The Duke's Christmas Greetings (Regency Christmas Summons Book 3) (11 page)

Grace didn’t even try to hide her frown. “Honestly, Oliver,” she grumbled, “of all the things I am not in the mood for, you remain at the top of my list.”

He didn’t even seem affected in the least by that, but then he never did. “Well, as long as I’m on top.” Prestwood quirked her a grin, which was met with the iciest stare Grace had ever given anyone, not that he seemed to care in the least. It always appeared as though he thrived on their interactions. After a quick wink, he turned his attention to Hope and said, “Lady Patience, I—”

“That is Hope,” Grace bit out. “So now you’ve insulted both of my sisters with just two little words. Do go enthrall someone else with your scintillating personality, I beg you.”

“I do like the idea of you begging.” Lord Prestwood sent a sidelong glance at Grace before smiling once more at Hope. “My apologies, Lady Hope,” he said softly. “I shall endeavor to do better in the future.”

“No offense taken, my lord,” she returned.

Then Prestwood nodded in Patience’s direction and said, “Nice to see you as well, my lady. Do have a wonderful evening,” before making his way across the ballroom.

“You were horrible to him,” Hope muttered under her breath.

“Only as horrible as he deserves,” Grace whispered back.

“He’s not as bad as all that,” Hope returned. And for all that the man never knew whether Hope was Patience or Patience was Hope, he’d always been rather pleasant to the two of them.

“The idiot is one thousand times better than Lord Kilworth, I will grant you,” Grace grumbled. “Though that means absolutely nothing at all.”

Hope steadied her shoulders and was just about to defend her late-scoundrel once more when Patience sucked in a surprised breath.

“What is it?” Hope asked.

Patience couldn’t help but smile. Never in a million years had she even allowed herself to dream that
he
might come tonight. “Matt,” she whispered. And he was even more dashing than she’d ever seen him, dressed in all black evening wear with a snowy white cravat beneath his rugged chin. The sight of him made her pulse race and her heart nearly pound right out of her chest.

“Well, this ball just got interesting,” Grace said. “The fireworks will be remembered for generations, I’m sure.”

Matt could hardly breathe. The duke’s ballroom was filled to overflowing with His Grace’s guests. It was truly astounding that so many people had braved the winter weather just because Danby had sent them an invitation. Matt lived just a few miles away and he would have never stepped foot in this ballroom if he wasn’t certain he’d find Patience among the throng. But where was she? How could he get her to agree to his plan if he couldn’t find her in this crush?

The last two days had nearly driven him insane. He’d thought of little else besides Patience, her laugh, the softness of her skin, the memory of their kisses. He didn’t have a doubt in his mind that she loved him as much as he did her. But that didn’t mean she’d necessarily run off with him either.

She was accustomed to the finest things in life, things he would never be able to provide in Yorkshire, not after losing Danby’s favor. And while he didn’t want to pick up and start over somewhere else, he’d do so in a heartbeat if she’d just come with him. But would she? That was the question that had plagued him the last two days.

Her brother didn’t seem to care that her station was so much loftier than Matt’s. But at the end of the day, if she agreed to marry him, he would be responsible for her wellbeing. And loving him romantically versus the reality of giving up everything she’d ever known for an uncertain future in who knew which village they’d end up was far from a sure thing.

Of course, there were other towns, other districts that could use a doctor. He wouldn’t necessarily be without work for very long, but it was still so much to ask of her. If she said no, he’d understand. He’d be a shell of himself, but he’d understand.

Matt caught sight of Danby, talking with someone he didn’t recognize. Damn it all. He really needed to find Patience before he was thrown out of the castle. He skirted along the edge of the ballroom and then…And then he spotted her. Actually, he spotted all three sisters, standing together on the far side of the ballroom, and they were all looking at him. He’d never seen them all together at the same time. It was still astounding to know that those three girls had come into this world together, whole and hale. And though they were three of the most beautiful girls he’d ever seen, it was the one in the middle, the one in pink,
his
Patience that set his heart on a race.

Matt glanced back to where he’d spotted the duke and found the man staring quite pointedly at him. Damn it! He’d been found out.

Matt gulped and then raced along the perimeter of the ballroom, trying to reach Patience before her great uncle could hide her away and throw Matt from the castle out on his arse. “Patience,” he breathed out as he reached the trio.

“And which one of us is Patience?” the girl in icy blue asked.

Matt wasn’t sure which one that girl was, but he knew which one was Patience. “His Grace is going to throw me out of here any second.” He offered his hand to the angelic girl in pink. “Come with me.”

“Anywhere,” she vowed. A brilliant smile spread across her face and then she threw her arms around his neck.

And Matt held her against him. He inhaled her sweet rosewater scent, feeling the first bit of peace he’d had in days, ever since she’d been rushed from him at the inn. “I missed you,” he said against her ear. “More than I could have ever thought possible.”

“Oh, Matt.” She tightened her hold on him, and Matt just breathed her in. They should make a run for it, they should hurry out of the ballroom and start for Scotland, anything but stand right there and wait for the world to crash down around them; but after missing her, it was almost impossible to let go of her for even a second.

“Defied my order and snuck into my ball, hmm?” the duke’s voice sounded behind Matt.

And he berated himself for not making a run for it when they were able. But he’d have to face His Grace sooner or later. He heaved a sigh, released his hold on Patience and turned to meet the duke face to face. “I love her, Your Grace.”

The man’s light eyes twinkled slightly, which was the last thing Matt expected. “Enough to put everything you’ve worked your life for in jeopardy, Campion?”

“What?” Patience breathed out.

But Matt kept his gaze leveled on the duke. “We can go anywhere, Your Grace. I’m certain I can find a position in another town. I love the people of Danby and I will miss them, but I love Patience more.”

“Ravenglass,” Patience said at his side. “There’s no doctor in Ravenglass. And I’m sure my brother would welcome us there.”

And then the duke turned his full attention on Patience.

Patience refused to even blink, for fear the Duke of Danby would take it as a sign of weakness. She didn’t need Grace’s strength this time, not after hearing His Grace’s horrible words. She wasn’t sure what it was all about, but it sounded very much like the duke had threatened Matt’s ability to practice medicine in Danby. Of all the awful things he could threaten Matt with, that was unconscionable.

Besides, Ravenglass
did
need a doctor and she had no doubt that she and Matt could live a perfectly fine life in Cumberland near Quent and Lila.

“Well, my dear niece,” the duke said coolly, “do you recall me asking if you could tell an honorable man from a dishonorable one?”

Was he serious? Patience’s chest lifted in indignation. “Matthew Campion is the most honorable man I’ve ever met and for you to insinuate otherwise…”

But when the duke laughed, Patience’s words trailed off. Why in the world was he laughing at her? It didn’t even sound like an evil or mean spirited laugh. It sounded quite jovial, actually. “You will do just fine,” he finally said, smiling down at her.

Patience didn’t feel at all like smiling back. What a very odd man he was. “I beg your pardon?”

The duke turned his attention back to Matt and said, “I am quite satisfied the two of you are a brilliant match.”

Matt frowned as though he was just as confused as Patience was. “Your Grace?”

“I needed to be sure,” he said.

“Sure of what exactly?” Patience asked, feeling all of a sudden like she’d been played for a fool.

“That you’d suit. That you were worthy of each other.” And then he winked – he actually winked – at Patience. “You will not be going to Ravenglass. Do you think I would let some Cumberland village steal my doctor away from me? Bah!”

“But you said—” she started.

“And when you are in residence at Allwynds, I will expect you will visit me often. Is that understood?”

Matt gently captured Patience’s hand in his. “Are you saying this was some sort of test?”

“Something like that.” The duke grinned at Matt. “And I am quite confident you will care for my great-niece every day of your life.”

Matt nodded. “Every day, Your Grace.”

“Brilliant!” His smile widened. “Then you will meet Lord Quentin and me in my study in five minutes while we go over the marriage contract.”

Was Quent in on this? Patience glanced around the ballroom and spotted her brother not far away. And he looked as happy as Patience had ever seen him…Well, other than when he married Lila not too long ago. His smile helped Patience relax just a little.

“My brother arrived this afternoon with a special license,” the duke continued, “and I will be most insulted if you won’t allow him to marry you first thing in the morning in the family chapel.”

“A special license?” Matt echoed. “How did you…”

“I know a great many things, Campion. Something you would do well to remember.”

“I don’t believe I’ll ever be able to forget.”

And neither would Patience. Was that why His Grace had called them to Yorkshire? How in the world did he know Patience would have need for a special license? Did he plan to marry all of them off? Is that what his letter to Mama had meant? And if that was the case, had he picked out gentlemen for Grace and Hope too? Is that why…

“You’ll be all right while I go to Danby’s study?” Matt asked, breaking into Patience’s thoughts.

She nodded. “You’re all right with this? Marrying me? The special license? Being played as fools?”

“I am a fool,” he said softly, brushing his fingers across Patience’s cheek. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to have you, to love you, to keep you with me always.”

She sighed. She couldn’t help it.

“And I’m pretty sure a certain kitten will be overjoyed to have his mistress returned to him.”

Patience couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face either. “You are the most wonderful man in all the world, Matt.”

“I shall try to live up to that every day of our lives, my love.”