Page 28 of The Truth about the Viscount
“I believe you because of your fervor, Lady Patience.”
Lord Hastings squeezed her hand and Patience, a flush on her face, smiled and then, after a moment, pulled her hand away. She had not really thought about what she was doing in holding Lord Hastings’ hand, and certainly had not intended to hold it for so long! In her fervor, as Lord Hastings had called it, she had not even noticed it. Now, she could only pray that he did not think her improper!
“I am sorry that I rushed towards you in such a way,” she said, only for Lord Hastings to chuckle.
“Given the way I rushed towards you at the ball, Lady Patience, you have no reason to apologize. I am the one who ought to apologize to you, which I shall do at this very moment.” Putting one hand to his heart, he bowed towards her. “Forgive me for how I demanded to speak with you at the ball, Lady Patience. I was upset and, truth be told, quite angry at what had been said.” He winced, looking away. “Not because there was no truth in it, as Lord Milthorpe has reminded me, but because I have found myself a little… less than pleased with society of late. I felt as though this was yet another way for them to whisper about me, reminding me of all that I have come to dislike about theton. Though I am glad to hear that you had nothing to do with it, Lady Patience.” He smiled, a brightness coming into his eyes which Patience had never seen before, making her heart jump in her chest. “Your work is quite remarkable. I know that my sisterandLord Milthorpe were both quite taken with your drawing of them. You captured something there that has given them a lot of hope.”
Patience did not understand why hope was something that was needed in the seemingly happy betrothal between LordMilthorpe and Miss Spearton but, all the same, she smiled at Lord Hastings, glad to hear the kindness in his voice.
“Thank you for your trust in me, Lord Hastings. It means a good deal to me to have you believe what I have said. You cannot know of the strain that bore down upon me when I realized what you thought! It is not at all as you believed, and I am greatly relieved to know that you can see that now.”
“I can.” With a smile, Lord Hastings gestured to the door. “Are you here with your mother and sister?”
“And Eleanor, my cousin,” Patience answered, her heart beginning to slow from what had been a very frantic rhythm indeed. “And you? Are you here with your sister?”
He shook his head.
“No, I came alone.”
“Ah.” Her smile grew as she realized his reason for stepping into such an establishment. “Then you must be seeking out a gift for her.”
Lord Hastings laughed softly, confusing Patience for a moment, only for him to nod. “Yes, yes, that is myonlyreason for being in such a place as this. For my mother too, mayhap, for the betrothal ball is soon to be upon us and I now think it would be very fitting for them to both receive a gift from me.”
“I am sure that they would very much appreciate any sort of kindness from you in that regard, yes.”
With a small tilt of his head, Lord Hastings seemed to consider for a moment before, with a slight lift of his shoulders – as though he had not been certain about something – he smiled.
“Might you be willing to advise me, Lady Patience? I confess to knowing very little about such things as this.”
With a grand sweep of his hand across the shop, he looked back at her, a hopeful glint in his eye.
“But of course!” Delighted to have been asked and seeing it as his way of assuring her that he took every word that she had saidas truth, Patience turned to look at the many ribbons, buttons, lace, and more within the shop. “I would be more than delighted to help you. I am sure that we will be able to find something quite lovely that both your mother and your sister will adore.”
Chapter Eleven
“Good evening.”
Daniel inclined his head as Lord Gilmerton and his wife took their leave of him, relieved that the conversation had gone well. He had been bold and had chosen to step out into society again, despite Lord Newforth’s warnings. After his conversation the previous day with Lady Patience, and his understanding that she hadnotwritten those words about him as he had thought, Daniel had been emboldened. Yes, he was still going to be careful and cautious and yes, he certainly was not about to fully step back into society, for his feelings on that remained the same, but neither was he about to hide himself away. It was not for his own sake that he did that, however, but solely for Isabella’s who, at this very moment, was standing beside him, seemingly delighted with every moment of this ball.
“Your own betrothal ball is in a fortnight,” Daniel murmured to her, her hand on his arm as they made their way around the ballroom, solely so that Isabella might nod and smile at others, though Daniel’s expression remained somewhat fixed and a little clouded. “I do hope that it will go well for you, Isabella. You deserve to have nothing but honor and happiness.”
“I am sure that it shall.” Isabella smiled up at him, her eyes bright as the candlelight flickered across the copper in her hair. “Mama is pleased with the match, society is pleased with the match and, if I am to be entirely truthful, brother, I should say that I too am truly delighted with Lord Milthorpe.”
Daniel stopped walking at once, pausing as he turned his head to look fully into his sister’s eyes.
“I beg your pardon?” he said, speaking quietly, but with great deliberation as a hint of color came into his sister’s face. “Are you trying to tell me that you are happy that you are betrothed to Lord Milthorpe? That the match is, to your mind, an excellent one?”
“It is better than Lord Newforth, certainly!” Isabella laughed, though the color in her face heightened all the more. After a short pause, she let out a soft sigh and then lifted her shoulders lightly. “If I am to be entirely truthful, then I should tell you that my heart has found itself quite contented with Milthorpe. He has long been a friend of mine, as he has been to you also, but there is something in our connection now which makes my interest and, indeed, my affection for him, grow steadily. You may think me a little foolish, for you have never thought or considered love or affection and things like that, but it has been vastly important to me.”
Daniel put his hand over hers as it sat on his arm.
“You quite mistake me, my dear sister. It is not that I think any less of you or that I think you in the least bit foolish. Indeed, it is quite the opposite!”
“Oh?”
He smiled, his heart warming.
“I am glad, Isabella. Overjoyed, I think, to hear that you have found a happiness with Lord Milthorpe that you had always hoped for. I will be entirely honest and state that I am a littlesurprised, and that I did not expect such a thing, but all the same, I am very happy indeed to hear of it.”
