“I think so, at least I hope so. We both attendedLady Peregrine’s scavenger hunt for charity two days ago and I helped her unravel the clues. We got on very well, she finds me amusing, I think.”
“I did not realize Lady Alice was very fond of being amused,” Radler said.
Kendrickson did not mention the note he’d received that had given him that hint, the note he was certain had been sent by Lady Patience. “Well, I believe she is.”
In truth, he was sure she was. Once he’d allowed his natural buoyancy and joking manner to surface, it was as if things between them bloomed. He joked and she laughed and they’d had a very merry time of it.
He was certain things between them would continue to bloom as long as some other fellow did not get in the way. He would see her again on the morrow at Lady Jellerbey’s candlelight picnic. So would Radner and Stanford and every other eligible gentleman. They must all just stay out of the way.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It was the late afternoon and Patience and her father were having a confidential conversation in his library.
“I do not think you should fret over it,” the duke said. “He is a cautious man and will take his time.”
“How much time though?” Patience asked. “Felicity says he needs prompting. How does one go about prompting?
Her proclivity for moving things forward had haunted her all day. This evening was Lady Jellerbey’s candlelight picnic. Certainly he would be there. But what would he say and do there?
The duke laughed and said, “As to prompting, I have sent my own message on the matter. I sent over a bottle of molasses, unsigned. We’ll see if he takes the hint.”
“Oh I see, because he is as slow as molasses,” Patience said, laughing despite herself. “I suppose I can tolerate slow, as long as he is slowly moving in my direction. You see, he must be, Papa. I just know it is right. I knew the moment I saw him that it was right. Why doesn’t he know it too?”
“He might know it, somewhere in his mind. Acting on it is another thing. Not everybody barrels through life as you do.”
Patience nodded at the truth of it.
Mrs. Right came into the library with a tray of small cakes. “These have just been cooled and iced. Cook was certain you would care for them.”
“Indeed we would,” the duke said.
Before Mrs. Right had even a chance to set them down, they heard a commotion in the hall. “Do not lie to me, young man! I checked the stables first and his carriage is still in it.”
Patience stared at the door. It was her aunt and she sounded furious.
The duke sighed. “Lady Misery comes to call and darken a perfectly good day.”
The lady herself came sailing through the doors. “Roland, I am insulted down to my shoes.”
The duke laughed. “I’m getting very good at it then, as I’ve not even hurled an insult yet. But do not worry, I am sure I will.”
“I was forced to discover that my own brother held a dinner party without bothering to invite me. It was humiliating.”
Patience could not imagine how she’d heard of it. She was not meant to hear of it. Patience and her sisters had no wish to outright insult their aunt. It was just that… they did not want her to come to dinner because of all the scolding and frowning.
“You were not forced to discover anything. I had a dinner party, that is all,” the duke said.
“Lord Marchfield was just as insulted.”
“Was he? Then I suspect he was stuck with your company and irritated that he could not have pawned you off on me. I’ve told him a thousand times, when you finally give her the slip, do not launch her in my direction!”
“There I was, having tea with Lady Kembleford,” Lady Marchfield said, as if the duke had said nothing at all, “when Lord Stanford arrived to bring Lady Alice a fan. Naturally, Lady Kembleford urged him to come in despite Lady Alice being out. There, he mentioned he’d been to dinner at this very house the evening before!”
A fan? Why would Lord Stanford bring Lady Alice a fan?
“It was a very small party,” the duke said. “Just my girls, Stanford, Radner, and Lady Alice. I invited Stanford and Radner and Patience invited Lady Alice. Nobody, it seems, invited you!”
Lady Marchfield sighed and turned to Patience. “My dear, this is where you require womanly advice. You have a preference for Lord Stanford. That is right?”
