His carriage pulled around, and he leaned in, thinking Lady Shrewsbury would mediate, but it was empty. They’d be quite alone.
Patience put Lionel’s basket on the seat. Then she bounced back out and went up under his shoulder, helping him balance. Her scent of cigars and soap was an interesting blend, wrinkling his nose as he was hoisted by his petard, his nanny-petard up the step.
“I needed no help.”
“You’re leaning more on your cane. You haven’t straightened in an hour.”
The door closed as they settled inside. “So observant. Did you see how cross I am, or are your observations selective?”
She didn’t answer but fiddled with Lionel’s blanket. “He went back to sleep.”
“Ignoring me won’t work this time. Nor will one-word answers.” He tossed her a handkerchief. “Take that foul cosmetic off. Make yourself look like the infernal woman I know.”
She scrubbed at her face. “You didn’t need to come.”
“Who are you to tell me what I can or cannot do? You don’t listen, Patience. Why should I listen to you?”
“Your Grace didn’t tell me I couldn’t come.”
“You didn’t tell me you’d dress as a man going to a men’s-only gaming hell.”
“Well, that’s true. Sorry.”
“Are you saying that to appease me or because you mean it?”
“Both.”
“Not the one-word thing again. I’m not in the wrong.”
“You brought my son to a gaming hell. How is that not wrong?”
“It was to teach you a lesson. To teach that lovely stubborn head a lesson.”
“You’re not my father. I need no lessons from you.”
“I’m very glad not to be your father. No more than you are my mother concerned with my posture. Actually, you’re like that woman with your risk-taking. You’re on your way to becoming a careless rake. What if something had happened?”
“Mr. Thackery was with me and Mrs. St. Maur, too.”
“You thought enough to bring a chaperone to this folly? I don’t want to talk of you and another man.”
Her brow lifted. More of her normal warm coloring showed, not the ghastly ashy paint. “I had to go. I had to track down a man named Sullivan.”
“If you needed a man, I’m here. Patience, I’m not going anywhere.”
“What?”
“You heard me, madam. If you wanted adventure, I could give that to you. You don’t need to go out and search for it. And you don’t need any other guides to debauchery. I’m plenty capable.”
She tugged at her cravat as if the flailing thing choked her. “You think I left Hamlin because of boredom?”
“I know I seem settled or dull. I know I’m order-driven.”
“Order-driven?”
“Yes, I have a lot of rules. I like rules.”
“Rule-driven?Obsessedwould be a better word, Repington.”
