The Truth about the Viscount (Whispers of the Ton #4)

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

“ I s that not wonderful?”

Lady Patience Tynan smiled at her sister’s words.

“It is a lovely announcement, certainly.” Her smile slipped just a little as she took in the young lady, seeing the slight wobble of her lips and the paleness of her cheeks. “I do hope that she is happy about her betrothal.”

“Miss Spearton?”

A little surprised, Patience turned to her sister.

“You are acquainted with the lady?”

Christina nodded.

“Yes, we were introduced earlier this evening.”

“I see.” Patience tilted her head a little, studying the young lady. “It may be that she is a little unsure of the amount of attention now being pushed upon her. Perhaps she did not expect Lord Milthorpe to make such a big announcement!”

Her sister smiled, letting out a soft sigh as she did so.

“Ah, but is it not a beautiful thing to have a gentleman so enamored of his lady, to be so delighted at her acceptance, that he cannot help but declare it to all?”

With a quiet smile, Patience looked away, a gentle longing coming into her heart. Yes, she had to admit, that would be quite wonderful and was something that she longed for. Whether she would ever be able to find a gentleman who might care for her with such consideration and passion, she did not know, but the hope remained, all the same.

“Now, my dears, who is it that you are to dance with next?”

Patience smiled at her mother.

“I have the next dance free, Mama.”

Lady Osterley’s eyes flared, her mouth rounding into a small circle for a moment.

“No, no!” she exclaimed, flapping one hand wildly in Patience’s direction. “You must find someone to stand up with at once! This will not do! You must be seen to dance every dance and–”

“Mama, please.” Christina cast a look at Patience, a wry smile on her lips, before settling one hand on Lady Osterley’s arm. “You must not be so concerned. This is only our third ball of the Season, and you know as well as I that all has gone very well up until this moment! Patience does not have to dance every dance for her to be noticed, just as I do not. Recall, I did not have two dances filled on my card at Lord and Lady Smythe’s ball and I still had gentlemen coming to call the following day.”

At this, Lady Osterley blinked rapidly, then seemed to shrink just a little as though the wave of anxiety that had buoyed her had finally started to fade away.

“Very well, very well.” She patted Christina’s hand, then looked out at the crowd. “It is only that I want very much for you both to be in such a position, very soon.”

Patience shared another smile with Christina, both of them very aware of their mother’s fervent desire for them both to wed. It had been unfortunate that Patience had been unable to make her come out last Season – their father’s travels to the continent had prevented it – and thus, it had been decided that both she and Christina would make their come out together this Season. Having been presented only the previous week, both Patience and Christina were doing their best to settle into society, to understand its twists and turns whilst, at the same time, battling a mother who was quite insistent on pushing them both as far into society as she could! Patience well understood her mother’s urgency, for her father, the Earl of Osterley, was back at the estate, preparing to make his way to the continent again, and thus the desire was great for them both to wed before his journey commenced.

“Well, at least we know that Lord Milthorpe is not a gentleman worth considering,” Patience smiled, as Christina laughed softly, though Lady Osterley only frowned. “Now, Christina, are you not to dance this evening?”

“I am.” Christina turned her head, looking around. “I think that the dance has been a little delayed thanks to Lord Milthorpe’s announcement, but Lord Jeffries should be here any moment.”

Lady Osterley frowned.

“A Viscount?”

“Yes, Mama, a Viscount,” Christina answered as Patience hid a smile. “You know very well that what is important to me is the gentleman’s character, not his title.”

Knowing that this would bring mother and daughter into a sharp disagreement – one that Patience hoped they would both keep as quiet as they could – Patience stepped a little away from them, choosing not to remain a part of the conversation. Their mother was so very eager for Patience and Christina to wed, yes, but she was also most determined about which sort of gentlemen would be suitable. It was not, under any circumstances, to be a gentleman with a lower title than their father’s, she had insisted, though Christina and Patience had both also insisted that they cared very little for such things. A gentleman might have one of the highest titles in all of England, but still be an utter wretch, whereas another fellow might bear only a lowly title but have nothing but goodness within him.

I know very well which sort of gentleman I might wish to marry.

Smiling to herself, Patience leaned against one of the tall pillars in the room, letting herself simply observe. This was one of her greatest delights in life, simply watching those around her so that she could store their images in her mind. Thereafter, she would sit and draw what she remembered, bringing the gentlemen and ladies she had seen to life on the page… though, often, their features could be a little exaggerated! It brought her a good deal of contentment although, of course, she had been forced to promise her mother that she would not let any of the ton know that she enjoyed such a pastime, for fear that there would be some who might feel insulted by her drawings.

Who shall I draw next?

A light smile on her face, Patience let her gaze wander over the crowd. She took in Lord Milthorpe and his betrothed, seeing them speaking together with their heads close to one another. Ignoring the slight pang in her heart at the way that they stood so closely together, she studied them for a long moment, taking in their faces, their expressions, and the stance of each. A small smile touched the edges of her lips. Yes, this would be her next sketch – she could only hope that she would do them justice!

With that smile still lingering, Patience’s gaze roved to the left, only to be caught by another gentleman. He too was looking at Lord Milthorpe and his betrothed, though Patience could not quite make out the expression on his face. It was somewhere between agony and happiness, a darkness shadowing his features but a tiny smile gracing his lips. What was this, now? Was it a gentleman sorrowful over the loss of Miss Spearton from society? Had he too been hopeful of pursuing a match with her, only to then hear Lord Milthorpe declare his intentions? Was it that, though he felt that pain, he was also glad that the lady had found a good match? A little intrigued, Patience continued to watch the fellow, taking in the shock of dark hair that cast itself over his forehead, swept lightly to one side though it still fell carelessly all the same. There was a firm jaw, a long, straight nose, and lips which looked as though they were more inclined towards laughter than scowling, though at this moment it did appear as though he was quite uncertain as to which he wanted to do.

Her eyebrows lifted as he suddenly straightened to his full height and, thereafter, made his way directly toward the young lady and Lord Milthorpe. A slight tug in Patience’s stomach spoke of curiosity and warning, and she was afraid now that he might do something impetuous and ruin Miss Spearton’s happy moment… but her fears were for naught. Much to her surprise, not only did he shake Lord Milthorpe’s hand, but he put one arm around Miss Spearton’s waist, and the young lady, thereafter, leaned her head on his shoulder.

How very curious.

“You are looking at Lord Hastings, I see.”

Patience started in surprise, an excuse ready on her lips, only to see a familiar face smiling at her.

“Eleanor! Good evening, how wonderful it is to see you!” Embracing her cousin and dear friend, she grasped Eleanor’s hands. “I did not think that you would be at the ball this evening. Is not your come out tomorrow?”

Eleanor shook her head.

“When last I wrote to you, I thought it was to be tomorrow, but I was quite wrong.” She laughed, a little ruefully. “You know as well as I that I am often inclined towards forgetfulness and confusion, am I not?”

“You should have written to me again and I would have attended.”

“I would have liked that, but there was no time. Mama was very determined to have me do nothing other than sit and wait in silence until my gown arrived, I think for fear that I might wander off and do something quite ridiculous.”

Patience giggled, her arm slipping through Eleanor’s.

“Well, you have been inclined towards such things, have you not?”

Her own mother and Eleanor’s mother, the Countess of Pearson, were sisters and were, also, of the same inclinations as regarded their characters. Both could be rather anxious and fretted a good deal about their daughters. Patience and Christina had done what they could to quieten their mother’s concerns, whereas Eleanor had done quite the opposite. Shunning her mother’s stranglehold, she had often been found riding wildly across the estate grounds, climbing trees, or swimming in the lake – and Patience, when she had visited, had been inclined to join her. Now, however, she could quite understand why Lady Pearson wished Eleanor to do nothing other than sit quietly in a place where she might be not only seen but contained. That way, she could be quite certain that her daughter would not ruin her gown, or damage herself in some way or another before her come out.

“And as I was saying, you are watching Lord Hastings?” Eleanor’s eyes twinkled. “Yes, you must wonder how I am acquainted with him but, alas, I am not. Though I do think him very handsome.”

Patience giggled again, seeing how Eleanor grinned at her, clearly waiting for her to agree.

“I shall admit that he is handsome, yes, though there are many handsome gentlemen here this evening, are there not?”

“There are.” Eleanor gestured to the gentleman in question, though Patience pulled her hand down quickly for fear the action would be noticed. “He is brother to Miss Spearton, you understand? And Lord Milthorpe is Lord Hastings’ very dear friend, so it is not too great a surprise to the ton that they are now betrothed.”

Her eyebrows lifting, Patience gave her cousin a long look and Eleanor laughed immediately.

“I have been eavesdropping,” she confessed, as Patience laughed aloud. “I stood near three young ladies when Lord Milthorpe made his announcement and found out all that I have just said to you, merely by listening! And then I saw you watching him and thought that I would take advantage of my newfound knowledge by sharing it with you.” Her eyes twinkled brightly. “Might I ask if you intend to draw Lord Hastings? He would make a good subject, I am sure.”

Patience smiled.

“I thought I would draw Lord Milthorpe and Miss Spearton first,” she answered. “Thereafter, I might consider Lord Hastings. I am not yet sure.”

“Well, do promise me that you shall let me see the works when you have completed them?”

With a nod, Patience promised that she would do so, her fingers suddenly itching to put pencil to paper once more.