Patience.”

His words made her shiver. He was closer now, and she could feel his large, disturbing presence at her back.

“N-nothing. You did nothing.”

“Cousin, you ran from me so quickly, I did not have the chance to tell you I would call on you tomorrow, and take you and Lucy driving in the park.”

Patience took a step backward as Brantley Winston appeared before her.

“I have no wish to go driving with you,” she said, trying to marshal her thoughts after her conversation with Mathew. “Lucy is already engaged tomorrow, so I fear we must both decline your offer, Cousin.”

He gave her a gentle smile of regret that would fool everyone but Patience. “Then I shall call the next day.”

As he moved closer, she took another step backward. He had never touched her, but she knew the threat he possessed. Even here in a crowded ballroom he was not someone to trust.

“Mr. Winston.”

Patience felt the pressure of Mathew’s hand on her back, and irritation flashed briefly across her cousin’s face as he stepped to her side.

“Lord Belmont, pleasure,” he said as he bowed deeply.

“Winston.” Mathew did the same. However, his bow was insultingly brief and his hand remained steady on her spine.

His body was close enough that when she lowered her arm, it brushed his side, but she did not move away. It would do her cousin good to see her with this man. He knew they were old friends, even if she would never do anything to draw Mathew into this mess. Brantley Winston was a dangerous man, and she had no wish for him to turn his sights on anyone else.

She added nothing to the conversation now taking place between Lord Belmont and her cousin and looked for Lucy as she heard the music finish. Her sister was soon making her way back toward her after saying goodbye to Mr. Stanhope.

“Lucy.” Brantley made a move to kiss her cheek as she reached Patience, but she sidestepped him and sank into a curtsey, her smile false as she rose.

“Patience has told me you are engaged tomorrow, but perhaps I can call and take tea with you all another day?”

“I have a headache, Sister. Would you mind if we left now?” Lucy said the words quickly, ignoring Brantley.

“Of course. Come, we shall collect our things at once,” Patience said.

“I shall escort you.”

The words came from Lord Belmont before Brantley could offer his own.

“Thank you.” Patience took his arm, more than happy to get away from her cousin. He escorted them outside and stood waiting until their carriage drew up before them.

“Thank you, my lord.” Patience had no choice but to take his hand and let him assist her into the carriage. Her palm tingled underneath her gloves after he’d released her.

“Good evening, ladies.”

She knew he was watching them roll away, because the back of her neck was tingling.

“I don’t suppose I could convince you to return to the country tomorrow?” Patience looked across the carriage to Lucy, who was staring out the window at the London streets.

“No.”

Settling back into her seat after that brief word, she realized that her sister was still angry. She had no energy to deal with that now, so she closed her eyes and worked through how secure they were in the house, and whether she should employ another footman, now that she knew for certain her cousin was in London and Charlie’s life was once again in danger.

CHAPTER FIVE

“It’s called a cowkeeper’s shop, Charlie,” Patience said as he leaned over her to look out the carriage window.

“Can we go inside?”

“I thought you disliked cows. Nasty, smelly creatures, I believe you have called them on more than one occasion,” Patience teased her brother.

“I do, but that looks intriguing, don’t you think? Cows kept in a building, right here in London.”

“And the warm cup of milk you may get inside those walls is no incentive to visit?”

Charlie had been cooped up inside for the last few days since she had encountered Brantley. He was starting to grow restless, and when he did that everyone suffered. So, after rising early, she had decided to take him shopping for books for the household, as she did not believe Brantley would attempt anything at such an hour, on a busy London street.

Patience rapped on the roof with a gloved fist, then waited for the carriage to stop before opening the door and stepping down with her brother.

“We are going into the cowkeeper’s shop, Lenny, if you will walk the horses. Paul can accompany us.”

She took Charlie’s arm in hers, and they hurried across the busy street. She had told the Toots family but not Charlie yet that his cousin was in London, but she would have to do that soon. Neither she nor Lucy wished to see the look of terror on his face that knowing Brantley Winston was near would produce.

“There is no harm in waiting a few more days, Patience, surely,” Lucy had said, and she had agreed.

“We shall have warm milk soon, Paul,” Charlie said, doing the little hop that he often did when he was excited.

“It is a pleasing prospect, my lord,” Paul said, then opened the door to the shop and ushered them through ahead of him.

“Good morning to you.” A man came toward them, lifting his cap. “I am Mr. Pody. How may I be of assistance to you?”

“My sister will want to look at your cows. However, we”—Charlie pointed from himself to Paul—“will want some warm milk, please, sir.”

The man looked concerned at Charlie’s words. “Is there a reason you want to look at my cows, madam?”

“She loves them,” Charlie said.

“Thank you, Brother. I have a voice also.” Patience offered Mr. Pody a smile. “I would just like to look around this wonderful shop you have, Mr. Pody, as it intrigues me. Of course, if this is not acceptable to—”

“Not acceptable? No, indeed. I would be honored.” The man swept off his cap once more. “If you will follow me, I shall have my daughters serve the young gentleman his milk while I give you a tour.”

Patience could see with just a glance that the shop was clean and each stall appeared well ventilated. She noted a window on one side where customers were lined up to purchase their milk. A stout lady she presumed was Mr. Pody’s daughter was serving them.

“This here is my best girl, Lisa.” Mr. Pody introduced Patience to the cow, who ignored her completely and continued to doze. “She has been off her feed of late, and I fear it’s the infection.”

“Infection?” Patience moved closer to the cow. She pulled off one glove, then ran her hand over the cow’s rump.

“She had a stone imbedded in her hoof, which I got out, but it’s not healing as it should,” Mr. Pody said.

“Would you mind showing me, Mr. Pody? I have had some success with this kind of thing. I have some pastes that I make that seem to work at drawing out the infection.”

He gave her a look which suggested that he didn’t believe a word of what she was saying, but as she was a peer, and was about to spend money buying cups of milk, he would humor her.

“If you would lift the hoof, please, Mr. Pody”

Patience bent lower to inspect the inflammation and hoped that no one saw her doing so. She could imagine the gossip if it got out that Miss Allender had been seen with her bottom in the air, bent over a cow’s hoof, and her only companions were the cow and its owner!

Mathew leapt over the mess on the street and crossed to the other side.

“You’re quite nimble for an old man, Belmont.”

Simon was accompanying him to a consortium meeting for a housing project they were both involved in. Mathew had chosen to walk, and as Simon was accompanying him, he’d followed, but not without protesting.

“Is there a particular reason you feel the need to traverse the length and breadth of London, Belmont, when there are plenty of fine carriages and horses between us?”

“I’ve noticed your girth is expanding. Therefore I feel it my duty to see you get enough exercise.”