Page 4 of Denying the Duke (Lords and Ladies in Love 3)

Lord Alex was unlike anyone she’d ever met—handsome, with dark brown unruly hair, hazel eyes that seemed to reach into her soul, and a smile as warm as a sunny day. It startled her that she’d had the urge to go up on her tiptoes and kiss him. Now, even thinking about it made her face heat up. She glanced quickly at her mother to see if she noticed Patience’s discomfort.

Thankfully, she was engaged in a deep conversation with the duchess, not paying any attention to Patience. Which left Patience with time to dream about Lord Alex.

She had been surprised by Father’s announcement that they had been invited to the Duke of Bedford’s country estate. She’d not known her father to be friendly with the duke. But then, she’d had very little to say to him for most of her life. As an only child, and a girl, she had been a disappointment, since he had no one to inherit his title and estate.

Patience had always tried to please the man, but by the time she’d reached ten years, she’d discovered it was best to stay out of his sight. Although everyone in the house pretended they didn’t know, Patience was aware of the times Father had taken his hands to Mother.

Her mother would remain behind closed doors in her bedchamber for a few days, leaving word that she was “feeling unsettled.” When she emerged, everyone ignored the face powder attempting to hide the remainder of the beating she had taken at the hands of the man who had promised to love, honor, and cherish her.

Patience placed the cup on the saucer just as Lord Alex strode past the room, obviously having returned from a ride. His hair was hopelessly mussed, his cravat loose, and his cheeks red. He glanced briefly as he passed and stopped once his eyes met hers.

She grinned as he quickly ran his fingers through his hair, then tried to straighten his cravat. Any other gentleman would have retired to his bedchamber to right himself, but she loved that Lord Alex did not. He entered the room and bowed to the two mothers, then made his way toward her.

“Good afternoon, my lady.” He bowed briefly and took the seat across from her. Tea things sat on a low table between them. Instead of waiting for Her Grace to pour, or instruct a maid to do so, Patience took up the teapot. “Tea, my lord?”

A blush rose to her face at her forwardness. If Mother had noticed, she would be in immense trouble later, but she was busy once again chattering away with the duchess. Patience relished seeing her mother enjoy herself. The poor woman had so few comforts in her own home, always walking on tiptoes when her father was about.

“I would love tea, my lady.” He beamed at her, and short little flutters started up in her stomach once again. She tried, with some success, to pour his tea without sloshing it all over the table. Never had she had so much trouble pouring. Goodness, the man’s presence rattled her. A foolish thought, since he was a man grown, and she a girl barely out of the schoolroom.

He took the cup from her hand, their fingers brushing briefly. Patience drew in a breath and attempted to cover up her unease by offering Lord Alex a plate with biscuits and tarts on it. She bit her lip when her hand shook as she held out the plate. Lord Alex covered her hand with his to steady it. Continuing to stare as his hand cupped hers, she felt an absolute fool.

“Lady Patience?” His deep voice only made her hands shake more.

“Yes.” She stiffened her shoulders and looked him in the eye. She should not have done that. The concern and understanding there almost made her weep.

“I don’t care for a biscuit, thank you.” He lowered both of their hands to the table. The plate rattled as they set it down.

Her Grace and Mother both turned in their direction. “Is everything all right, my dear?” Mother said.

“Splendid, my lady,” Lord Alex replied.

“Oh, dear me, Lady Wilton.” Her Grace’s hands fluttered “I believe I have been remiss. I never introduced my second son, Lord Alex Pemberton.”

Patience threw a quick glance in Lord Alex’s direction to see his lips tighten as he stood and bowed to her mother. “My lady, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Mother nodded in his direction, and Lord Alex sat again. No longer in the mood for tea, Patience pushed her cup aside. “You appear to have beautiful gardens here at Woburn Abbey, my lord.”

Almost as if he had read her mind, Lord Alex pushed his cup aside as well. “I would love to show them to you, my lady.” He turned to her mother. “Lady Wilton, may I have permission to show Lady Patience our gardens?”

Her Grace looked out the window. “It is raining.”

Patience stifled a giggle at the look of surprise on Lord Alex’s face. Even though he had just returned from outdoors, he apparently had forgotten the weather. Not wishing to miss the opportunity to speak with him without their mothers present, Patience said, “I noticed a lovely gallery on the way to my room before. Would it be permissible, Your Grace, for Lord Alex to show me his ancestors?”

The women glanced at each other, a silent message passing between them. She hoped it wasn’t a condemnation of her forwardness. “I suppose it would be all right. We have about two hours before we need to dress for dinner.”

Not sure what had caused the look, Patience stood and attempted not to grin at Lord Alex. As a true gentleman, he stood and offered her his arm. They proceeded out of the drawing room and enter

ed the corridor.

“Are you truly interested in my ancestors?” he spoke quietly, close to her ears. “I surely am not.”

“Why not?”

Lord Alex shrugged. “They all look stodgy enough to scare small children. At least they did me when I was young. Honestly, I’ve never felt a part of the family.”

Patience knew the feeling. While her mother tried very hard to show her only child love, the tension surrounding their home when her father was in residence kept her mother in a constant state of unrest. Thankfully, the Earl of Wilton was not at home much.

Although she knew very little about what went on between men and women in the privacy of their bedchamber, she knew from gossip picked up from the servants that her father had other women besides her mother. All things considered, Patience couldn’t help but believe that was a relief to her mother.