Tempting Miss Allender (Regency Rakes 3) (2 page)

Mathew kept his eyes on the raven-haired beauty as she walked away, the swish of her dark blue skirts and solitary ebony ringlet holding his gaze. Patience Allender had changed beyond recognition from the round-cheeked, sweet-tempered young girl he had once known, and the change was in more than just her appearance. He had a feeling that her entire temperament had undergone a transformation, and how he knew this within a few minutes of meeting her was because of the chill in those sapphire blue eyes. Once they’d looked at him with happiness and friendship; however, not now.

Lucy had been pleased to see him, Patience had not. In fact, he would go so far as to say that she seemed angry with him, even though she had tried to hide it behind a cool, polite façade.

Their mothers had been friends, and because of that they had spent a week together, twice a year. He had ridden and run over their lands with Patience, and he had told her things he told no one else, secrets and dreams that he had never shared again. She had done the same, and now they were strangers. He remembered the smiling, funny girl she’d once been, the one with the magical voice who had read stories and poetry to him endlessly.

It disturbed him, even hurt, that she now was almost a stranger to him, but then what had he expected? He had forgotten her brother’s existence, had not attended the funerals of her parents, and if his memory served him correctly, his behavior had not been as it should have when she entered society.

He continued to watch her as she and Lucy stopped beside a group of people, and he noted the sudden interest from the men nearby and felt an irrational flash of anger.

“I have an insipid drink of unknown origin for you, Belmont.”

Pulling his eyes from Patience, he turned to greet his brother-in-law, Lord Simon Kelkirk. “Good,” he said, taking the drink, then swallowed several mouthfuls.

“To drink that in such haste, I can only conclude you have a problem.”

Mathew sipped the next mouthful as he thought about how to answer that question. Simon was married to Claire, Mathew’s sister, and had become a close friend. He was tall and dark-haired, locks heavily laced with silver that gave him a distinguished appearance. He was a man who loved the people close to him openly and without hesitation and also a man who could hold his counsel should he be required to do so.

“I can see something is bothering you, Mathew. However, as I know that, like Claire, you need to think about your words before saying them, I shall stand here silently at your side and wait.”

Mathew snorted.

“But not for long. Patience is not my strong suit, as you know.”

Simon had accompanied Mathew this evening as Claire was carrying their first child and had chosen to stay at home.

“Claire made me come tonight so I can catch up on all the gossip, as she likes to keep abreast of that kind of thing.”

“I thought you were being silent,” Mathew said, turning his body so he could look at Patience. It was no hardship, as she was a beauty. He could see her profile now, the gentle curve of her breasts and one slender, pale arm encased in an ivory glove that reached her elbow, hand hanging still at her side.

As a child, her hands had constantly moved, either waving about as she described something, or resting on her hips to let him know she was impatient. He’d often called her, much to her outrage, ‘Impatient Allender’, which had always earned him a scolding.

“I gave you five seconds. Surely that is enough?”

“I met an old friend a few minutes ago, and we talked briefly, but I sense she is angry with me.”

“Does she have reason to be angry?”

Mathew felt Simon’s eyes on him before he looked away. “Yes, I believe so.”

“And you concluded that after a few minutes of conversation?”

“I’m astute.”

Simon made a noise to dispute that, but said, “I’m told I have excellent shoulders for unburdening on, so continue.”

“My sister’s opinion is biased, Kelkirk.”

“Be careful how you speak of the light of my life.”

Mathew snorted again, his eyes still on Patience. She hadn’t moved; her body was still as she watched and listened, but did not add to the conversation.

“I’m not sure if Claire ever mentioned the Allender family to you.”

“She did. You spent a few weeks each year together when she was growing up. The eldest told wonderful stories, and had the voice of an angel. Claire and the youngest always got into trouble.”

Mathew smiled. “An accurate summation.”

“Are they here?”

“Yes. Do you see the woman over there in blue, standing with that simpleton Dundrill?”

“Can you believe he has on a puce-colored evening jacket?”

“Shocking,” Mathew drawled.

“Is the elegant, dark one Patience and the pretty blonde Lucy Allender?”

“Yes. When I spoke to them, Lucy was happy to see me, and while Patience said all the right words, I had the feeling she would have cast me to purgatory if she could.”

“Why?”

Mathew exhaled. “My sins are vast, I’m afraid, but the most obvious is that I forgot the existence of her brother, and was not aware both of her parents had passed away.”

“Both justifiable reasons, However, I’m sure you did not do so lightly.”

“No, their deaths followed Anthony’s, and I was not in my right mind.”

“Which was understandable.”

“But there is more, I’m afraid. There is also the matter of her debut in society. I was not the friend she needed. In fact, I was cold towards her whenever she sought my attention, and I fear I hurt her greatly.”

“Because you had only recently lost your brother?”

Mathew rubbed his chest. Thinking of Anthony’s death always made it hurt. “Yes, and because she produced memories of the happy times I had with him…and I did not want to remember them seven years ago.”

“Surely if she is the friend you say she was, then she would have understood your behavior?” Simon said.

“Perhaps, but she left London after only a few weeks, and to my shame I did not even notice. I asked Mother a few times about the Allender family, but as she had no correspondence to refer to, we simply stopped thinking about them. This is the first time I have seen her since her debut.”

“Introduce me to her, Mathew, as I wish to meet this woman. Then I shall dance with the youngest, who I believe is in her first season, and you can dance with the eldest. I, who am an excellent judge of character, will see if she is indeed angry with you, and we shall confer afterwards.”

“All right,” Mathew said, leading the way. He wanted to speak with Patience alone and see if the girl he had once known was still in there somewhere. He also needed to apologize, but feared in that he might be too late.

She turned as if sensing his approach and he watched the hand at her side clench into a fist.

“Mathew,” Lucy said with a smile as he arrived at her side. Patience nodded with a cool expression.

“Dundrill.” Simon bowed. “That jacket is really quite splendid.”

Mathew choked, but disguised it with a cough. Patience turned her eyes on him, but her expression did not change.

“Miss Allender, Miss Lucy Allender, allow me to introduce Lord Kelkirk to you,” Mathew said. “Claire’s husband.”

“I have heard so much about you from my wife. It is a pleasure to finally meet you both.”

“And how is Claire? It has been so long since I last saw her,” Patience said after she and Lucy had curtseyed. Mathew noted that the reception Simon received was a great deal warmer than the one he’d had.

“She is well, and we are expecting our first child in a few months.”

Lucy clapped her hands together. “How exciting!”

“I could offer you the name of my tailor, Lord Kelkirk, should you wish it.”

Mathew watched as Simon gave Lucy and Patience the smile he reserved for people he liked before addressing Mr. Dundrill.

He had never taken to the man, who was short, round, and pompous. Mathew had heard that Dundrill had a mother who had instilled in him a belief that he was a touch above everyone else. Therefore, he had an inflated ego.

“I could never hope to carry off such a jacket, Dundrill, but thank you,” Simon said before returning his attention to the younger Allender sister once more. “Will you honor me with this dance, Miss Allender?”

Lucy stammered out her agreement before placing her hand on Simon’s arm, telling Mathew that she was excited about the prospect. Perhaps standing up with a man who she knew was married to an acquaintance was a relief for one of her first dances in society.

“And I—”

“Will you dance with me, Patience?” Mathew said before Dundrill could finish his sentence.

“I am honored by your invitation, my lord, but I am not standing up this season. I am here only in the capacity of chaperone for my sister.”

“As we are old friends, it matters not what capacity you are here under.” Mathew took the fist at her side in one hand and placed the other hand against her spine. “Come along.” He then propelled her forward. “Excuse us, Dundrill.”

“I have no wish to dance, Lord Belmont, so please release me.”

He stopped, turning her to face him. “Are you unable to dance for some reason?”

She shook her head with that polite smile still in place. “No, of course I can dance. I just have no wish to.”

“Surely you can find it in your heart to dance just once with an old friend?”

Around them people chatted and laughed, and others brushed by them, but he kept his eyes on hers, looking into their cool blue depths, searching for the girl he had once known. Mathew wasn’t sure why he wanted to see a glimpse of her, but he did.

“Of course I can. But just this once, my lord,” she added, not looking at all happy about the prospect. “I have no wish to do so again.”

“Excellent.” Mathew took her hand, then led her to the dance floor. He placed her in the line beside Lucy, whose eyes were sparkling with excitement, and stood opposite her.

“Her eyes weren’t cold when she looked at me,” Simon said out of the side of his mouth just as the music started. “However, the same cannot be said for you.”

Mathew met Patience in the middle and took her hand in his. “I owe you an apology, Patience.”

“Whatever for, Lord Belmont?”

“For the way I treated you during your debut season.”

She stumbled and would have fallen had he not caught and steadied her.

“Forgive me. It has been over long since I last danced in company.” She smiled at those around her.

“These steps can be a trifle confusing, my dear, and I dance them repeatedly,” the elderly gentleman to her left said, waving her words away.

She danced away from Mathew then, and when she returned he saw her embarrassment. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes bright.

“Patience—”

“I have found the weather to be pleasant since our arrival in London, Lord Belmont,” she said quickly as he started to speak.

“It rained yesterday.”

“Did it?”

“All day.”

“I am obviously so pleased to be back in London that I did not notice the inclement weather, my lord.”

Mathew laughed at her insincere tone. She then moved away again, and when she returned he was ready with another question. “My mother told me that you left London during your first season due to an illness. I hope it did not lay you low for long.”

“No.” She offered no further explanation, just the one word accompanied by that cool smile.

“Are we to be polite strangers, Patience?” Mathew found himself saying.

“We have seen so little of each other, my lord, that I fear we can be nothing else.”

“We were once friends,” he said as the dance drew to a close. When he held out his arm, she placed the tips of her fingers on his sleeve.

She didn’t answer him until they were clear of the dance floor.

“Circumstances dictate that change is inevitable, Lord Belmont.”

“I would ask that one day soon you listen to my apology, Patience. Perhaps a drive in the park, or I could call upon you?”

“There really is no need, Lord Belmont.” She looked up at him, forcing a tight smile onto her lips. “Truly, all is forgotten, and I am of course pleased to see you again. However, I am here with Lucy, and must devote all my time to ensuring her debut is a success. I’m sure you understand.”

She then offered him an elegant curtsey before walking away. Mathew followed her movements until she disappeared, wondering why he felt angry and confused when he had been unable to feel anything but numbness for so long.

CHAPTER TWO

The Allender family town house was in Curzon Street, a very respectable address with other peers located to the left and right. It had been decorated by their mother, and as they had not inhabited it for the many years since her death, Patience had employed people to refurbish the inside before they arrived in London. The dark walls had been replaced with pale green and trimmed in white, and the furnishings had been reupholstered in lighter colors. The effect was pleasing; however, for Patience, who remembered her time spent here the most, it still evoked many memories of her parents.