The Notorious Bridegroom

by Kit Donner

  He watched her carefully. No matter what, his estimation of her couldn’t have been higher. First her acts of loyalty for her brother and now her solicitousness for Lady Elverston’s standing in Society. Did she never stop caring? Possibly not. And when she loved? He knew instinctively her love would be a unique treasure to last a lifetime. Could he ever earn her love? His cynical heart wondered such. At what price?

  She waited for what seemed an eternity. Finally, the words tore from her heart. “I shall leave tomorrow to return home. Of course I’ll take Sally with me. But my brother still needs your help, and I would hope that you wouldn’t punish him because of the trouble I’ve caused you.”

  Bryce spanned the distance between them in a heartbeat. “You don’t know me at all if you think I wouldn’t help your brother out of his troubles,” his words harsher than he intended. He finished with a curt order. “You aren’t leaving.”

  She could hardly believe his clipped words. After pouring out her heart and begging his forgiveness, he still wanted her to stay. “I can’t stay here, not in my current position, it would never do.”

  He finally smiled at her. She needed him, oh, how she needed him. “I’ll find you a new position. Until then, I will tell you when your services are no longer needed.” Until forever, but he kept his thoughts quiet. He drew her slowly toward him, wrapping his arms around her before bending down to place a kiss on her surprised lips.

  The fire crackled behind him as he expertly plied her mouth with a warm kiss that instantly grew passionate and demanding. He felt her very willing response as she stood on tiptoe to wrap her arms around his shoulders. His hands encircled her waist and pressed her pliant form against his own hard, demanding one, reminding Patience of what they had known before.

  She moaned sweetly in protest when he traced her red, swollen lips with his playful tongue. Before he realized it, her tongue swept out to capture his and drew it back into her hot, wet mouth, which caused him to growl in delight at her aggression.

  Their erotic play of tongues became a battleground, with him stroking her mouth, giving and taking, leaving little breath for either of them. Her pulse roared in excitement, what power he commanded over her.

  He suddenly stopped and drew back. When she frowned in puzzlement, her chest heaving from lack of air, he gently wiped a tear from her cheek that had fallen unbeknownst to her and licked the salty wetness from his finger.

  He closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against hers, having difficulty breathing. Then he straightened, once more under control.

  “I want you. But not for some misguided gratitude or other noble cause. When we make love, it will be because you want me as much as I want you.” He paused, his blue eyes like the stormiest seas, betraying his calm exterior. “And make no mistake, Miss Patience Mandeley, that day of reckoning is fast approaching.”

  He opened the door behind her and stalked out without looking back.

  Making her way slowly upstairs, finally drained and sleepy, Patience sat by her bedroom window for a long while, crying with the rain.

  Chapter 21

  Another gray day, Patience thought dismally, staring out her bedroom window. She had already been summoned to his lordship in the front parlor, probably for a continuation of his inquisition from last night. Sally had left earlier with Lem to go to the kitchen. Wearing a favorite pale-green muslin dress, she walked slowly down the curved staircase and across the marble floor before turning the doorknob, sighing, her hand shaking slightly.

  She entered the front parlor to discover Lady Elverston sitting by the fireplace, who smiled encouragingly at her. Were they discussing the disaster last night? She hesitated by the door, her face flushed in anticipation of her reception.

  Bryce stood when she entered the room, his face an inscrutable mask, as Lady Elverston rose gracefully from her wing chair to greet Patience.

  Sitting next to Patience on the settee, the marchioness began, “Please forgive my early call, but your sudden departure last night troubled me. I told Lord Elverston I must hurry to see Miss Mandeley to see how she does this morning, and, of course, how the little girl was adjusting.”

  Patience dipped her head in acknowledgment and shyly responded, “Thank you for your many kindnesses and concern. I’m terribly sorry about last night. Had I known I would create such a scene, I would never have thought…”

  Lady Elverston held up her hand to forestall any more martyrdom. “I cannot believe the noise the countess started last night. You know, my dear gel, most of the ton cannot abide her awful French manners and most hope she will go back to Boney and be a thorn in his side!” She laughed at her jest.

  Lord Londringham had not yet joined their conversation, but Patience felt his strong presence in the bright room.

  The marchioness continued, “But that is water under the bridge. My dear, I was simply explaining to Lord Londringham that you must attend me at Vauxhall Gardens tonight.”

  Patience looked askance, and shook her head no. She couldn’t endure to be the cause of further humiliation for either her friend or Lord Londringham.

  But Lady Elverston was prepared for any argument. “Hear me out, I beg you. The countess truly did little harm last night that a few whispers in the right ear cannot correct.”

  Stone interrupted Lady Elverston’s persuasions with a silver tray, carrying a calling card to announce Mr. Gunner Simkins.

  The energetic young man Patience had danced with last night entered the room, his nervous right hand betraying his confidence. “Lord Londringham, my Lady Elverston, and Miss Mandeley, if I may?” Patience smiled tentatively and with a quick look at Lord Londringham, realized the poor boy entirely missed Bryce’s dark look of irritation.

  Gunner Simkins addressed himself to Patience. “When you left so suddenly at the ball with the little girl, I was concerned—so much so that I have presented myself here this morning to inquire after your welfare.” He bowed slightly to her, unsure of where to stand or what to do next.

  Patience’s eyes grew rounder, her face pale against the light green of her dress. “Mr. Simkins, I don’t know what to say at this unexpected honor. We only danced one dance, and I didn’t have the opportunity to bid you good night, so hurried was our departure.”

  Simkins jumped in, “That is why I am here, I wanted to ask you a rather personal question, if you don’t find me impertinent.” His face turned slightly red beneath his blond hair.

  Bryce interrupted the casual conversation. “Miss Mandeley has no time for questions from you. You have paid your respects, there’s the door.” His stern voice brooked no issue.

  Lady Elverston didn’t miss a thing and tskked the earl. “Londringham, let us at least hear what the gentleman came here to say. It would be rather rude of us to send him on his way, so quickly.”

  All three turned to face the intruder, who ran a shaky finger under his cravat. “You see, miss, I was wondering if whether the story is true.”

  Patience’s face turned even paler, and she replied in a husky voice, “What story?” She had been living so many lies, the truth became harder to remember.

  With a look Lady Elverston silently prevented Londringham from throwing the young swain out.

  Simkins responded, “Word has it that you were Lord Londringham’s housemaid.” The words rushed from him as he studiously avoided the earl’s glare.

  Lady Elverston’s silvery laugh rippled across the suddenly tomblike room. “How preposterous a suggestion, Mr. Simkins. A baronet’s sister, a housemaid?” She rose gracefully and crossed the room to the young man. “Actually, dear boy, the truth of the matter is, Miss Patience and I had a little wager.”

  She continued parading around the room, drawing his rapt attention. “The country can sometimes become so terribly dull that I wagered Miss Mandeley she could not pass herself off as a housemaid at Londringham’s estate. Miss Mandeley performed magnificently, completely fooling everyone, except for Londringham, the clever man who soon discovered our
lark. Being the good sport that he is…”

  Bryce, who had watched the scene from his desk, walked over to Lady Elverston’s side. “I decided to give Miss Mandeley a Season since her father was an old friend of the family’s,” he said, smoothly finishing Lady Elverston’s story.

  Patience stared blankly at both of them. Oh, bother. Because of her charade, they had both decided to lie on her behalf.

  Simkins’s eyes looked ready to pop from his head. “A real adventuress?” He turned to Patience with an even more admiring, infatuated glance. “Can you be the real thing?” he asked in awe.

  She had the grace to blush under his glowing adoration. “I…well,” she sputtered, trying to think of a suitable reply. God would never scratch her slate clean if she continued these falsehoods.

  Bryce summoned Stone. “Of course she is, young man. Now that you have the answer you sought, you’ll want to be on your way.”

  Simkins hesitated before Patience. “Ah, miss, is it possible you may take a ride in the park this afternoon? With me?”

  Bryce answered before Patience had a chance. “This afternoon Miss Mandeley will be busy and for several afternoons after that.”

  Looking at Bryce’s determined face, Patience nodded slightly to Simkins. “Perhaps another time?” She smiled at the shy man who she was convinced had never braved an adversary fiercer than Lord Londringham. She couldn’t send him off without some sort of reward for his courage.

  The young man turned his hat around in his hands, bedazzled by Patience’s winsome smile and warm regard. “Ah, miss, I almost forgot. You dropped this at the ball. I came to return it.” He shyly proffered a freshly pressed handkerchief into her hand.

  His chivalry surprised Patience. “Sally must have dropped it before we left. It’s a favorite of mine, I promise not to be so careless in the future.”

  Her sweet gratitude was more than he could bear. He stammered, “It would be an honor to…to return all your handkerchiefs to you.” A sudden blush reached his hairline.

  Bryce opened the parlor door while informing the young swain that he must spend his time more wisely than erranding handkerchiefs to ladies.

  Stone arrived to usher the besotted young man out the door, but before Simkins left he remembered his manners. “Adieu, Miss Mandeley, until later. Lord Londringham and Lady Elverston, it has been the greatest of pleasures.” One more adoring look at Patience, and he was gone.

  Bryce threw himself on the settee, looking over at Patience with raised eyebrows. “What a simpering fool and how could you encourage him?” His voice sounded harsher in his address to her than he realized.

  She stared down his irrational ire. “Was that what I was doing? I had no idea a simple thank you would allow the young man to think he could pay court to me.”

  “You were flirting with him, and you know it,” Bryce growled.

  Lady Elverston thought it best to intercede. “La, would you look at you two? I would say you are two lovers quarreling, if ever I saw it, but I know that not to be true. Patience, would you allow me a moment alone with his lordship? I have some matters to discuss with him. Until tonight.” She smiled at Patience.

  Patience drew up her shoulders squarely, set to vacate the room. “We are certainly not lovers!” she cried, disagreeing almost too vehemently with Bryce. And then, directing her last comment to Bryce before sweeping from the room: “And I was not flirting!”

  Bryce ignored Patience, pondering his old friend’s words.

  An hour later, Bryce found Patience in the kitchen with Sally, Martha, and Melenroy. Flour covered the big wooden table, the floor, and the laughing women. Sally stood on a chair giggling while Melenroy, Martha, and Patience paraded around the chair pretending the little girl was the Fairy Queen. Flour became fairy dust, which rose in a cloud to the ceiling.

  When Patience sneezed after throwing a fistful of flour, Bryce, leaning against the doorjamb responded, “Gesundheit.”

  She whirled around in surprise, catching Martha’s and Melenroy’s attention. Their noisy song in tribute to the Fairy Queen stalled, drifting like the flour onto the floor.

  Melenroy hurried into action, grabbing a broom and viciously swiping at the uncooperative flour dust. Martha scooped Sally from her “throne” and into her arms, murmuring something about cleaning her up as she passed by Patience.

  Bryce lifted one eyebrow with barely a hint of a smile. Patience saw him staring at her dress, and following his downward glance, she saw her once-green frock, now whiter in appearance. She raised her head and began, “My lord, Martha and I found Sally with Melenroy, and she seemed rather sad. We were trying to cheer her up,” she whispered lamely.

  “No explanation needed. We must discuss Sally’s welfare. However, there is something more pressing I must share with you. Would you please attend me in the parlor?”

  “May I first make myself more presentable?”

  Bryce hesitated. “What I have to say you’ll not wish to wait.”

  His words struck a chill in her heart. Something had happened to Rupert. What else could it be? She followed him silently down the hall and up the stairs, wringing her hands behind her.

  They entered the smaller back parlor, Patience’s favorite. The soft rose color of the wallpaper matched the fabric on the settee. Sunlight streamed through the light-pink curtains onto the Oriental carpet, splendid beneath her neat green slippers. She sank onto the nearest chair, awaiting Bryce’s news with trepidation.

  Anxiously she waited as he stared at her, trying to stick a curl back into her knot. Most of the flour adorned her green gown, which she could see left a faint trail behind her as she walked.

  She interrupted the silence. “What did you wish to tell me?” she asked, her voice slightly shaky.

  Bryce rested one hip on the desk as she waited and held her breath.

  “My news concerns your brother Rupert.” Before she could react, he hurriedly added, “He is unharmed that we know of. He has escaped from prison, we believe with the help of his former comrades.”

  Patience leapt from the settee and cried, “How could this be? Rupert would do no such thing. He was waiting for you to clear his name. He told me so.” She looked at him with accusing eyes.

  He held up his hand. “Wait, things are not as bleak as they may seem. From the constable’s note I just received, the escape happened two days ago conspired by three men wanted for smuggling and thieving. Witnesses claim that your brother went unwillingly.”

  Her face turned even paler under the smudges of white powder. She couldn’t think of anything to say but shook her head and walked to the window, the sun momentarily blinding her.

  Bryce watched her slim back. She seemed so fragile, how could she possibly take care of her brother as well as Sally and all the rest of the people that depended on her? She bore the weight of so many others. Bryce wished he could relieve her burden but didn’t have the ability to do so just yet. Lady Elverston already believes I’m half in love with the woman. Could this be so? He supposed it was not impossible. But not now, with so much to do. Have I not already learned my lesson too well about the wasted emotion of love?

  He went to her and stood behind her and waited for a gesture from her, something that told him that she needed him and his help.

  When she turned to face him, her hazel eyes were sad but held no tears. She took a deep breath and smiled a tiny smile. With shoulders back, she addressed him. “I must return to Winchelsea and locate my brother. Rupert has concerns that the person who killed our cousin, Lord Carstairs, might indeed be after him. I must find him and take him home where he’ll be safe.” Her bottom lip quivered, belying her resolution.

  Bryce’s strong arms reached out to grab her shoulders. “That won’t be necessary. The constable’s men are looking for him. They know not to hurt him, and I’ve asked that he be returned to Paddock Green under the watchful eye of Marlow, who will keep him safe. There is nothing you can do in Winchelsea. You must remain here where I can p
rotect you.”

  His firm words relieved her, and she gave up this battle. She had to plan. She tilted her head back to look into his face. “I have your word that you will do everything in your power to ensure my brother’s safety?”

  His gaze held hers. “I will not allow any harm to come to him.”

  As if she couldn’t bear any more time in his company, Patience broke away from him and whispered, “I must see how Martha is doing with Sally. And prepare for the Gardens tonight. I don’t wish to disappoint Lady Elverston a second night in a row. Please excuse me.”

  Bryce watched her go and couldn’t put a name to the desolation and frustration he felt when she left.

  “Ye look like a Fairy Queen,” Sally told Patience sweetly as she helped the little girl into bed.

  Patience had dressed for Vauxhall Gardens in a celestial blue silk gown that Lady Elverston had insisted enhanced her dazzling deep brown hair.

  Martha and one of the housemaids had swept Patience’s hair into a high knot with sweet wispy curls surrounding her face. Lady Elverston even sent over a sapphire necklace with matching combs for Patience.

  Patience smiled down at the little girl, safely tucked in her own bed. She did feel like a Fairy Queen tonight, and terribly afraid she would wake from this dream. She couldn’t help but feel a sadness and frustration, not knowing how to help Rupert, but content with Bryce’s promise to her.

  She turned to look around at the little bedchamber they had made for Sally. The housemaids had helped Patience and Martha turn a third-floor room into a cozy place where Sally could be comfortable and unafraid. The small bed’s counterpane of bright blue brightened the chamber, as did the white curtains at the window. One of the maids had even borrowed a few stuffed animals to cheer the little girl.