Tempting Miss Allender (Regency Rakes 3) (13 page)

Thoughts came and went as the carriage took her home, where she would have to smile and be happy about the upcoming evening at Vauxhall Gardens. Mr. Stanhope’s family had invited Patience, Lucy and her friend Amanda to spend the evening with them, and they were to arrive at the gardens by boat. Patience had told Lucy that perhaps they could take the carriage, as the road could also lead them there, but her sister had insisted on going by boat, as it was far more exciting.

The problem was that Patience was not overly happy around water, and had rarely spent time on or in it, other than bathing. She had fallen into the river on their property once as a child, and her father had pulled her out seconds later with no damage done, but Patience still remembered the feeling of the water closing over her head, even now, many years later, and had vowed to never replicate it.

As Lenny pulled the carriage to a halt before the town house, she forced a smile onto her lips. She could do this, get through the rest of the season. She would do it by avoiding a certain lord and finding a way to remove her cousin from their lives, then she would retire to the country, happy with her animals.

When she made her way inside the house, she found Lucy giggling with excitement at the prospect of their evening out, and demanding Patience’s attention to pick just the right dress of the three she had laid out. Pushing aside her feeling of impending doom about the evening’s entertainment, she went to her sister’s room. She would make sure Lucy had fun tonight, even if she did not.

Mathew arrived at Vauxhall Gardens with his party. The Duke and Duchess of Stratton had invited him to share their evening’s entertainment, and Simon had reluctantly accompanied him, although he said he would much rather be home with his wife and Louis.

“Claire said she wanted to retire early. Eva, do you think that means she is unwell, or just tired?”

The Duchess of Stratton was a beautiful woman both inside and out. Elegant to the tips of her slippers, she had her large, powerful husband wrapped around her finger.

“It means she is tired, Simon. Now you need to relax, or by the time the child finally arrives you will be no help to Claire at all.”

Simon blew out a loud breath, as if releasing pressure. “Yes, I can see you are right, and Claire assures me she is well, but—”

“For pity’s sake, man, you know my sister as well as I do. When has she ever not let everyone know if she is feeling under the weather?” Mathew said. “If she says she is well, she is.”

“I was like that,” the Duke of Stratton said, taking his wife’s arm. “When Eva was carrying Georgia, I was a bundle of nerves the entire time.”

Mathew watched the duke and duchess share a look that spoke so much of the love they felt, it caused a small tug of longing inside him—and after that thought there she was again, inside his head. Patience Allender.

“Excellent.” Simon looked bleak. “I look forward to several miserable months, then.”

As the party started toward the gardens, Mathew took a final look behind him at the boat he had just left. He had enjoyed the trip, the soothing feel of gliding along the Thames. He felt relaxed for the first time in days.

Another boat approached, and he looked at the faces on board. The one in the front caught and held his eyes. Patience had her eyes clenched shut.

“I will follow shortly,” he said to his friends, then turned and made his way back down to where the boat was now nudging against the dock. She didn’t open her eyes as he arrived, or when the boat started to rock as he helped Lucy and her friend out.

“Give me your hand, Patience.”

She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him. “I don’t like water.”

“I can see that, and if you give me your hand, I shall get you safely onto solid ground.”

“What if the boat moves and I fall?” She looked at the water before refocusing on him.

“It won’t move. Someone is holding it, and I will not let you fall,” he promised.

“We could both fall,” she said, still gripping the sides of the boat. “Into that.” She looked at the water again.

“Have a little faith in your old friend, Patience.” Mathew leaned over the boat and pried one hand from the edge.

“Acquaintance,” she hissed, gripping his fingers tight. “Promise you won’t drop me, Mathew!”

“I promise.” Mathew pulled her slowly to her feet, then placed both hands around her waist and lifted her gently out and onto the ground beside him. “You can open your eyes now,” he said, still holding her.

“Thank God that is over.” She shuddered.

“Why would you put yourself through that if you are terrified of water?” Mathew reluctantly released her, his eyes running over her. “There is a perfectly adequate bridge you could have crossed to come here by carriage.”

She was wearing ivory satin, he noted, the bodice trimmed in lace, the sleeves small puffs. Around her throat she was wearing a circle of diamonds that sparkled against her creamy skin in the dwindling light.

“Lucy and Amanda wished to come by boat, and I am strong enough to overcome my hatred of water for such a short time.” Her eyes were calmer now the terror had abated.

“Apparently you’re not,” Mathew said.

“You will say nothing to Lucy. I sat in the front specifically so she would not notice my discomfort.” Her eyes snapped up to look at him.

“Yes, it would never do to show weakness, now, would it? Especially not to your family.” For some reason her words angered him, and he wasn’t quite sure why.

“Don’t speak to me about weakness, when the mention of Anthony’s name makes you look ill.”

“I have no wish to discuss my brother.” Mathew knew he sounded haughty, but could do nothing to change that, as the tightness in his chest was suddenly back.

“And I have no wish to discuss my weakness, so we have nothing further to say to each other.”

“How about, ‘Thank you, Mathew’?” His words were clipped.

“Thank you, Lord Belmont,” she said, performing a perfect curtsey. “For coming to my aid.” Her eyes were cool.

Mathew then watched as she walked away from him, skirts twitching, shoulders back.

“Hello, Mathew.”

“Good evening, Lucy.” Mathew kissed her cheek. “You look lovely.” Dressed in white, she was young and innocent, and nothing like the virago ahead of them.

“This is my dear friend, Miss Amanda Klipper.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Klipper.” Mathew bowed, then held out his arms for the ladies to take.

“Thank you. We are here to meet the Stanhopes,” Lucy said.

“And are you interested in any particular Stanhope?” he whispered in her ear, which made her sigh.

“I do like Mr. James Stanhope very much, Mathew.”

“I sense a ‘but’.”

“Patience,” she said softly, “thinks every man who comes near me has nefarious intentions, even though she wishes for me to wed.”

“She is protective of you, Lucy. Surely you understand that?” Mathew looked at the rigid back in front of them and wondered why she was the one he wanted, when there were plenty of sweet-natured women in London.

“She trusts no one, and was quite rude to Mr. Stanhope when I introduced them. Luckily he did not take offense, even saying that it was pleasing to see that I was so well protected.”

“What did she say?”

“That he might be pleased to make her acquaintance, but she would reserve judgment… Well, words to that effect, but you understand my meaning.”

Mathew laughed, a loud bark of laughter that had Patience turning to look over her shoulder before turning to face ahead once more.

“Of course she refused to apologize when I questioned her about it, saying she did not trust easily, as if that were an excuse for bad manners.”

Mathew mulled that over for a few seconds. He understood Patience’s fear for her siblings; he’d been the same with both Anthony and Claire. He thought about questioning her further about the incident at the cowkeeper’s shop, and his belief that someone was threatening the Allender family, but now was not the time for that, and he knew that Lucy should not be the person he questioned.

The music greeted them, and the sound of laughter and chatter. He escorted Lucy and her friend to the box. Patience, he noticed, had moved to one side to allow Lucy to arrive first. He greeted the Stanhope family, whom he had known for many years, then prepared to leave, as his party was a few tables away.

“Play nice,” he whispered in Patience’s ear, as he had many times during their childhood when she had tried to beat him at some game or other. She ignored him, of course, as he’d known she would.

Patience had to admit an hour later that the Stanhope family were nice people. Lord and Lady Stanhope appeared a friendly couple, and they welcomed Patience, Lucy and Amanda to their table and set about making them feel at ease. Their son, James, had eyes for Lucy only, but he talked with both her and Amanda, and she felt a tug of guilt over her treatment of him when first they had met. His sister, Ellen, was a vivacious young lady whom Lucy seemed to get on well with also.

She should be happy, shouldn’t she? If Lucy did indeed make a match with Mr. James Stanhope, she would be welcomed into this family with open arms, as would Patience and Charlie, so why did the thought not fill her with joy?

Because then everything would change, and it would just be herself and Charlie left; their little circle would be broken.
You’re a small-minded person
, she told herself. She had only ever wanted happiness for her siblings, and yet she was resentful.

Looking at the table two along from theirs, she found Mathew. He had been sitting next to Simon, but now a lady was beside him. She was beautiful, her snow-white hair immaculately styled. As she leant towards him, her breast brushed his arm.

“Hussy,” she muttered, ignoring the jealousy that was now coursing through her body.

He was sharing the table with the Duke and Duchess of Stratton. She knew that because she had been introduced to them a few nights ago by Lord Kelkirk, whom she had been dancing with. The woman Patience did not know giggled at something Mathew had said, and it sounded like a set of bells perfectly in tune. He appeared at ease with her attentions, his body relaxed and a ready smile on his handsome face. Not that she cared, Patience thought as she pulled her gaze away; the woman was welcome to him.

The problem, of course, was that she did care…very much, and hated that she did. When she had heard his voice as the boat arrived at Vauxhall Gardens, something inside her had wanted to cry,
Yes! I am safe now he is here
, and that was not right. Patience did not rely on people to protect her or her family; she did that perfectly well by herself.

“We must take our places now, as
Madame Saqui is soon to start,” Mr. Stanhope said, helping Lucy from her seat.

The guests made their way to the rope that was suspended high in the air, and the hum of expectation grew. It was reported that Madame Saqui could run down it, and did so with fireworks exploding beneath her.

“Are you looking forward to the entertainment, Miss Allender?”

“I am, Mr. Stanhope, as I have heard a great deal about Madame Saqui.”

He was a nice-looking man, with a handsome, almost boyish charm, and none of the hard angles that Mathew had. She had been wrong to treat him as she had.

“I must apologize for my behavior when first we met, Mr. Stanhope.”

“Think nothing of it. I admired you for speaking to me that way,” he said, his eyes on Lucy, who stood before them. “But please be assured that I would never do anything to harm your sister, Miss Allender, as she is very special to me.”

“Thank you. I am glad to hear that, as she is very special to me also.” If she’d had any doubts as to his feelings toward Lucy, he had just allayed them.

He bowed, then moved to her sister’s side.

The music built to a crescendo, and then Madame Saqui appeared and Patience held her breath. The first firework exploded, making her jump. The elegant
Madame Saqui looked as if she were gliding across a dance floor instead of a narrow rope, and below her everyone stood in awe.

She felt a tingle in her right cheek, which made her turn
. She saw him then—her cousin, looking at her with a gentle smile on his face. As usual, it was his eyes that gave him away; even from this distance, they were menacing. He gave her a final look before disappearing into the crowd.

Patience was not normally a rash person; she had realized early in her role as head of the Allender household that she could no longer afford to be. However, her cousin was someone who made her lose the ability to think. When she saw him, rational thought was flung to the four winds and she acted purely on impulse—which was totally justified, considering Brantley Winston was intent on ending her brother’s life.

In seconds she was following him, her hand going to the reticule that hung from her wrist to ensure that her pistol was still inside. She had no plans to get close to him, but she wanted to observe him, see whom he was with and where he went. She would then report any findings back to Mr. Whitty, as he had said to watch whom Brantley associated with if ever she got the chance.