Cass shook her head. “What do you mean, hide?”
“When Pen arrives, we can arrange for her to see Julian. They’ll end things. Pen will then come in search of us and we’ll ensure we’re alone with her. I cannot imagine she will want to stay at a house party with her former betrothed, can you?”
“Why don’t you just tell Pen that Cass is pretending to be Patience Bunbury?” Jane asked, her eyes also narrowed.
“Oh, I doubt she’d like to know that we’ve ruined the identity of her most valued friend,” Lucy replied.
“Lucy is right about that,” Cass agreed. “Besides, she asked me to tell Captain Swift she waswithPatience notbecomePatience myself.”
“I’m glad you agree with me, Cass, because—”
“Wait just a moment. I said you were right about that. I do not, however, agree with you on the rest of it.” Cass shook her head. “The idea of hiding from Pen is ridiculous.”
Lucy scrunched up her nose. “Why? I quite like it.”
“I cannot believe I’m saying this, but I actually agree with Lucy,” Jane said.
Cass bit her lip and glanced at her friend. “You do, Janie?”
“Yes, I do. Penelope has never seemed to give a toss about Captain Swift. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is utterly relieved. And if you meet with her alone, you’ll be able to keep her from knowing that you’re pretending to be Miss Bunbury.”
Cass held her breath. It all seemed too easy. “I suppose there is no harm in trying. But I must insist that if Pen is upset after speaking with Julian, we will stop this entire thing. I will not see my cousin hurt.”
“Agreed,” Lucy said with a nod.
Cass turned to Jane. “Will you meet her at the door, Jane? Make certain she’s comfortable?”
Jane nodded. “Of course, and I’ll ensure she’s shown into a private room with Captain Swift immediately.”
“Perfect!” Lucy declared.
Cass swallowed. It sounded perfect, but the old Cass, the unbold Cass, was already worrying about it all. Oh, what would happen if it all went terribly, horribly wrong?
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
After breakfast, Julian made his way into the conservatory. He needed to find his hostess to tell her he was leaving. God only knew how long it would take for Penelope to arrive. He couldn’t stay here any longer after the mistake he’d nearly made with Patience last night. Patience was gorgeous, her body was perfect, her face, ethereal. The way she’d looked in that low-cut gown. Julian shuddered. When she’d asked him to walk with her in the gardens, a warning bell had tolled somewhere in the back of his mind. It wasn’t a good idea to remain close with her. Their interludes at the party had shown him that he was unnaturally attracted to her. He wanted her. Badly. But only a scoundrel would kiss one lady while he was supposed to be engaged to another. No, he would not do any such thing… until he had broken things off with Penelope. And that wasn’t likely to happen if she never arrived. He would return to London. Penelope would turn up eventually. He certainly couldn’t keep chasing her across the countryside. It had been a bad idea to come here. He knew that now.
He made his way past the rows of deep green palms and bright flowers to the center of the conservatory. One of the servants had informed him that Lady Worthing had been seen coming in here a bit earlier. Laughter reached his ears. He turned a corner around a large pear tree and came into a clearing near the iron bench. Patience was there with her watercolors set up again. Only this time she was drawing Miss Wollstonecraft and Garrett Upton. Luckily, Lady Worthing was with them.
“Be certain to paint her book,” Upton was saying to Patience.
“I’d like to put my book—” Miss Wollstonecraft began.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Upton replied. “Don’t forget our bargain.”
Miss Wollstonecraft’s eyes narrowed but she snapped her mouth shut.
Lady Worthing burst out laughing. “Now this is positively delicious.”
“What are you reading this time, Jane?” Upton asked. “How can you stand all those books that end happily?”
“The good end happily and the bad, unhappily. That is what fiction means, Upton,” she retorted.
“Mr. Upton,” he replied with a grin.
Julian watched them closely. It appeared the four of them were close friends, indeed. Miss Wollstonecraft opened her mouth to reply. Not wanting to eavesdrop on their conversation, Julian stepped into the open space and cleared his throat.
All four of them turned to face him. Patience met his gaze and quickly looked away, turning her attention back to her painting.
