The Marquess also looked over at the matron in surprise. While he was grateful to her intervention preventing him from saying something he would undoubtedly regret, he was shocked that she appeared to be acquainted with Bamford.
Meanwhile Patience had had enough. She did not need anyone to defend her. The Earl might be a thoroughly unpleasant individual, but truly he had never met someone as impassable as she. And now she was well on the way to being ruined, a few more unpleasant anecdotes concerning her deplorable manners would simply serve to put the final nail in her matrimonial coffin.
‘Are you walking alone, my lord?’ she asked sweetly. ‘In truth, I cannot say I am entirely surprised.’ She looked him insolently up and down, lingering especially on his distended middle section, before turning to her companions. ‘May I request that we continue our walk Lord Guildford, Felicity? I am certain we have better things to do than converse with a pompous coxcomb.’
Max looked down at her incredulously for a second, then back at Bamford who was turning an interesting shade of purple. Patience’s grasp of insulting someone without actually using the words obviously needed practice, but for once he was simply grateful to hear someone unafraid to speak the truth, no matter the cost.
Fighting the urge to grin, Max turned back to the red-faced Earl, and inclined his head. Then, holding out his arm to Patience, he simply turned his back to continue their walk along the path to the pavilion.
Felicity marched ahead of them, every muscle rigid with impotent anger. ‘I was not aware Miss Beaumont was acquainted with Bamford.’ Max commented, concerned.
‘Neither was I,’ responded Patience with a frown.
‘He is not a man to make an enemy of,’ the Marquess continued with a growl, ‘and I fear that involving you in my affairs has made you his enemy for life.’
‘Then we must seek to put an end to the odious man’s machinations,’ responded Patience forcefully. ‘I am at your service, my lord, whenever you wish to finish this affair.’
Max looked at her flushed determined face. In truth, he should refuse to allow her any further involvement. However, he was entirely certain she would endeavour to recover the diamond with or without him.
‘We really have no time to lose,’ Patience was insisting. ‘There must be a way to keep track of Lord Bamford’s movements. As soon as we are certain he will be absent for an hour or more, then we will enter his house and take the diamond from him.’
‘You are certain you can retrieve it within an hour?’ he questioned doubtfully. Patience nodded, her confidence clear. ‘The only delay will be the time it takes to locate the gem’s hiding place within the study.’ She paused and frowned. ‘I think perhaps we should again enlist the help of my father and Percy to keep an eye on the Earl’s movements whilst we are inside.’
‘Who the devil is Percy?’ questioned Max, wondering just how many more people they needed to embroil.
‘My father’s curate,’ Patience answered. She glanced up at the Marquess who looked entirely unconvinced. ‘Please don’t worry,’ she murmured, patting his arm. ‘He might be a trifle chuckleheaded, but Percy is excellent at following orders, and he’s more than accustomed to assisting my father in his … err … investigative activities.’
‘Is your father then a bow street runner as well as a clergyman?’ Max asked drily, thinking that perhaps the Shackleford family were even more eccentric than he’d been led to believe. Patience laughed. ‘Mayhap he thinks he is,’ she chuckled.
‘And what does he think of your lock-picking abilities?’
‘He doesn’t,’ answered Patience shortly. ‘My father prefers to consider only the bits that suit him.’ She paused, ‘And anyway, my lord, the truth of the matter is, me, my father and Percy - we’re all you’ve got.’
Max grimaced but didn’t answer. She was right. His only allies were an irresponsible girl, a meddlesome vicar and a lily-livered curate. When the devil did his life become so complicated?
∞∞∞
‘You said what?’ Reverend Shackleford thundered. ‘Only the Almighty himself can predict what comes out of your mouth Patience Shackleford, and you’re entirely fortunate that he hasn’t yet seen fit to turn you into a pillar of salt.’
‘I fail to see exactly why you are so angry father,’ Patience responded airily. ‘It’s not as if he’sactuallybesotted with me, and this way, it won’t be necessary for him to go through the bother of a proposal.
‘Naturally Grace and Tempy are going to be in a bit of a dudgeon with me initially, but I’m sure I can rely on you to preach the spirit of forgiveness and all that. And once I’m no longer their problem and they’ve been forced to resign themselves to my permanent spinsterhood, well, I’m sure things will settle down in no time.’ She paused and frowned before adding, ‘As long as they do not think to use me as an unpaid nanny.’
The Reverend snorted. ‘I doubt very much they would even consider leaving their children with you,’ he muttered.
‘But what about this breaking and entering habit you’ve got into my girl? And roaming Blackmore dressed like a boy?’
‘I will simply gain a reputation for eccentricity father,’ Patience responded, ignoring her father’s mumbled, ‘There’s nowillabout it.’
‘The people of Blackmore will become accustomed to seeing me abroad and think nothing of it, indeed they already give me very little mind. I swear I will not cost you much in the way of coin. The dresses I have now will undoubtedly last me until I die, and I promise not to attend the dinner table without the appropriate attire. Indeed, I am willing to take my meals in my bedchamber if that would suit you better.’
Reverend Shackleford looked at his daughter’s earnest expression and felt a sudden overwhelming sadness. Patience would never fit in. Not because in her heart she didn’t want to, but because she simply could not make herself conform to the narrow strictures of society.
‘I cannot live like this father,’ Patience confirmed in a small voice.
The Reverend sighed. ‘The breaking and entering has to stop,’ he warned.
Patience nodded. ‘But only after I’ve assisted Lord Guildford in regaining his property from that loathsome little man,’ she promised.
