Page 38 of The Gift of Patience
“Why are you frowning, my dear?” Rupert asked with concern. Had he finally noticed she was paying him no mind?
“Just thinking about the criminal at Taywards. It is difficult to understand why he is still there.”
“I wish I could understand it myself. Why would Westwood keep all of the ladies there in danger?”
“He is doing no such thing,” she argued hotly. “I am certain he has his reasons. Not that he would share them with me.” She remembered herself almost too late. Not that she suspected Rupert, but neither should she give anything away in case someone was listening.
“Of course not. Although it is rather strange not to have already sent the man to Newgate.”
“I believe they were discussing that very thing,” she said evasively.
“I am glad to hear it. The sooner the blackguard is gone from the neighbourhood, the better. You must promise me you will not go traipsing about the grounds alone again.”
“With all of the soldiers around to protect me, I am not worried. You yourself were there.” The last person she would heed was this man.
“I am capable of defending myself, though.” He puffed out his chest, though it was already rather far out to begin with.
Patience clenched her jaw and ground her teeth so she did not pull the dagger she kept hidden on her person out and stab him in the heart with it.
The butler appeared. Apparently, they had grown tired of waiting for Major Stuart. However, instead of announcing dinner, he announced the infuriating man and Captain Fielding. Then, of course, he would outshine every other gentleman in the room looking impeccable in the Guard’s Regimentals. “Forgive our tardiness, but duty called.” One smile from him, and he charmed Lady Fagge into forgiveness. Patience wouldn’t be surprised if she melted into a puddle at his feet.
“We understand, sir,” she cooed. “Where would we be without gentlemen like yourselves to protect us?”
Patience looked to the ceiling with disgust.
“Now that all of our guests have arrived, shall we go on in to dinner?” It was clear that Lady Fagge intended to monopolize Major Stuart. When they were seated about the table, she put her two eldest daughters to either side of him. Predictably, Patience was seated next to Rupert, though his conversation surprised her as they received the first course and began to eat.
“Parliament will be in session soon. Will you be removing to London when Lord Westwood does?”
“We have not yet spoken of our plans. Everything at the moment revolves around Lady Westwood and her confinement. I suspect he will choose to go back and forth.”
“Oh, yes, of course.”
“Will you be removing to London yourself? I know it is only a short ride there when you need entertainment.”
“But what I seek is right here,” he said pointedly. Surely he didn’t mean her?
“And what is there to delight a man of your sophisticated tastes here?” The sarcasm in her question eluded him, and had quite the effect of him again puffing out his chest with pride that she had noticed such a quality in him.
Major Stuart was sitting directly across from her and raised a brow at her question. He was eavesdropping, drat the man.
“Why you, of course.”
Patience began to choke on her soup.
“Are you all right, Miss Whitford?” Stuart drawled from across the table. He was enjoying every minute of her discomfort. She glared at him between unladylike coughs.
Rupert put a glass of water to her lips and she took it from his hand. That would be the last straw of her dignity at the moment to have him hold her glass.
Once her coughs settled, and the others had returned to their conversations, Rupert must have decided since she had not rebuffed him thus far, he could continue.
“Indeed, Miss Whitford, if you have not gathered by now, I intend to speak to your brother-in-law about courting you in earnest. My prospects have recently improved such that I can comfortably support a wife in the leisure to which you’re accustomed, even before I inherit the baronetcy.”
She opened her mouth to give him a set down when she felt a kick under the table. Her eyes looked up swiftly to see Major Stuart give her a slight shake of his head. Did he mean for her to encourage Rupert? What could he mean by that? Did he wish for her to draw Rupert out? She glanced at him, attempting to discern his meaning.
“I-I am very happy for your good fortune,” she said carefully. “Have you made some investments? If they are so good, perhaps Westwood would be pleased to know about them.”
Stuart gave her an approving nod.
