Patience (The Shackleford Sisters Book 5) by Beverley Watts

Author:Beverley Watts [Watts, Beverley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BaR Publishing
Published: 2022-06-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

‘The Marquess of Guildford has sent a note requesting your company for a promenade around Sydney Gardens? Grace commented elatedly over breakfast the next morning.

‘Indeed, that is splendid news,’ beamed Felicity helping herself to toast.

Patience forced down her excitement and smiled as demurely as she could over at her sister. Unfortunately, not having a demure bone in her body, she entirely overplayed the bashfulness, earning her a suspicious look from Temperance.

‘Truly, that is good news,’ she added with a slight cough. ‘What time does he suggest?’

Grace looked down at the card. ‘Twelve p.m.,’ she frowned. ‘That is a little early.’

‘I don’t mind,’ responded Patience quickly. ‘I’m sure father will be happy to accompany me.’

She looked towards her father who was currently hiding behind the morning papers. She coughed to get his attention. With a sigh, the Reverend laid down his papers and opened his mouth to speak.

‘You promised to accompany me to the Pump Room, Augustus,’ protested Agnes before he had a chance to utter a word. To Patience’s frustration, her stepmother’s voice had the woe betide him if he argues ring to it. She knew her father would not dare cry off.

‘I’m looking forward to it my dove,’ he accordingly responded in a voice that said he’d rather have his teeth extracted with a blunt kitchen knife. He threw an apologetic glance towards Patience.

‘It’s not necessary to bother the Reverend again,’ interrupted Felicity with a smile. ‘I am here now and perfectly content to act as your chaperone.’

‘But…’ faltered Patience hastily trying one last time to come up with a reason as to why her father should be the one to accompany her.

Grace however clapped her hands delightedly. ‘That’s settled then. Felicity will accompany you and the Marquess.’ She threw a mischievous glance towards her friend. ‘Though I am certain she will endeavour to avoid listening too closely to your conversation.’

Let’s hope so thought Patience with an internal grimace. Felicity Beaumont’s nose was more effective than Freddy’s at sniffing out an indiscretion. She glared at her father who promptly buried his head behind the papers again. Clearly, Agnes’s presence at the breakfast table was enough to put a damper on any enthusiasm he might have had for the havey-cavey business they were engaged in.

Fortunately, her stepmother chose that moment to drift from the charming chaise longue situated in the window of the dining room, to the equally charming chaise longue situated in the window of the drawing room. ‘I shall expect a hot chocolate at eleven o’clock sharp,’ she instructed her husband as she tottered out of the room. The rest of the table waited until the door slammed behind her before breathing a collective sigh of relief.

‘Did you enjoy the soiree last evening?’ Nicholas quizzed Patience before she had chance to argue further now her stepmother was absent. Gritting her teeth, Patience smiled back at the Duke.

‘Most assuredly,’ she commented, ‘though I confess to finding Lord Bamford both ill-mannered and vulgar. As you mentioned, there is … something about him.

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