Page 36 of The Truth about the Viscount
“Thank you for telling me, Eleanor. I was unaware of that.”
Eleanor took Patience’s hand, coming around to face her with a serious expression on her face – one that was most unusual for her.
“Patience, I must ask you. Are you sure that your connection with Lord Hastings is worth this difficulty? And you need not deny it, or pretend that it is not to do with Lord Hastings, for I am very well aware that it is him that you have been speaking with. And that, somehow, there is a connection to Lord Newforth who, from what I have heard, was clearly desirous to injure him in some way.”
Considering all that her friend had said, Patience hesitated for a few moments before answering.
“Yes, I am sure that it is,” she said, calmly. “Lord Hastings has done nothing wrong and there is no reason for menotto be as connected with him as I desire to be. Lord Newforth and Lady Winters will neither frighten me nor chase me away.”
Besides which,she thought silently,I think that my heart would ache should I step away from him. Slowly but with great certainty, Lord Hastings has begun to take hold of my heart.
Chapter Thirteen
“Have you seen the drawings in The London Chronicle?”
Daniel smiled at his mother.
“Yes, I have. I have seen every one of them, I think, for they are quite remarkable.”
His mother nodded, setting the paper down.
“Is Lady Patience not the one you took tea with yesterday?”
“And the one you took a walk in the park with only a few days ago?”
Daniel turned his head just as Isabella came into the dining room.
“Yes, my dear sister, the very same.”
“I did go to speak with her at the ball some two evenings ago.” Isabella sat down and gratefully accepted the cup of tea from her mother. “I think that she is very pleasing.”
She shared a look with their mother before turning her attention back to Daniel, who immediately began to scowl.
“Why ever do you look like that?” Lady Hastings threw up her hands. “All we are doing is enquiring about the young lady that you are spending time with, and this is the response that you give us? You think to scowl at us?”
She spoke with firmness in her voice but with a twinkle in her eye which told Daniel that she knew precisely what she was doing – and how it was making him feel.
“I think that Lady Patience is a young lady like no other,” Daniel admitted, deciding to be entirely honest. “I wasmostdisagreeable, I confess it, but she has been forgiving, understanding, and more than willing to spend time with me, and assist me, even though I have not asked her to do so.” Again, his mother and Isabella shared a look and, a little exasperated, Daniel threw up his hands. “But that does not mean anything, of course. Might I remind you that I am concentrating solely on Isabella’s wedding at this juncture?”
And seeking to avoid all that Lord Newforth might seek to do.
“Very well, very well.” Lady Hastings waved one hand vaguely as Isabella giggled, turning her head away. “We shall not ask you any longer. Though, she does have something of a reputation now, given that her drawings are printed in The London Chronicle.”
“Agoodreputation, yes?”
Lady Hastings nodded in answer to Daniel’s question.
“Yes, of course. All of thetonthink well of her, given her talent!”
Daniel smiled, the lady coming to the forefront of his mind.
And I want nothing whatsoever to damage that.
“Hastings.”
Daniel, picking up a glass of brandy, turned to his friend.
“Milthorpe, good evening.”
