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

Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

“ Y ou really are quite remarkable, Lady Patience.”

Daniel smiled to himself as his sister expressed yet more delight over Lady Patience’s artwork.

“I recognized Lady Eleanor at once,” his mother said, as both families continued to enjoy their dinner together. “I am sure that she might have been overjoyed to see her likeness in The London Chronicle!”

Lady Patience, her cheeks a little flushed, let out a soft laugh.

“I think that she is, yes, given that she practically demanded that I make her the very next subject of my drawings.”

This brought a smile to everyone’s face, and Daniel settled back into his chair a little more, thinking to himself that this dinner had been a great success. A sennight after their betrothal, he had succeeded in bringing both families together, with Lord Milthorpe joining them also. It had only added to his delight to hear that Lord Osterley had given his consent by letter, which meant that his marriage to Lady Patience could now go ahead without any difficulty.

I think that I am as delighted as any gentleman might be to find himself betrothed. Considering Lady Patience, his chest flooded with a fresh warmth as he took her in. The light smile on her lips, the sweetness of her manner, and the way that her eyes constantly turned to his made Daniel’s heart lift. It had been a little over a sennight now since their unexpected betrothal, and with every day that had passed, he had found himself all the happier about their upcoming wedding.

Which is very strange indeed, given that it was not something that I had considered before then.

“Hastings?”

Pulling himself out of his thoughts – and his gaze away from Lady Patience - Daniel flushed hot as his mother’s knowing look.

“Yes, Mother?”

“I think that we shall take our tea in the drawing room now.” She smiled and then rose from the table, the other ladies following suit. “Do not be too long with your port. I am sure that your betrothed will be eager for your company, and you for hers!”

This was said with a twinkle in her eye and Daniel only nodded, suddenly unable to look anywhere but straight ahead. The ladies made their way from the room and, as the door closed, Lord Milthorpe immediately began to chuckle.

“They are clearly aware – as I am – that your admiration for Lady Patience grows with every moment that you spend with her.”

Lord Milthorpe laughed aloud this time, as Daniel threw him what was an attempt at a withering look, though he knew all too well that what his friend had said was quite true.

“Shall we drink our port?” Gesturing to the footman to serve the port, Daniel said nothing more until a glass had been served both to himself and Lord Milthorpe. Thereafter, he raised the glass high, managing to smile. “To happy and contented marriages.”

“Indeed.” After drinking his glass of port, Lord Milthorpe smiled broadly. “Did I tell you that Lord Newforth has been seen in Bath?”

Daniel’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.

“Has he, indeed?”

“Yes, he has. I heard it from Lord Tillerson, who has only just arrived from Bath. It may be that you have succeeded in besting him.”

A slight scowl pulled at Daniel’s expression.

“I do not think that betrothing myself to Lady Patience could be considered besting him.”

“That is not what I meant.” Lord Milthorpe cleared his throat. “What I am trying to say is that you may well now be free of the difficulties which have pursued you ever since my betrothal to Isabella, and can now focus on the happiness before you. Happiness which, I think, you are only just beginning to realize the extent of.”

At this, Daniel looked away, trying to sort out his emotions into an easily understood collection. When it came to Lady Patience, his feelings were beginning to grow in a most confusing manner, spreading right through him until he struggled to even think of anything other than her, and when he might see her again.

“You are unsure of your feelings, mayhap?” Lord Milthorpe chuckled again though this time, it was softer. “I can well understand that.”

“You can?” Daniel’s eyebrows lifted as Lord Milthorpe nodded. “Then you mean to say that–”

“Yes, yes, I think that I am falling in love with Isabella.” Lord Milthorpe reached to pour himself another glass of port rather than looking back at Daniel. “It has been a very strange thing, I must say. I have known Isabella for a very long time, and never once thought of her with any sort of fondness beyond friendship… and yet, here I am now, discovering that my heart holds a great affection for her! I wake in the morning wondering when I am to see her again. My eagerness and anticipation for our forthcoming wedding fills me in greater strength every day, and when I take her into my arms, I have no desire to be anywhere other than there, to linger in that moment for as long as I can.”

Daniel scrubbed one hand over his face, not quite sure what to say. It was not that he felt in any way uncomfortable about what Lord Milthorpe was saying. It was more that he could recognize everything that was being said and, if he accepted it, then that meant that something almost unimaginable was happening to him.

“Might I be so bold as to ask you whether or not you have held Lady Patience close?”

A slight lift of Lord Milthorpe’s eyebrows made Daniel’s lips quirk ruefully as he shook his head.

“No, not as yet. Though we have danced the waltz together already… though that was when I was deeply angry and upset and had the sole intention of telling her just how I felt.”

Lord Milthorpe grinned.

“Then might I suggest that you try doing so very soon? You may find yourself surprised with all that you feel – or it may bring you to a determined conclusion about what is already within your heart.”

Daniel said nothing, swirling his port around the glass gently as he considered all that Lord Milthorpe had said. He was truly delighted to know that Milthorpe felt so strongly for Isabella, for that meant that, despite the difficulties with which the betrothal had begun, her future would now be settled and happy.

And can I hope for the same with my own marriage? He swallowed as a sudden thought came to him. What if she decides to separate from me before we marry? I did give her that choice.

“Is there something the matter?”

With a small sigh, Daniel spread out his free hand.

“I have told Lady Patience that if she wishes to end the betrothal, if she wishes to make her own match, then she has every right to do so – and that I will take the blame for the ending of it.” Daniel lifted his shoulders and then let them drop. “I confess that there is a part of me that fears that she will do so and thus, all that I feel will break apart and injure me in the process.”

Lord Milthorpe shrugged.

“Did she give you any indication that she planned to do such a thing?”

Daniel shook his head no.

“Then why are you concerned?”

“Because I have not felt such feelings before,” Daniel admitted, his face flushing. “This was never meant to happen. I intended to step away from society once my sister was wed and now, I have found myself the center of attention thanks to my sudden and somewhat surprising betrothal! Lady Patience came unexpectedly into my sphere, but now that she has become almost a permanent part of it…” Daniel shook his head, a sudden pain in his chest. “The truth is, I cannot think of what it would be like without her.”

Lord Milthorpe nodded in evident understanding.

“Then you must tell her,” he said, quietly. “Take her in your arms, tell her of your heart, and you will see and feel true joy in that moment. I am quite sure of it.”

“Patience, wait a moment.”

Daniel’s heart was thudding painfully as he caught Lady Patience’s hand, pulling her back from the door. Her family was about to take their leave, and in stealing her back from them as he had done, he was giving them a few moments to be alone. The surprise on her face told him that she certainly had not been expecting him to do such a thing and that almost made Daniel pull back from what he had thought to do, only for her fingers to tighten gently on his.

“Lord Milthorpe.” Feeling as though his tongue was sticking to the roof of his mouth, Daniel shook his head, looked away from her, and tried again. It seemed easier to speak when he was not looking at her. “Lord Milthorpe has informed me that Lord Newforth has been seen in Bath. It may be that he has taken his leave of London and will not return.”

He heard her catch her breath in a quiet gasp, his gaze going back to her.

“Can it be true?”

With a small smile, Daniel nodded.

“I think it must be. I have not heard anything as regards Lady Winters and her daughter - however, I presume that they are both still in London.”

“But not seen in society very much,” Lady Patience added, her eyes glowing with clear happiness. “How wonderful for you, Hastings! You are free now of the threats he placed upon you.”

“So it would seem.”

A tension began to hum through him as Lord Milthorpe’s advice began to ring around his mind. Would he dare to take Lady Patience in his arms? Would he be bold enough to hold her close and hope that her response would be a positive one? Or would her hand in his be all that he was left with?

“Is there something more?”

Daniel, realizing that he had been gazing at her without saying a word, nodded quickly.

“Yes, there is. It is to say that… well, I recognize that I – no, that is to say, I recall that I said you could – or I could – end the betrothal if you wished to be free to make your own choice.” Heat seared his very bones, making him shift about from foot to foot. “If Lord Newforth has given up and made his way to Bath and if Lady Winters now appears too ashamed by what she has done to make any trouble, then I cannot see any reason for our betrothal to continue if you do not wish it.”

A strange look came into Lady Patience’s eyes. They were sharp, searching through his expression bit by bit as though she could not understand what he had said. Her lips were pressed tight together, a pinprick of color in her otherwise pale cheeks.

And then, moisture filled them.

Fear raced up Daniel’s spine and into his heart.

“I did not mean to upset you, Patience!” Grasping both of her hands, he stepped closer, his words fervent. “Forgive me, I did not mean to upset you in the least . The only thing I meant to suggest was that you might wish to be freed from me and that I am willing to give you that freedom if you desire it.”

“But I already told you.” Patience was blinking quickly now, a catch in her voice. “I told you during the first conversation we had about our prospective betrothal. I said that to enter into this betrothal was what I wanted, what I wished to do. I have never mentioned stepping back from it, that was only your thought rather than mine.”

Daniel’s breathing grew a little quicker as he looked into her eyes, hating the tears that he saw there.

“I did not mean to bring you any sort of sorrow, Patience, truly. I do not want you to be upset by what I have said, I only wanted to be assured that this was truly what you wanted.”

Lady Patience’s lips curved for only a moment as she came all the closer, barely even an inch between them.

“Then be assured, Lord Hastings. To be wed to you is exactly what I want. In fact, I believe that I want it even more than I did when you first suggested it.”

I cannot take my eyes off her.

It was as if he could no longer breathe, the gentleness of her eyes, the curve of her lips, and the sweetness of her nearness wrapping around him, tugging him closer, urging him in all the more. Daniel blinked once, twice, and then began to lower his head, seeing her eyes fluttering closed.

This is exactly what I wanted.

Their kiss was light, soft, and filled with a tenderness that spoke of Daniel’s heart. It did not last overly long, but nor was it so short that it left him hungry for more. Instead, when he drew back, it was with wonder and contentment twining together through him, making him see that all he felt, all that was in his heart, spoke of a deep and growing affection that gave him the smallest taste of love.

“Patience?”

Daniel dropped Lady Patience’s hand and staggered back, just as the door opened and Lady Christina peeked in, glancing at him first before looking at her sister.

“Forgive me for the interruption, but the carriage is waiting.”

Her smile was knowing, and Daniel flushed hot, though he clasped his hands behind his back and kept his expression as nonchalant as he could.

“But of course. I was only telling your sister some news which was recently shared with me. Some good news.”

Lady Patience, her eyes filled with stars, gazed back at him as her sister disappeared back through the door, expecting her to follow.

“Yes indeed, Lord Hastings. It was, I must say, very good indeed.”