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Blessedly, he eventually paused, reaching into his jacket pocket and extracting a watch. He grimaced.
“I am so very sorry, ladies,” he said, standing up. “I have an appointment and shall be late if I do not leave now.”
Patricia stood up, smothering a sigh of relief. Her mother stood up too.
The gentleman bent over her hand, kissing it. “Thank you for such a pleasant time, Lady Patricia,” he said when he straightened, his gaze lingering on her bodice. “I hope that I may call again, very soon?”
“Of course,” she said quickly, just wanting to be rid of him. “Thank you for the visit, my Lord.”
He smiled widely, walking out of the drawing room. Within minutes, they heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. Patricia sunk back down onto the seat, utterly spent.
“Oh, Mama,” she said, biting her lip. “He may be handsome and wealthy, but he is the most terrible bore I have ever encountered.”
Lady Hunter sighed heavily. “He does prattle on a bit, doesn’t he?” She frowned. “I did not like his comments about those poor soldiers at war, Patricia. He does not have a compassionate heart. And I suspect his boasting about his own bravery is just that. Boasting.”
Patricia smiled. This was indeed promising. Her mother did not like the man any more than she did. Perhaps she would not keep pushing her to see him again. Perhaps she would take pity upon her and not force her to pursue this.
But then, Lady Hunter sat down, her face solemn, turning to her. “I know you do not like the gentleman, dearest,” she said slowly. “Heisa terrible bore and a windbag to boot, but we are desperate, and he is very wealthy.” She paused, biting her lip. “He is handsome, at least, Patricia. And he is a well-respected member of the Ton. You would move in exalted circles.”
Patricia stood up, walking quickly towards the mantelpiece. She gazed into the flames of the flickering fire in the hearth, trying to fight back the tears.
She knew that her mother was just trying to do the best by her. But how on earth could she endure another visit from that gentleman, let alone contemplate spending her entire life listening to him? She did not know what would kill her first – the boredom or his narcissism. She was sure Lord Cardigan could never love anyone but himself.
And he had no loyalty. The Duke of Merriweather was not the friend he claimed. She was very curious indeed why he had insisted he was the other day. There was far more to that particular story than they had revealed. She wondered what it was.
She turned away from the fire, gazing back at her mother. “I am sure he does not evenlikeme, Mama,” she said, in a small voice. “I get no sense of it at all. He assessed me as if I was a sow at market. Good for breeding, but nothing else. He did not wish to hear me speak at all. He asked me nothing about myself…”
“He gazed at you in an admiring way,” said her mother, in an uncertain voice. “He finds you beautiful, I believe.”
“I am not an oil painting, Mama,” she cried suddenly. “I do not wish to be hung upon a wall and admired for my beauty.” Her hands balled into fists at her side. “I want a gentleman who admires me for who I truly am inside as well as out. A gentleman who trulyseesme. Why do you not understand?”
Her mother’s eyes were moist with tears. She turned away, walking quickly to the window and staring down at the street. Patricia could tell by the stiffness of her back that she was hurt.
“Mama…” she sighed.
But suddenly, her mother raised a hand, to silence her. “Do not say another word, Patricia.” She swung around, her eyes gleaming. “For your prayers may have been answered after all.”
Patricia frowned. “Whatever do you mean?”
Her mother took a deep breath. “Another carriage just pulled up at the front door,” she said quickly. “It appears you have another gentleman caller on the back of your first.”
Patricia’s heart somersaulted within her chest. She ran to the window and gazed out. She was just in time to see a gentleman walking towards the front door. A gentleman clutching a posy of flowers. A gentleman with a jagged scar across his right cheek.
She almost fainted. It was the Duke of Merriweather.
