youth and for such an unworthy cause. Hopefully, Wilkin would never find out the truth. He’d have to make up a good story for the tin’s disappearance when he returned to London where his valet awaited him. Maybe he should ask Belinda for advice. She would be sure to know what to say. The Earl smiled as he tried to find a more comfortable position on the lumpy bed.
Chapter Five
Much to her dismay, Lady Henrietta Rutherford found herself pacing the length of her boudoir. She had never been one to exert herself in physical activity nor could she understand those who were not happy unless they had their daily regimen of walking or riding all over the countryside. Under normal circumstances, she would gladly have retired to her reading couch, but at the moment, she found she could not remain still. She was thankful for the thick rug that muffled her heavy tread as her large size made it difficult to pace lightly. She had no wish to alert the entire staff of her agitation.
Every five minutes or so, she would glare at the clock as if it were at the root of all her troubles. Had her friend, Louisa, been here to witness her strange behaviour, she would certainly have told her to stop frowning so since at their age they could not afford to encourage wrinkles to settle in. But wrinkles were the least of her worries right now.
She and Louisa had spent three whole days planning this matchmaking. The only things missing for the completion of their plan were the two people concerned. She had no doubt that Louisa would be back before long with her charge. She expected the pair to arrive within the hour, in time for a late dinner. But where was Julius? Her missive had been sent by one of her own people so she knew for a fact that he had received it. He should have arrived this afternoon. They had timed it so that Julius would be present to welcome Patience to his home. As her son never deviated from his customary habits, it had not been difficult to predict his arrival. Whenever he travelled from London to Hawkridge, he could always be counted on to leave precisely at nine in the morning, stop for a midday meal at the Blue Boar in Ventley, and reach the Manor in the middle of the afternoon.
The sound of carriage wheels on the driveway had Lady Rutherford almost running to the window. Recognizing Lady Westbury’s carriage in the gathering dusk, she hurried downstairs to meet her friend and, if all went well, her future daughter-in-law.
Lady Rutherford reached the front door just as the butler was opening it. The two ladies nearly collided when Lady Westbury rushed in, her fashionable hat askew and her eyes blazing with fury.
“Henrietta, has your son arrived?”
“No — not — yet,” gasped Lady Rutherford struggling to catch her breath. When she could trust herself to speak normally again she added, “Where is your niece?” She peered over Lady Westbury’s head but could see no one following in her wake.
“I am afraid things are not going quite according to plan. We need to have a word. In private.”
Lady Rutherford followed Lady Westbury’s meaningful gaze and noticed the eager look on her butler’s face. Reaching for her friend’s arm, she guided her into a nearby room before closing the door firmly behind them. Sinking into the nearest chair, she grabbed her fan lying conveniently by her elbow. She snapped it open and proceeded to cool her flushed cheeks.
“Now tell me what has made you so upset. You look angry enough to thrash a pack of louts senseless.”
“One would be more than sufficient, let me tell you! Had I had time to spare to throttle that brother of mine, I would gladly have done so. Henrietta, you will not believe it! I can scarce believe it myself!” The purple ostrich plume on Lady Westbury’s hat trembled, mirroring its owner’s indignation. “Robert had the gall to inform me that he would not allow me to take Patience away. When I demanded to see her, he would not let me do so
Chapter Five
Much to her dismay, Lady Henrietta Rutherford found herself pacing the length of her boudoir. She had never been one to exert herself in physical activity nor could she understand those who were not happy unless they had their daily regimen of walking or riding all over the countryside. Under normal circumstances, she would gladly have retired to her reading couch, but at the moment, she found she could not remain still. She was thankful for the thick rug that muffled her heavy tread as her large size made it difficult to pace lightly. She had no wish to alert the entire staff of her agitation.
Every five minutes or so, she would glare at the clock as if it were at the root of all her troubles. Had her friend, Louisa, been here to witness her strange behaviour, she would certainly have told her to stop frowning so since at their age they could not afford to encourage wrinkles to settle in. But wrinkles were the least of her worries right now.
She and Louisa had spent three whole days planning this matchmaking. The only things missing for the completion of their plan were the two people concerned. She had no doubt that Louisa would be back before long with her charge. She expected the pair to arrive within the hour, in time for a late dinner. But where was Julius? Her missive had been sent by one of her own people so she knew for a fact that he had received it. He should have arrived this afternoon. They had timed it so that Julius would be present to welcome Patience to his home. As her son never deviated from his customary habits, it had not been difficult to predict his arrival. Whenever he travelled from London to Hawkridge, he could always be counted on to leave precisely at nine in the morning, stop for a midday meal at the Blue Boar in Ventley, and reach the Manor in the middle of the afternoon.
The sound of carriage wheels on the driveway had Lady Rutherford almost running to the window. Recognizing Lady Westbury’s carriage in the gathering dusk, she hurried downstairs to meet her friend and, if all went well, her future daughter-in-law.
Lady Rutherford reached the front door just as the butler was opening it. The two ladies nearly collided when Lady Westbury rushed in, her fashionable hat askew and her eyes blazing with fury.
“Henrietta, has your son arrived?”
“No — not — yet,” gasped Lady Rutherford struggling to catch her breath. When she could trust herself to speak normally again she added, “Where is your niece?” She peered over Lady Westbury’s head but could see no one following in her wake.
“I am afraid things are not going quite according to plan. We need to have a word. In private.”
Lady Rutherford followed Lady Westbury’s meaningful gaze and noticed the eager look on her butler’s face. Reaching for her friend’s arm, she guided her into a nearby room before closing the door firmly behind them. Sinking into the nearest chair, she grabbed her fan lying conveniently by her elbow. She snapped it open and proceeded to cool her flushed cheeks.
“Now tell me what has made you so upset. You look angry enough to thrash a pack of louts senseless.”
“One would be more than sufficient, let me tell you! Had I had time to spare to throttle that brother of mine, I would gladly have done so. Henrietta, you will not believe it! I can scarce believe it myself!” The purple ostrich plume on Lady Westbury’s hat trembled, mirroring its owner’s indignation. “Robert had the gall to inform me that he would not allow me to take Patience away. When I demanded to see her, he would not let me do so
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