Would her family ever consider having her committed? Her brow furrowed as for a brief second, she considered it before giving an exasperated snort. If they ever did, her father would undoubtedly be in the room next door.
∞∞∞
Max took Patience’s advice to wear only colours that would blend in with shadows. Being involved in smoky goings on clearly took a lot of preparation. To ensure that no one saw him leave, he’d given the servants the evening off and was now seated in his study, waiting impatiently for the appointed time. He wondered how Patience was going to get to their rendezvous, hoping she would not be foolish enough to walk there alone. Unwilling to allow his thoughts to go any further in that particular direction, he got to his feet and poured himself a brandy. Surely, even she would not be so foolish?
As he swallowed the burning liquid, he shook his head. There were no guarantees of anything when it came to Patience Shackleford. He would simply have to rely on the Reverend to ensure his daughter’s safety. But then her father appeared almost as deuced reckless. ‘Devil take them both,’ he muttered out loud, pouring himself a second glass. What in the world had possessed him to enlist the help of such an imprudent female? Surely, there must have been an easier way to get to see the chit again.
He stilled, the second glass halfway to his mouth as the truth came crashing down around him.
He thought back to the first time he’d seen her on the deserted terrace. From that very moment, Patience Shackleford had intrigued him. No, it was even before that, when Northwood had laughingly described his uncommon sister-in-law.
Max sat back heavily into his chair. What was it about her? What was it that made his mouth dry, his heart pound and his cock stand to attention? Truly he had no idea. All he finally accepted were the ridiculous lengths he’d gone to simply to see her again.
Up to and including breaking the law.
Groaning, he leaned back and closed his eyes. He had to call tonight’s escapade off. He might want his diamond back, but not enough to risk the life of the bacon-brained female he’d unexpectedly andridiculouslyfallen in love with.
‘Damn, damn, DAMN,’ he swore, fighting the urge to throw his glass against the wall.
And the worst? She wanted none of him. He shook his head and laughed harshly. He could have his pick of any woman – even penniless – except for the one his heart chose. The one woman he wanted preferred ruin to him.
What the bloody hell was he going to do? There was no way he could get her to cry off now. Max felt his heart thud painfully against his chest. There was no time. She’d never understand, and knowing Patience, she’d continue with the robbery anyway – with or without him. And if he was stupid enough to declare his feelings, she’d only look at him as though he was dicked in the nob.
It was far, far too late to back out now. He just had to ensure she came to no harm.
Then afterwards, he would let her go.
Chapter Fifteen
‘You can put me down there.’ Patience rapped on the inside of the hood and pointed to a spot about fifty yards away from Bamford’s impressive residence.
‘I’ll walk from here,’ she continued as their conveyance stopped, ‘while you and Percy remain in the carriage. Guildford and I will wait in the shadows beyond that tree, and when Bamford leaves, you and Percy are to follow. The Earl is unlikely to take note of a rented carriage with no crest, so he should not twig.’
She pushed open the door and began to climb down before pausing and turning back to the shadowy interior. ‘Obviously you cannot attend the ball, Father, so you and Percy must needs wait outside. Please, no heroics. I am unsure whether Percy will survive another bump on the head.’ Grimacing, she threw an apologetic look at the disgruntled curate before continuing.
‘I merely need you to provide a distraction should the Earl look as though he is returning home before an hour has passed.’
With that, she slammed the door and disappeared into the shadows.
‘Well Percy lad, it’s been a long time since we were involved in such havey-cavey business,’ the Reverend exclaimed, ‘and though the Almighty might well disapprove, in truth I have to confess, I’ve missed the excitement. What say you?’
∞∞∞
Patience’s heart beat wildly in her chest as she hurried towards the rendezvous. In addition to apprehension at the thought of what they were about to do, she felt an undeniable and entirely unexpected exhilaration at the prospect of being alone with the Marquess for a whole evening. Naturally, such nervous anticipation was entirely understandable she told herself, since it would be the last time she saw him.
It did not explain her sudden intake of breath as she spied him standing underneath the large oak tree. Dressed all in black, he resembled nothing less than a fallen angel. But when he turned towards her, his cobalt eyes seeking hers in a gaze so intense that the same breath froze in the back of her throat, she thought that Lucifer himself could not possibly be anywhere near as beautiful.
For Max, the sight of her was bittersweet. The hope he’d secretly harboured that his mind had exaggerated his feelings in the anxiety of the moment, was swept away in an instant.
She was dressed in her customary boy’s clothes which clung to and emphasised her unfettered curves so wantonly that no one could mistake her for a lad, unless they were blind. Her hair was unbound, and she held a cap in her hand, clearly intending to tuck her tresses inside. The thought of her roaming the hills and valleys of south Devon dressed so, filled him with suddenfury. Indeed, he didn’t know whether he wanted to bed her or just hide her away.
‘Is something wrong?’ Patience’s soft query invaded his agony, and gritting his teeth, he forced down his unexpected ire and shook his head, not yet trusting himself to speak.
‘We will wait here until we see Bamford’s carriage leave,’ she continued, entirely unaware of the conflict raging inside the Marquess’s head. ‘The study is located at the back of the house and can be entered by two full length glass doors. Naturally, they are locked but should present no problem.’
Her words were matter-of-fact with no sense of conceit, and as she spoke, she reached up to pull her hair back to twist it under her cap. The action pulled her shirt tight against her breasts, which he only now realised were entirely unconstrained. His cock hardened instantly.
Get a deuced grip he told himself. This was not the time or place. Acting like a damn schoolboy unable to control his lust would see them both swing if he wasn’t careful. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to focus on her words.
