Page 112 of Rakes & Reticules
“No, I did not,” she blurted, unable to contain herself. “Are you… certain my grandmother told you this?” The question left her slowly as bile rose up in her throat.
It couldn’t be possible; her grandmother could not have known Reeves’ true designs before the garden incident.
The Honorable Walter Reeves’ true intention was to make Patience his mistress.
It was all arranged: a house had been purchased for Patience. Funds would have been set aside for an allowance. Any children from their nefarious union would have received the best of educations. Or so that is what Mr. Reeves told her in the garden.
It was simply disgusting, for a lack of a better term.
Not only was she not a whore, but she did not feel any romantic inclination toward Mr. Reeves at all.
The most hurtful and demeaning part of it was that her grandmother encouraged her to accept him. It was unfathomable and she would never forgive her.
She had lost Fitz, her reputation, and her grandmother in one single night.
“What?” Fitz asked, stumbling slightly.
She didn’t answer him. The truth was that she had wanted to marry Fitz. He had only been in town three short months, but in that time, he had become important to her.
The chatter and whispers around them continued to grow, but they ignored it all.
“You’ve become popular,” he said, his head tilting to the small group gathering by Mr. Reeves.
“I don’t believepopularis the correct term for it.” It was liberating to ignore the displeased faces and the whispers.
“Perhaps you’ll have to tell me about it.” He leaned in closer, the heat of his body warming her in places she had thought long dead.
“I don't think I will. I prefer you to believe that I am this mysterious older woman now.” Patience met his gaze, her own traveling from his eyes to his lips. The top one was slightly thinner, but the bottom was plump and made to be kissed.
When they were young, Patience and Fitz had not found the opportunity nor the courage to be improper with one another. Now it was all she could think of. Being in his arms and watching his sensual lips smirk at her in a roguish manner, all had her wanting Fitz to be her first kiss.
Patience had not been kissed in her entire life, no matter what rumors Mr. Reeves told all of Brighton. She was as pure as freshly fallen snow.
“You are a mysterious woman now, if only slightly older,” he teased, his gaze traveling from her eyes and back to her lips.
Leaning in, Patience giggled,giggled, like she was a girl of eight and ten and not a woman well on the shelf. According to her grandmother, at least. “Slightly older,is a nice way of saying spinster.”
“You are still the most beautiful, entertaining person I've ever beheld.” He captured her with his gaze that had her longing for more than a solitary life as a spinster teacher.
The small part of Patience that still longed for attention perked up at his pretty words. “I must warn you, my lord, that flattery does not affect me. I am no young debutant who would swoon.”
“No, you never were.” He led her around the ballroom floor ignoring every other occupant. “What would make you swoon?”
They weren’t the only two people in the room, but it felt like he was the only one who understood her. It had always been like that with Fitz. Being with him again, a person who did not judge her, was liberating. She had lived the last years of her life being judged by everyone, even those who were supposed to love her most.
Is that what it would be like away from Brighton? Free from her family and the whispers? Liberating?
She looked up into questioning green eyes, wondering who he really was now. From her observation Fitz was still kind and considerate.
No, even though he was now a lord, he still spoke to her like she was an equal. This man, the one who had always treated Patience better than most of the people she’d known her entire life.
She thought about his teasing question for a moment. “Pheasant, perhaps.” Patience tilted her head to the side. “I’m actually known for swooning over a good biscuit.”
His loud buoyant laughter pierced her, making her feel all warm and tingly inside. She couldn’t stop the permanent smile on her face or the constant flutter of her eyelashes.
Bloody hell, she was actually flirting with him like no time had passed between them. Usually, Patience ran away at the first sign of interest from a person of the opposite sex.
He leaned in closer, his breath on her lips. A tremor skipped up her spine at having him so near. Little specks of brown gleamed in his green eyes that added an extra layer of mystery to him.
