Page 50 of A Rogue's Downfall
“Outside, with your permission, ma’am,” Mr. Bancroft said with a bow. “It is a lovely day for a lovely lady and for what I hope will be a lovelyconversation.”
“And you have a lovely way with words, sir,” Mrs. Peabody said regally. “You will wish to step outside,then, with my—”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, smiling his most dazzling and charming smile. “With your niece, if you please.”
Mrs. Peabody’s mouth hung open inelegantly. Nancy did a fair imitation of a statue. So did all theother ladies. Patricia’s head snapped up and all theblood drained out of it at the same moment. Mr. Bancroft continued to smile at his hostess.
“With my—?” she asked faintly.
“With yourniece, ma’am,” he said, transferring his gaze and his smile to Patricia. “With Miss Mangan. Ihave your husband’s permission.”
“With—Patricia?” Mrs. Peabody stared at him in disbelief.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said, bowing to her once more and stretching out a hand toward Patricia. “MissMangan, will you honor me with your company for astroll outside?”
She merely stared at him, quite as dumbfounded as everyone else until his eyes warmed and one eyelidclosed in a slow half wink. And she understood in aflash. She understood what he had done and was doingand why.
The—oh, theprecious rogue!
She got to her feet and, when he stepped close enough, placed her hand in his. Her own was icy, sherealized when she felt the warmth of his.
“Thank you, sir,” she said, allowing him to place her hand on his sleeve and lead her from the room, in whicha pin might have been heard crashing to the carpet.
It was, Patricia decided, quite the most delicious moment of her life.
It had worked beautifully. He had feared that perhaps she would not be in the salon with the other ladies, that perhaps she would have to be sent for.That would have spoiled the drama of the momenta little. But she had been there and everything hadproceeded according to plan, almost as if he had written the script and all the players had learned theirlines and actions to perfection.
And here she was, tripping along at his side, the top of her head reaching barely to his chin. His littlebird, who had kept him awake for a weekful of nights,though not in the usual way.
“To the lily pond?” he suggested when they were outside the house and down the marble steps. “Itseems the appropriate place to go, does it not?”
“To the lily pond.” She smiled up at him, tying his stomach in unfamiliar knots. No one had told himthat when she smiled she was pretty even by objectivestandards. Not that he could really see her by objective standards any longer.
He had expected her to be quiet, serious, wary. Puzzled. Reluctant to come with him. But she was still tripping along.
“Well, little bird,” he said, “did you like it? Was it appropriate?” He did not expect her to understandhis meaning. He thought he would have to explain.
“It was quite the most fiendish scheme I have ever been a witness to,” she said. “It was cruel in the extreme. You will certainly fry for this one, sir. Theyare going to have to construct a particularly fiery corner for you in hell. Ilovedit.”
He chuckled. “Did you?” he said. “I expected that after I had confessed all to you, you would lash outat me with both sharp edges of your tongue. Have Ipleased you, Patricia?”
She darted a startled look up at him. “Yes,” she said. “Thank you. Doubtless my life here will be madea misery once I have returned to the house and onceyou have gone on your way tomorrow, but it will beworth every moment. Perhaps I am cruel too, becauseundoubtedly Nancy will suffer dreadful mortification,but I cannot help feeling spiteful and glad. And I willnot have to suffer for long. Soon I will be leaving hereto teach.”
“Will you?” They were among the trees already, and he was parting branches for her so that her faceand arms would not be grazed. “You have heard fromthe parson who has your father’s living?”
He watched her hesitate and then smile. “Someone else has that appointment already,” she said. “But itwill be better to go somewhere new anyway. My uncleis going to help me find something. It will not takelong, I think. I am looking forward to it.”
They were at the lily pond, and he gestured for her to sit down before seating himself close beside her.“Are you?” he said. “I am disappointed.”
She turned her head to look at him.
“It was common knowledge why I went to talk to your uncle this morning,” he said.
She smiled with bright mischief. “What did you talk to him about?” she asked. “You certainly deceivedeveryone quite spectacularly.”
“I went to talk about a marriage contract,” he said.
“Oh.” Her smile faded. “I see. I misunderstood.You are merely teasing her, then. Punishing her for alittle while. You will ask her later today or tomorrow.Well ... Well, it is good enough. It still felt good.”
