Pascale Duguay (16 page)

“My cousin does not seem to have learned his lesson well,” Julius remarked.

“You must not be too harsh with him,” said Patience. “He is young still. I believe he will soon recover from this foolish infatuation.”

“I am glad to see that you do not seem to have fallen under the same spell.”

Patience laughed at this. “He is just a boy. He is sure to fall in love at least a dozen more times before he finds his true mate.”

“You sound very knowledgeable for such a young miss yourself.”

“I am not so young. Why, I am considered nearly on the shelf by some! Besides, if you must know, we Binghams are known to fall in love only once. Take my father. For all his faults, he never looked at another woman after my mother died. The same goes for Aunt Louisa. She could have remarried any time since my uncle’s death.”

“Then I must make sure that you do not fall in love with another before I have had a chance to prove myself.”

Patience now noticed that Julius, instead of leading her home, had steered her onto an empty path. He pointed discreetly at a bench that was nearly hidden by low hanging branches. “Do you know that they call this particular seat Lovers’ Bench?”

Patience could feel his warm breath on her cheek as he drew his head closer to hers, making her want to turn her face so their lips could touch. Mindful of her maid’s presence she stifled the impulse. “Do you think we should be here like this, my lord? Considering…” Patience stopped suddenly embarrassed.

“Considering what happened during the play last night?” he finished for her in lowered tones so her maid could not hear.

She nodded, unable to speak.

“Do you know I have been replaying the events in my mind all night? The way you respond to the briefest of my touches nearly makes me forget all about being a gentleman.”

Patience swallowed with some difficulty. Images of Julius giving free rein to his impulses heated her cheeks.

Julius chuckled at her obvious confusion.

In an attempt to regain her composure, she asked, “Did my aunt send you after me?”

“She did mention that you had gone walking to this particular park with my cousin when I dropped by this morning. As this is not the fashionable hour for such an outing, I had my doubts as to my cousin’s intentions.”

“It does not seem to me as if I am any safer in your company, sir!”

“But as we are betrothed, you and I surely must be allowed to indulge in a little inoffensive banter, not to mention a few stolen kisses. We are as good as married, after all.”

Patience suddenly felt uneasy. Should she tell Julius about the will now? Here might be his chance of an escape if he still wanted one. She knew he was honour bound to marry her, rich or poor, but she also knew Society was always more lenient toward the former. If he really wanted a way out, it could be contrived more easily if she were rich. She squirmed, unable to make up her mind.

“Would it be very bad of me to suggest that we attempt to lose your maid for a moment?”

“I do not think it would be a good idea, my lord,” she lied. At least not until she had found the courage to bring up the will. He obviously wished to kiss her again. Every kiss made her yearn for more. Much more. Although she trusted him to stop things before they went too far, she did not trust herself to allow him to do so. If they made love, there could be no turning back, money or not.

They strolled back to his carriage. Julius helped Patience and her maid inside before taking his seat across from them. He knocked on the roof and the carriage set forth toward Lady Westbury’s house.

When they reached their destination, a footman let down the steps and assisted the maid out of the carriage. As Patience made to follow, Julius took hold of her hands and looked deeply into her eyes. “I want you to know that I enjoyed myself immensely this morning. I look forward to seeing you again at Miss Arlington’s ball tomorrow night. I will pick you up at nine o’clock. This time, I hope to have a moment alone with you.”

Patience felt her whole body grow warm at the meaning behind his words. Julius leaned forward and kissed her swiftly on the lips. Reluctantly, she allowed him to escort her to the house where he bade her goodbye.

The ball could not come soon enough for Patience. Her wayward imagination had taken over and gone through all the possible things Julius might decide to do to her at their next meeting. By the time his carriage finally showed up to escort both her aunt and herself to the ball, every nerve ending was tingling with anticipation.

Julius met them in the foyer. He greeted Lady Westbury first by giving that lady’s hand a perfunctory kiss before turning his whole attention on Patience. It seemed to her that his gaze devoured every inch of her as he took in her ball gown. She was pleased with the effect it appeared to have on him. She had purposely chosen her most revealing gown, which displayed the swelling mounds of her bosom to full advantage. His eyes met hers as he bowed over her hand, his dark gaze filled with desire. When he helped her with her wrap, she felt his fingers brush slowly against the bare skin of her neck, making goose skin appear on her arms. If they did not leave the foyer now, she would surely turn into a mass of jelly right here on her aunt’s expensive Italian rug.

Thankfully, they were soon on their way. They arrived at Arlington House some fifteen minutes later. It would have been better described as a mansion, thought Patience, as she stared at the brightly lit façade of the five-story building. This house alone must be worth more than her whole inheritance. If Julius had lost the chance to marry Miss Arlington, it was a loss indeed! No wonder he had been so upset at being forced to marry her instead. The question now was why was he being so kind and lover-like? Was he merely acting or could his feelings for her have changed this much over such a short period of time?

When they met their hostess at the top of the grand staircase, Patience was assailed anew by a hoard of doubts and questions at the sight of Miss Arlington. Cecilia looked stunning in a dress of the purest white studded with countless diamonds, reminding Patience of a beautiful swan. More diamonds adorned her elaborate coiffure, slender throat, and gloved hands. Patience suddenly felt like the ugly duckling next to such a vision. Julius certainly had gotten himself a bad bargain on all counts, as her father would say. Miss Arlington seemed to read her thoughts exactly as she bestowed a thin knowing smile upon her before turning her glorious charm on Julius.

Lord Arlington stood next to his daughter. He bowed graciously over her hand, apparently oblivious to the undercurrents flowing between his daughter and the new arrivals. Aside from his dark hair, which was now greying at the temples, he shared none of his daughter’s attributes. He was a short man of slight stature and his dress, although proper, did not make him stand out in any way. Patience was surprised to find that his eyes expressed genuine warmth and amiability, unlike his daughter’s constant calculating look.

They finally moved on and entered the ballroom, escaping Miss Arlington’s presence. Patience ardently hoped their hostess would be too busy tonight to come much in her way.

Patience noticed Philip across the room visiting with friends. He nodded in her direction, but to her relief, did not make a move to approach her. She danced the opening waltz with Julius and for a brief time lost herself in his arms. The end came much too soon for her liking and the moment he released her, she found herself being accosted from all sides.

“I see I will have to relinquish you to the care of these gentlemen,” Julius said to her entourage. Before leaving her, he whispered in her ear, “I will come for you later, once I have discovered a place where we are sure to be private.”

Patience smiled at him, elated in spite of herself that he had not forgotten his earlier promise. Maybe she had nothing to fear from Miss Arlington after all. In fact, she did not set eyes on her until four dances later when she was about to accept a dance from a young swain.

“I am afraid you will have to wait for the next dance,” said Miss Arlington taking her arm. “I wish to steal Miss Bingham for a moment.”

Patience gave her disappointed partner a smile of apology and allowed herself to be led away onto the balcony. Miss Arlington soon stopped in front of a set of stairs leading into the back garden.

“Your fiancé has charged me with delivering a message to you. You are to follow the path at the bottom of the steps. It will take you to a little gazebo at the end of the garden.” She gave her a conspiratorial wink before turning back into the house.

Patience stood unmoving. She did not trust Miss Arlington one bit. Why would Julius ask that she meet him in a secluded spot and not escort her there himself? As much as she wished to be with Julius at this moment, she could not take the chance of falling into what could very well be a trap. Just as she was about to return to the security provided by the crowded ballroom, she met Philip in the entrance. He stumbled into her and as his face came nearer, she caught the scent of strong liquor on his breath.

“There you are m’dear. Celia said I should find you here.” He caught her around the waist and propelled her down the steps.

“What are you doing?” Patience demanded as he forced her into the darkened garden.

“Just a little stroll. Never had a chance to last time. As Celia keeps spurning my advances, might as well make do with you! Would you believe she actually urged me to come out with you? Damn the woman! All she cares about is my cursed cousin and his title!” As he lurched forward, she tried to disengage herself but his hold on her was too strong.

“Mr. Rutherford! Let go of me this instant!”

Her demand had no effect on him, so she struck out a slippered foot and managed to trip him. Philip fell like a log. Unfortunately he took her along with him, trapping her beneath his tall and very heavy frame. Her mouth was instantly covered by his. The strong taste and smell of liquor filled her nose and mouth, making her gag.

“I want you, too, sweeting. But not here.” With a grunt, he dragged them both to their feet. Patience found herself flung precariously over his wide shoulder, swaying back and forth as he stumbled more deeply into the darkness. Just as she was about to scream for help, she was dumped unceremoniously onto the padded bench of what she guessed to be the gazebo. Two cups and a bottle of wine were placed on a small round table. Philip poured them each a cup and downed his quickly followed by another.

“ Mr. Rutherford, you are drunk!” Patience cried as he staggered toward her. “You will regret your actions later!”

“I am never drunk.” As if to prove his point, he stopped in his tracks grabbed her cup and downed it as well. Just as he reached her, his eyes glazed over and he fell directly into her arms.

“Into the arms of beauty,” he murmured, then lay still.

Patience immediately tried to disengage herself but she was once more trapped by his weight. In the end she could do nothing more than cradle his head. Hopefully he would revive soon enough to be induced to roll off of her and allow her to return to the house before her absence was noted. The last thing she needed was for a search party to find her in this situation, especially at Miss Arlington’s.

Just then, she caught the sound of a branch snapping and hushed voices. Had they come looking for her already?

“You bloody fool, don’t make so much noise. They might not have fallen asleep yet!” A chill went up her spine as she recognized her father’s voice. She looked down at the beautifully boyish face she was cradling and suddenly noticed that it was oddly pale in the moonlight and quite still. She bent forward but could hardly detect any breathing. Placing her finger at Philip’s throat she finally found a very faint pulse. Fearing discovery was the least of her problems right now. She opened her mouth and let out a terrifying scream, the scream that her father always said could call pigs from two farms away and break all the windows in the house.

She heard her father swear again. “Forget the chit, Carlton! We’ll have the lot of them onto us in no time!”

Julius looked about him. It had been some time since he had seen Patience on the ballroom floor. Miss Arlington had fobbed him off onto a painstakingly shy and plain wallflower who obviously had not had the pleasure of a dance that evening. Aware of his duty toward the less fortunate, he had led this damsel onto the dance floor where he was now executing the steps of the longest country dance of his existence, his thoughts constantly wandering to Patience and what he had planned for her that evening.

If anyone had told him just a few days ago that he would actually be looking forward to spending time alone with Patience, he would have thought them worthy of Bedlam. He was the first to be surprised by the strength of his emotions. The rigid walls he had erected about himself since the death of his father had suddenly come crashing down when he had realized that Patience had not willingly trapped him in this upcoming marriage. Until then, he had not realized just how much anger, fear and lack of trust still resided in him. He had used the rules of Society as a wounded man used a crutch. It had taken his red-haired imp to make him realize this and much more besides. Although he did not yet feel he could adequately convey his sentiments to Patience with words, he looked forward to doing so in a different way.

When the dance finally came to an end, he escorted his partner back to her chaperone, where she would most probably spend the remainder of the evening unless another soul could be induced to dance with her.

Julius spotted Lady Westbury and made his way to her through the throng of elegantly dressed people.

“Have you seen your niece?” he asked as soon as he joined her.

“I believe I spied her going onto the terrace some time ago accompanied by Miss Arlington. I am not certain, but I think Philip may have joined them also.”

The Earl was instantly on the alert. His recent experiences of that pair led him to believe they were more than likely up to no good. Excusing himself, he strode toward the terrace doors. When he stepped out he encountered his friend, Charles Wilbury.

“You did not happen to see Miss Bingham, did you?”

“Sorry old chap. If I had, I don’t believe you would have found me standing here empty-handed.”

Julius frowned. “Don’t let me catch you making up to my betrothed, Charles!”

“As if I would be fool enough to get caught!” Lord Wilbury let out a laugh, slapping his friend’s shoulder good-naturedly.

Just then a female scream ripped the air.

“What the deuce?” said Charles.

Julius was already running toward the sound. Charles soon caught up with him and both men rushed in the direction of the gazebo, followed by the others on the terrace who had heard the scream.

Patience was relieved to hear her father’s and Sir Rupert’s footsteps hurrying away. These however were soon replaced by more steps coming toward her this time. She was even more relieved to see Julius appear with his friend, Lord Wilbury, in tow.

“What is going on here!” demanded Julius.

“Mr. Rutherford took ill and fell unconscious,” answered Patience.

The gazebo was now filled to capacity with curious faces. Miss Arlington appeared, nudging the crowd aside to reach them.

“Mr. Rutherford?” Miss Arlington sat next to Patience, her shaky hand on his pale brow. She looked up and called to the men nearest, “Lord Rutherford, Lord Wilbury, carry Mr. Rutherford inside. The rest of you, please make way!” A path immediately cleared as all obeyed Miss Arlington’s orders. Patience found herself freed of Philip’s weight. She remembered to take the bottle of wine from the table and followed the procession as Philip was carried inside.

Miss Arlington led them to a chamber on the second floor and Philip was deposited on the bed. Patience set the bottle of wine on a nearby table and proceeded to loosen Philip’s cravat.

“Can I do anything to help?” Julius asked.

“Yes, please. I will need a jug of cold water and some cloths.” She looked up noticing the crowd of curious onlookers gathered about the room. “And have everyone leave the room except for Miss Arlington. Oh, and we may need the assistance of your friend, Lord Wilbury.”

Julius nodded and politely but firmly ushered the onlookers out of the room. A maid soon returned with the water and cloths. Miss Arlington took these herself and dismissed the servant.