Patience nodded and continued, ‘Once at the soiree, we will utilise the time to discover the whereabouts of the diamond, naturally without rousing Lord Bamford’s suspicion. Have I considered everything?’ Her father frowned, then sighed and nodded before turning to the Marquess.
‘Your thanks are all well and good my lord, but I wish your assurance that you will not leave my daughter disadvantaged.’ Accustomed to his usual bluster, Patience was taken aback at her father’s unexpected gravity. ‘While I entirely concur with the need to put an end to this ridiculous come-out,’ he continued in the same sombre voice, ‘we are playing a dangerous game. It seems to me that all our endeavours have done so far is land us further in the deuced basket, and I would not see my entire family laid open to scandal.’
‘More than they are already, anyway,’ muttered Patience shaking her head.
‘You have my word,’ responded the Marquess. ‘In return for your assistance, I will do everything in my power to effect Miss Shackleford’s preferred outcome with as little fuss and furore as possible.’ He paused, tilting his head on one side enquiringly before adding, ‘There is one question I have if you would do me the favour of explaining. Exactly why is it you have not simply declared to your older siblings that you do not wish to marry?’
‘Believe me, I’ve tried,’ was Patience’s exasperated response. ‘And I might as well be speaking to Freddy for all the good it’s done.’ She shrugged. ‘They think they know what’s best for me, and nothing I say will sway them from that opinion, which unfortunately leaves me no choice but to simply stop talking and start doing.’ She shook her head and sighed before adding, ‘And once I’m entirely unmarriageable, then perhaps they’ll leave me alone.’
∞∞∞
‘Thunder an’ turf Percy, is it necessary for you to be quite so deuced ominous in your imaginings?’ Reverend Shackleford had just finished conveying the gist of the conversation with Lord Guildford to his curate who predictably foresaw the direst consequences. ‘As the Almighty is always telling us,’ the Reverend continued, ‘God helps those who help themselves, and right now we need to find the best way to help Guildford help himself to his property.’
‘But how do you know the diamond’s really his, Sir?’
The Reverend eyed Percy incredulously. The chucklehead was clearly grasping at straws. ‘Well, if it isn’t, his lordship has just concocted the best Banbury story I’ve ever heard,’ he snorted. ‘And anyway, I’ve heard of Bamford. Slippery character by all accounts – an odd kick in his gallop. Apparently, he had his wife committed a few years back.’
‘Have you told his grace?’ Percy questioned.
‘Are you addled?’ Augustus Shackleford demanded. ‘The last person we should involve is Nicholas. If we do happen to end up in the devil’s own scrape, even I know it’s crucial that the Duke can swear ignorance.’
‘But he’ll be up in the boughs about it,’ the curate fretted. The Reverend opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it. Eventually, he sighed and nodded morosely. ‘I can’t argue with you there, Percy lad.’ There was a silence as both men contemplated the calamity that would follow should the Duke of Blackmore discover their plan. Though Nicholas had become much more sanguine since fatherhood, he still did not suffer fools gladly, and both men recoiled at the thought of getting on his wrong side.
At length, the Reverend slapped his knees. ‘There’s no sense in sitting about Friday-faced, Percy. We’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t find out…’
∞∞∞
The Duke of Blackmore raised his eyebrows at Patience’s earnest expression as she explained her reasoning for wishing to attend the Earl of Bamford’s soiree. Underneath her day dress, Patience felt an uncomfortable trickle of sweat down her back as her brother-in-law regarded her dubiously.
‘And you discovered this sudden desire to attend when exactly?’ he quizzed. ‘As far as I’m aware, the Earl has no connection with Guildford, so even if you happened to be interested in the Marquess as a prospective suitor, he is unlikely to be there.’ His tone of voice indicated his complete disbelief that Patience would so readily abandon her wish to remain unwed for a pretty face.
Although he’d had no dealings with Guildford and had heard nothing unsavoury, he was aware of the close relationship the Marquess shared with Queen Charlotte. It would be a determined man indeed who’d put aside royal favour for a woman, and as much as he was fond of Patience, he could not imagine her inspiring such recklessness. ‘I also find it extremely difficult to believe that you may have developed a penchant for such as Bamford given that he is not only married but is more than twice your age, and while I hesitate to cast aspersions on a man’s physical appearance, there is no doubt that most would consider him in possession of a face and figure only his mother could love.’
Nicholas did not add that the Earl was also known to have a reputation for particular cruelty which was the main reason the Duke had chosen to send his apologies, preferring to keep his family well away.
Patience’s mind was a whirl. In truth, knowing the Duke’s astuteness, she should have been much better prepared for this interview.
‘I heard that the Prince Regent might well be in attendance,’ she faltered. ‘As you are aware, I have never met him and would like the opportunity to do so … before I settle down to … to wedlock.’
‘You have met his mother,’ was the dry response. ‘Believe me, if it’s humour and intellect you are hoping for, you will find Prinny distinctly lacking. And when did you decide thatsettling downin wedlock was acceptable?’
Patience flushed. How had she ever thought Nicholas would simply give his approval without any quizzing? ‘You yourself have assured me that I will not be coerced into marriage with someone I disapprove,’ she stammered, ‘so I have decided to fight my fate no longer and instead set my cap at someone with whom I can at least endure being in the same room.’
‘Well, as I don’t believe you are actually considering the heir to the throne,’ her brother-in-law countered drily, ‘I must ask if you believe the Marquess of Guildford to be such a man given that he has unexpectedly shown his interest?’
Patience hesitated. ‘I must confess to … to enjoying his conversation,’ she answered cautiously, ‘and of course he is very handsome. Indeed, to have attracted the attention of a man like Guildford is more than I could ever have dared hope for.’
Nicholas stared narrowly at her. She was right. Why the devil would a man like Guildford develop a sudden interest in a chit just out of the schoolroom? While Patience was not ill-looking, she hardly had a face to launch a thousand ships. There were many, many more suitable candidates who would be falling over themselves to wed a handsome title. He shook his head; the whole deuced problem was making his head ache. When he’d married Grace, he’d not thought her whole eccentric family would become his responsibility. And while he loved his wife beyond measure, there was no doubting that the package she came with was, at times, a trifle overwhelming.
‘Very well,’ he agreed abruptly. ‘You may attend the event as long as your father is willing to chaperone you.’ He stopped, and Patience’s initial euphoria faded as he appeared to be considering something. ‘I feel I must tell you to be wary of Bamford,’ he continued carefully at length. ‘There is something a little … off about him, for all that he is a friend of the Regent.’
Patience felt her heart stutter at his vague warning. She had not met Bamford and had thought of him only as a villain in terms of his willingness to hold on to something that clearly did not belong to him. But if what Nicholas said was true, and his treachery extended beyond material things, then she may well have bitten off much more than she could chew.
Chapter Eleven
While both Grace and Temperance were delighted at their sister’s sudden about-turn, they could not understand her reasoning for attending Bamford’s event. The three sisters were enjoying tea in the drawing room along with Grace and Tempy's three offspring and Felicity Beaumont who’d returned from her visit that morning.
‘I feel I must mention that Lord Bamford is not an acquaintance it would be in your interests to pursue,’ was Felicity’s careful comment. Patience frowned curiously, waiting for her mentor to elaborate, since Nicholas too had expressed his reservations. However, it appeared Felicity had no more to say on the matter as she took a determined sip of her tea.
