Page 26 of Denying the Duke (Lords and Ladies in Love 3)

“Good afternoon, Your Grace.” The man at the door gave a perfect bow.

“Is Lady Patience at home?”

The man looked genuinely sorry. “Unfortunately, Your Grace, Lady Patience and Lady Wilton are making afternoon calls.”

Alex hesitated. “Is Lady Patience’s lady’s maid about?”

If the butler thought anything unusual about a duke asking for a lady’s maid, nothing showed in his demeanor. “If you will follow me to the drawing room, I will send Polly to you.”

Alex studied the man for a moment. “Are you Wickham?”

“I am, Your Grace.” A slight surprise caused the man’s brows to rise.

Alex grinned. “I hear you are an exceptional chess player.”

A slight blush rose to the man’s cheeks. “I try, Your Grace.”

After a short consultation with Polly, Alex set off to the mews behind his townhouse to have his Landau readied.

Chapter Eight

Patience had no sooner settled into a chair in Lady Albright’s drawing room than Miss Cissy Spencer hurried across the room and sat alongside her. “Oh, goodness, Lady Patience. We were so sorry to hear about His Grace’s death. You must be beside yourself. I mean”—she turned as if she were sharing a great secret, and lowered her voice—“given the way he was found.” She shivered. “It must have been awful for his…” She stopped and covered her mouth, blushing quite red.

This was Patience’s first foray into Society since Cyrus’s death. Though she would not be comfortable attending balls just yet, she had bent to Mother’s suggestion that she should attend some afternoon calls, rides in the park, and more sedate social events.

“His Grace, the Duke of Bedford.” Lady Albright’s butler made the staid announcement and stepped aside as Alex entered the room.

Their hostess fluttered and fawned as Alex bent over her hand. She gave a telling glance to her daughter, Lady Patricia, who immediately patted the seat next to her. “Your Grace, please do sit here. I will be happy to pour you some tea.”

Patience grinned at Alex’s smile as he joined Lady Patricia. She knew well that smile was insincere. It appeared the marriage-minded mamas and daughters-in-waiting had already begun their campaign to snag a duke. Which raised the question: What exactly is Alex doing here? Had he decided to begin his search for a bride? Was Lady Patricia on his list of potential candidates?

She quelled the sudden urge to cry. She hadn’t even had a chance to get to know him again, yet, it appeared he might be snatched from her before she decided if their young love had survived the four years of separation.

“His Grace is so handsome, is he not?” Miss Cissy whispered close to Patience’s ear. “I know someone like Lady Patricia will catch him, however. Her mother is notorious when it comes to matchmaking. She secured titles for all three of her other daughters, but a duke would be her pièce de résistance. They make a lovely couple, do they not?’

Patience studied the two of them, their heads bent in conversation. It bothered her to see them so close together, his dark brown curls to her pale blond locks. “Yes, they are charming together.” She hated how her voice shook.

Miss Cissy regarded her with curiosity. “Do you have intentions toward His Grace? After all, he is your deceased betrothed’s brother. Had you met him before he returned from the military?”

She shrugged. “Once when we were quite young.” When we fell in love and made promises to each other to wait three years, but our parents had other plans.

Miss Cissy sighed again. “He is certainly easy to look at.”

She’d had enough. Watching Lady Patricia hang on his every word and edge closer to him on the settee, apparently with her mother’s blessing, turned her stomach and threatened a headache. “Mother, I would like to leave.”

“Of course, dear.” They both stood, which gained Alex’s attention.

“One moment, ladies,” he said to Mother. He turned to Lady Patricia. “I am afraid I must

take my leave now. Thank you for a pleasant chat.”

Her face fell when he stood. “Oh, Your Grace, you have hardly spent any time. Can you not stay a bit longer? I was so enjoying our conversation.”

Lady Albright jumped in. “Yes, Your Grace. I am sure Lady Patricia would love to show you the gardens.” Both women beamed at him, apparently forgetting it was highly unlikely any flowers would be in bloom in late March.

He bowed. “I would love to view your gardens. Perhaps another time.” His cool voice and staid expression showed no emotion, whereas at one time he’d been so open she could read every thought on his face. “But I fear I must attend to some business.”

Lady Patricia’s hopeful smile turned into what she must have thought was a flirting pout. “Very well, Your Grace, perhaps some other time, then. I shall see you to the door.”