He placed her hand on his arm. “As you wish.”
Thank God for gloves. At least no part of her flesh would touch his. That would have been her undoing. She would be fine as long as she did not allow him too close.
“Do you never miss home?” he asked in a conversational tone.
She did, yet that was not an admission she would make to him. “I have little time to miss a life I left so long ago.”
“I thought of it often while I was away.” Richard’s tone was wistful, making her wish to visit her home county again.
“What did you do after—after I married?” Perhaps if he told her he’d chased women and gambled or engaged in other forms of low entertainment she would be able to ignore the tingling sensation in her fingers or the feel of his muscular arm.
“I left again.” The corners of his lips turned down. “I had an uncle who was a botanist. I accompanied him on an expedition.”
“I am surprised your father allowed you to go.”
This time he smiled. “It was the lesser of two evils. I had threatened to buy a pair of colors. With my uncle, I would not be encouraged to take the sorts of risks war involves.”
Patience could not have borne it if he had died. Where had that thought come from, and why must it appear now, exactly when she did not feel anything for him? “I can see how he would think traveling with your uncle was safer. I would love to hear about your journeys.”
He told her about the new species of plants they had discovered, and of being chased by head-hunting natives in New Guinea. The skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled. “That was an adventure I was glad not to repeat.”
“No indeed. I would imagine the thought of being someone’s dinner is not pleasant.” She repressed a shudder. Would anyone have even mentioned his death to her? Or would she have read about it in the newssheets? “When did you return?”
“Just over five years ago.”
“Did your father not die around then?” Her mother had written to her shortly after she had been widowed, telling her of old Lord Wolverton’s passing.
“About six months or so after I returned. It was sudden. He caught a chill that settled in his lungs. At the time I had my hands full running, or rather learning to run, the estate.” Richard slid a glance at her. “I’d meant to come up to Town the following spring but was unable to leave due to my mother’s illness.”
That was the Season Patience had first come to Town after her husband had died. What would she have done if she’d seen him? “Lord Bellamny said you helped him.”
“Although he would never keep Lady Bellamny from attending the Seasons, he becomes lonely. I visit with him, and we discuss not only his scientific experiments, but estate management as well as other topics.” Richard was silent for a few moments. “He has been a good friend.”
“As you have been to him I am sure.” Patience wondered what it would be like to return to the place she had grown up in. She had never felt as if Worthington was truly her home.
When she had first arrived as a bride of seventeen and pregnant, Matt had been upset over the marriage, but they had soon become friends. He had been home for half term and had been the one to summon the midwife when Louisa was born. Her husband had been hunting, and when he discovered the child was a girl, sent her congratulations on her daughter and wished her better luck the next time.
“And you.” Richard’s low voice interrupted her musings. “How do you spend your time?”
She had never given it much thought before. “I attend the Seasons, and go to Brighton for several weeks in the summer. I am at Worthington the rest of the year, but there are always house parties to attend when things become dull.” She gave him a slight grin. “Albeit lately, life has proven more exciting than I expected. My stepson”—a term she and Matt had always laughed over as there were only four years between them—“has married a woman who had custody of her seven brothers and sisters. Six of the children are still at home and none of them has reached their majority.” She gave a little laugh. “While Worthington House is being remodeled to accommodate everyone, we are residing at Stanwood House. I feel rather like a gypsy at the moment.”
“I should say so.” Richard could not imagine living in a house with another married couple and ten children. Surely, Lord Worthington would be relieved to have his sisters taken off his hands. It was not as if he were their father, after all. Perhaps if Richard were to speak with his lordship, they could come to an agreement. “We have completed our circuit. Would you like to continue?”
“No, thank you.” She removed her hand from his arm. “I shall call for my carriage.”
“In that case, allow me to accompany you to the hall.” He replaced her hand on his arm. Pae would not get away from him this time. “I predict Lord and Lady Bellamny will be ready to depart soon as well.” He caught his friend’s eye, as he and Pae made their way to Lady Jersey and bid her a good evening.
Once in the hall, he said, “I shall come for you at five o’clock. I believe I remember that being the correct time. Am I right?”
Her long, thick, blond lashes had lowered almost shyly. “You are correct.”
Raising her hand, he pressed a kiss to her fingers. If only they were not wearing gloves. “I believe your carriage has arrived.”
“I shall see you tomorrow afternoon.”
She wasn’t getting away that easily. He escorted her to her coach. “Good night. I shall see you on the morrow.”
She met his gaze with a confused one of her own. “Good night.”
