Page 121 of Rakes & Reticules
“After tonight, Grandmother will no longer be a problem for any of us,” Patience told her confidently as she reached out to squeeze her sister’s shoulder. “Live your life, Mary-Anne. Be happy and don’t ever let anyone stop you.”
Fitz swallowed the lump in his throat, her words taking up space in the empty places of his heart. He wanted to be happy with Patience. It was something he had envisioned long ago—a home, children, and years of happiness—and it had all been ruined by her grandmother and Reeves.
“Will you do the same?” Mary-Anne asked Patience.
Patience did not answer as the two sisters stared at each other.
It was a question Fitz wanted the answer to more than he wanted air. He could tell she was still holding something back from him, but he did not have any idea what it could be.
“Goodnight, Mary-Anne.” Patience turned to Fitz. “Shall we go?” Her eyes were filled with a sadness he couldn’t understand.
“Of course.” He offered her his arm.
It felt right having her by his side. Her warmth was a constant comfort to him. They reached the butler who still stared curiously at Philip and Mary-Anne.
“The duke’s carriage is ready, but Mr. Reeves’ carriage is still unable to move. His coachman foolishly tried to maneuver around the other carriages and has completely entwined Mr. Reeves’ horses with another carriage.” Banks shook his head repeatedly, the gravity of the situation upsetting him.
“How horrid, Banks,” Patience said with a small quirk to her lips.
“Yes, I do hope they are able to free his carriage soon.” Fitz tried to hold back his laugh, happy that the Honorable Walter Reeves would not get his way.
Banks opened the door for them. Fitz escorted Patience out into the cool night air where Stonelake’s carriage was waiting for them. The queue of carriages was in utter disarray, the horses all agitated, jumping up and down. Coachmen tried to pull them apart and calm them, but there was no end to the chaos in front of them. Reeves’ carriage was in the center of it all, completely turned around in the wrong direction.
“Fortunately, the duke’s carriage has been spared since you all arrived earlier.” Banks stood beside Fitz, pointing to where Stonelake’s carriage sat out of the entanglement of horses and carriages.
Beside Fitz, Patience shivered in the cool night air, and he suddenly realized that she did not have a shawl or a cape. Making quick work of removing his tailcoat, he placed it around her thin shoulders.
She turned to him in shock, eyes round in surprise. “Thank you, Fitz,” she whispered, as he placed his hand on her lower back, escorting her to Stonelake’s carriage that sat slightly away from the others.
They walked past the long queue of carriages. Coachmen were shouting out orders to one another, as footmen tried to hold the horses. Reeves stood in the center of it all, cursing at his coachman.
“Dear God, man! Do something. I have to leave here this instant!” Reeves shouted, his head slashing toward where Fitz and Patience were walking.
They hadn’t stopped to view the chaos; Fitz didn’t want to have Patience linger in the cool night air for long.
Beside him, Patience let out a giggle. He turned to her knowing exactly what she found amusing. “I must say that is a little satisfying to see,” she said, tilting her head toward Reeves.
“Finally got your whore, I see,” Reeves called out to Fitz, the words slapping against his face like the cold wind.
He didn’t stop or care to think when he sprinted over to where his former friend stood in the center of horses and men. His fist connected to the Honorable Walter Reeves’ jaw. Fitz didn’t give a damn if he was making a scene or that he was now a member of the peerage. All he cared about was that this vile blackguard had offended the woman he loved.
Fitz loved her, five years ago and now, and he knew no matter what their future held, he would always love her.
His fist made contact with Reeves’ smug face, not once, not twice, but three times. Voices screamed around him as two men pulled and shouted at Fitz to stop.
“Sir! Sir!”
“Unhand him, man!”
“Fitz! Fitz, stop! Stop!” Through his rage filled haze he heard Patience’s sweet mellifluous voice, beckoning him back from madness.
He released his hold on his former friend, sneering down at the wastrel that he was. “If you ever call her that again, I will end your life. Do you understand me?” he asked, pointing at Reeves.
“No, please! Please don’t hurt him!” a shrill frantic voice called out, rushing over to stand between Fitz and Reeves.
“Cecelia, what the bloody hell are you doing here?” Patience asked, marching up to the small round woman in front of him.
Fitz stared from her to Reeves, suddenly suspecting that he had everything to do with the missing papers.
