A Friendly Alliance: A Regency Romance (Heirs of Berkshire Book 1)
Page 6
“I surely should,” Peter said carefully, “but clearly your daughter will not be one of them, what with all her suitors.”
Lady Allen’s mouth popped open and Peter silently cursed himself for being so callous. Juliana must be rubbing off on him. He cleared his throat. “But I understand the social pressures Miss Rebecca might be going through. I’ll reserve one dance for her.” He amended.
Lady Allen’s jaw locked. “That is very kind of you, Lord Seton. She will be most grateful.”
Peter bowed. “Good evening, Lady Allen.”
“Enjoy the ball, Lord Seton.” She walked away; her feathered head held high. He couldn’t help thinking she would fit in nicely with the likes of Lord Pincock.
He looked toward where Juliana had been standing. It was time to ask Patience’s parents if he could court her. The thought wasn’t as palatable as it had been just yesterday. He found Juliana and Patience laughing with a group of young men. At least three encircled Juliana, enraptured by whatever she was saying. Peter hadn’t realized she’d be so popular amongst the single men. It was a thought that sat heavy in his chest and he didn’t want to think why.
Patience was the first to see him. She smiled broadly as he walked towards them. When he stepped into the group, she linked her arm through his. “Ready to meet my parents?” She batted her eyelashes dramatically.
He smiled at her act. “Yes, if we are to continue with this plan of Juliana’s.” He whispered this part to her so as not to be overheard.
Juliana moved to Peter. “Of course we are still going through with it. Otherwise, you’ll have more than one Lady Allen on your heels and Patience may never be able to wed the man she loves.”
Peter shot his brows up at her. “It’s all highly irregular,” Peter squirmed.
Patience patted his arm. “Don’t you worry, it will only be for a few weeks.”
“What am I getting myself into?” It was Peters turn to take his eyes to the ceiling.
Juliana giggled as Patience led him to her parents, who were lounging on stuffed chairs chatting with their friends. Patience moved beside her father. “Father, Lord Seton would like to speak to you.”
“Heavens above!” Patient’s mother stood, rushing to Peter. “Lord Seton, it is an honor to see you.”
“The honor’s all mine,” Peter bowed, feeling like a fool in front of this woman who clearly only liked him for his title.
“Lord Seton, this is my mother, Mary Hawthorne, and my father, Nicolas Hawthorne.” Her father stood.
“Tis a pleasure to finally meet you,” Peter said, taking a slight bow.
“And I you,” Mr. Hawthorne said gruffly, darting his eyes to his daughter then back to him. Peter hoped this man didn’t see through the act they were performing.
An awkward silence ensued, in which Patience looked to Peter expectantly. “Lord Seton?” she asked. “Is there something you’d like to ask my father?”
Peter cleared his throat. “Yes. Mr. Hawthorne, I have become quite enthralled with your daughter. I’ve come to ask permission to court her exclusively.”
Mrs. Hawthorne squealed with excitement. “Yes, yes you may!” She cried the answer for her husband.
Peter smiled at Mrs. Hawthorne, before turning to her husband.
Mr. Hawthorne grunted. “Permission granted.” He looked as if he was not pleased with the situation. Peter wondered if the man might be repenting his decision in not letting his daughter marry the man she loved.
Mrs. Hawthorne giggled, clutching Patience’s hands. Patience grinned with her mother, but the light didn’t touch her eyes. She was bothered by something; her mischievous excitement had been squashed.
They walked away, Patience’ arm limply lying near the crook of his. He led her into the dance, but Patience stayed silent.
“Is anything the matter?” His concern for her heightened at her change in mood.
Patience met his eyes, and he saw a slight glimmer. “I just wish they’d shown that level of excitement when Walter asked for my hand in marriage. Or any excitement at all.” Her brow knit together.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
She pinned on a smile that did not meet her eyes. “The past is behind us. Shall we focus on the dance?”
As they danced the next two dances together, Peter noticed Rebecca was always in sight, watching him with her big green eyes, reminding him of his promise to her mother.
He thought of his own mother, alone at Alder Court and grieving over her lost husband. His heart twisted, and when the second dance ended, he searched the room for Juliana. If she hadn’t been there, he might have left the ball altogether.
He spotted her, using her charming smile on some poor fool. He wondered if she was doing it on purpose. Again, the thought irritated him, and he found himself wondering why.
“Is something on your mind?” Patience asked.
He gestured towards Juliana. “She has so many admirers.”
Patience chuckled. “Yes, Juliana is beautiful and amusing, a lethal combination. She draws men in like a bee to honey.”
“Does she have any interest in any of them?” Peter found himself asking, unable to bite his tongue in time. Juliana was here to see more of the world and find a possible husband.
“Not as far as I can tell. Although I believe she has an extra liking for Mr. Westcott.”
Peter moved them off the dance floor and he groaned inwardly as Miss Rebecca moved to them.
“Lord Seton?” Patience turned to the voice. Rebecca smiled shyly at him. “I wasn’t sure if you remembered me from last season,” she started.
“Yes,” he said quickly. “I remember being introduced.”
She kept her eyes trained on him, refusing to let him go. “I offer my sincerest condolences for the passing of your father. Is your mother well?”
“Grieving still, but she has good friends who are seeing to her.” Peter didn’t wish to discuss the subject, lastly with Miss Rebecca.
“Poor thing.” Rebecca’s voice dripped with fake sympathy. “I hear she is a very social creature. She must be crushed.”
Peter clenched his jaw. “Yes, she loved my father very much.” It was all the same words he’d used over and over again the past month.
“What inspired you to return to London?” Rebecca asked, not taking the hint that he did not wish to talk on the subject.
Patience dropped Peter’s arm and he sensed her irritation at being trapped in the conversation. “I needed a change of scenery,” he replied briskly.
Another song started and both women looked to Peter expectantly. He took a deep breath.
“Do you dance, Miss Rebecca?” He turned his full attention to her, getting his promise over with.
“I enjoy dancing very much,” Rebecca replied, wistful.
Peter patted Patience’s hand. “I will dance the next one with you.” He smiled artificially. “And the one after that. And the one after that.”
Patience smiled, a new light dancing in her eyes. She was enjoying this act very much. Peter caught a glimpse of the indignation in Rebecca’s eye’s as he talked with Patience.
“Go check on Miss Gibbon while I dance with Miss Rebecca.”
“Of course.” Patience smiled, moving towards Juliana.
“I don’t want to intrude—” Rebecca followed Patient’s retreating figure with catlike eyes.
“We are not yet betrothed. If I had my way, we would be before the season is over. But,” he turned his eyes to a surprised Rebecca. “Patience deserves a rest.”
“Indeed,” Rebecca said, fanning her face.
He smiled, offering her his arm, leading her into the dance. As they began, her touches lingered and her glances held longer than was polite, especially at her knowledge of his attachment to Patience. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Lord Seton.” Her earlier reservation disappeared. “I had hoped you would arrive this season.”
“I’m happy to have pleased you,” he said stiffly.
“I did not realize you and Miss Hawthorne were courting. Is this a recent development?”
He took his attention back to his partner. “Yes, I asked her today, and she accepted my company.”
“Haven’t you just met her these last two weeks?”
“Indeed,” he said, not expounding on her questions. Rebecca’s fingers tightened as she took his hand in hers.
“What is it about her you find irresistible?” Rebecca asked pleasantly, underlying the fact that she was like a cat with its prey.
Peter wasn’t prepared for the question. “There are many admirable qualities about Miss Patience—she.” He paused, trying to come up with a plausible explanation at his sudden attraction to her. “Is a loyal friend. She has been good to Miss Gibbon since the day they met.”
“I see.” She paused. “I am not sure if it’s my place to tell you that Miss Hawthorne has her heart invested in another man.”
Peter couldn’t stand women who brought other women down. “Yes, I am aware of Miss Patience’s recent heartbreak.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I wonder at your affection to Miss Patience when Miss Gibbon is talked of whenever your name is mentioned.”
Peter wondered at her interest in him, putting him on alert. “Yes, well, we are neighbors. We played together as children and she has become like a sister.”
The rest of the dance was awkward and stiff as Rebecca narrowed her eye in indignation at him. The song finally ended, and he happily led Miss Rebecca back to her mother.
Patience dutifully waited for him. “That looked enjoyable.” He did not miss her sarcastic tone.
Peter already wearied of this little game they played as he spotted Juliana being swept on to the dance floor by a young man with dark hair and incredibly long legs. “Would you care to dance?” he absently asked Patience, watching as Juliana placed her hand on the young man’s arm, squeezing, before pulling away.
“We might as well.” Patience smiled at his obvious annoyance.
They joined the dance near Juliana and her partner. This song required partner rotations; he would have a chance at dancing with Juliana. He didn’t reflect on why that fact gave him pleasure. He started off with Patience, then met Juliana. She grinned when he took her hands in his.
“I noticed you and Miss Rebecca. Was she sour?” Juliana’s eyes sparkled.
“Moderately. Have you taken a liking to any of your many admirers?” he asked, taking the subject away from that insufferable young woman. He was tired of hearing her name.
Juliana smirked. “Only a handful are tolerable at conversation. The rest are as dull as beeswax.” Her amusing quips made him laugh. She smiled at him conspiratorially. “I am so glad you are here.” Her eyes caught his. “London seems the brighter with you in it.”
Peter wanted to respond, but he found the words caught in his throat. With a last disarming smile, Juliana was caught by another partner.
He danced a few more numbers with Patience before leaving the party early, the evening ending bitterly for him. He did not wish to examine why.
Chapter Nine
Juliana lounged in the drawing room of her uncle’s townhouse with Patience, a book in her lap. She glanced up at Patience, who quietly worked on her needlepoint “How is the courtship with Lord Seton going?”
“Fine.” Patience didn’t look up when she answered. Something in her tone didn’t seem fine.
“But?” Juliana prompted.
Patience set down her needlepoint, turning her head to look out the window. “I miss Walter terribly. I want nothing more than to see him again, ask how he’s faring. I hope he hasn’t forgotten me already.”
Juliana was troubled knowing Patience longed for her past betrothed. She paused briefly, trying to figure a way to help. There had to be some way. “We must go see him,” she finally said.
“It would be improper.” Patience whirled her head to Juliana, looking startled.
Juliana closed her book, setting it aside. “You said he is working as a barrister?” she asked quickly, the idea taking shape as she thought on it.
“Yes—,” Patience said slowly, narrowing her eyes.
“We’ll have Lord Seton find out more information as to where he will be. He can escort us to find him. If Mr. Longman’s love is anything like you’ve described, he is longing for you as much as you are for him. He would be thrilled to see you.”
Patience hesitated. “Perhaps it would only cause more pain. My parents already refused him, what hope do we have?”
“Patience, I am surprised at your lack of faith. I am sure if you are meant to be together, it will happen—money or no. The next step is to let him know you still love him deeply.”
Patience’s brow knit together, a tortured look marring her features. Juliana wished she could console her friend, make everything turn out right, but she knew what an uphill battle they faced. If her parents would not allow them to wed, the only other option would be to run away with him and face social disgrace. It might ruin Walter’s business prospects as well and he would have nothing to support a wife with.
A nervous smile graced Patience’s lips. “You are right, I need to tell him how I feel.”
Juliana gave her friend a hug. “I’ll call for Lord Seton then. He shall help us puzzle it out.”
Two hours later, Peter arrived. He stepped into the drawing room a mischievous smile tugging his lips upward. “I am afraid to know why I am summoned.” He took a seat in front of the girls, then leaned back, crossing his legs.
“Do not get too comfortable.” Juliana leaned toward him. “We would like you to find out Mr. Longman’s whereabouts.”
Peter sat up, his eyes bulging in exasperation. “Have you gone mad?”
Juliana stared at him in annoyance. “Why is it lunacy for a woman to want a second chance at finding happiness? Huh, Lord Seton?” If she had known he was going to give her such a scolding, she would not have involved him.
Patience rushed in. “If Lord Seton thinks it foolish, perhaps we better not try.”
Juliana’s eyes widened at her friend. “He has no sense of adventure. Besides, he has never been in love. He does not know the pain you suffer.”
“And have you, Miss Gibbon?” He asked dryly.
“I have not been in love with a man,” she paused, thinking. “I love my ducks that come back to me every year.”
He chuckled. “You and that blasted lake!”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Someday I hope to be very much in love. I do not think I should marry without it.”
He stiffened. “Yes, well, let us hope it does not happen for a good long time.”
“And why is that?” She scoffed.
“Because your husband is going to have a very hard time of you. Perhaps if you mature a little more, you will become a woman of sense.”
“Peter! How can you be so cruel? To me, and to dear Patience.”
He let out an exasperated breath. “I have bent to one of your foolhardy schemes once, I will not do it again.”
“Then why don’t you take yourself away. Patience and I will put our heads together and figure a way to find him ourselves.”
He stood, pacing the room before standing in front of her, his irritation deepening. “You will not go traipsing about London alone. Promise me.”
Patience put her hand over Juliana’s, her eyes pleading her to promise.
“You are not the only man whom I can call upon to help. Mr. Westcott has said I only need to send for him, to be at my beck and call.” She shot that last part at him.
Peter scowled, but the fire dimmed, and she knew he would acquiesce. He let out a long slow breath before responding. “I have read in the paper today that Mr. Longman is working on a high-profile case involving a peer. If we go t
o the house of commons, we may get lucky and find him there.”
Juliana squealed. “Thank you, Pet—I mean, Lord Seton.”
“Yes, well we better get to it before I change my mind.” Juliana popped up from her place on the settee, helping her friend up as well. Patience didn’t seem as excited about their new adventure, but Juliana knew if they just had a chance to see each other, all would turn out well in the end.
“I will meet you out front in five minutes, if you are not there when I am ready to leave, I will take that as a sign that you have repented of this foolhardy business.” He put his top hat on his head before grabbing his cane. When he stepped out of the parlor, Juliana rushed Patience to ready herself. Peter would make good on his promise and leave them behind.
The girls carefully stepped inside the hackney that Peter had ordered. Peter slipped in, taking his seat in front of the girls. They jolted back as the cab took off, clattering down the stony streets.
“Thank you for this, Lord Seton,” Patience said.
“It is my pleasure.” Peter nodded slightly. “I hope we can find your gentleman.”
Juliana held in her smile at Peter’s answer. His polite veneer had slipped neatly into place. She looked out the window as they moved along London’s filthy streets. She yearned for her lake, for the thicket behind her home. Her friends from home, made London sound so magical, but Juliana found it quite the opposite. If she hadn’t met Patience, or if Peter hadn’t come to rescue her, she doubted she would have lasted this long.
When they arrived at the House of Commons, they exited the carriage. Juliana craned her neck to see the tall majestic spires of Westminster. “Tis much bigger than I expected.” She wondered aloud.
“Yes, it is a grand edifice. I have not seen its rival.” Peter took Juliana’s elbow to steer her in the right direction.
“Do you think he will be in there?” Patience asked Peter.
“I have no idea. We can loiter near the chapel. He may be there as a witness, but please do not get your hopes up. We are likely to fail.”
“We can inquire inside.” Juliana took a step in the direction Peter pointed.