Chapter Two

Patience huffed out a breath before she stepped into the house. Damn that man. Damn, damn, damn. This was her one chance to prove herself to her family and Nathaniel Kingsley was ruining it.

She shut the door behind herself and paused to listen to the tick of the Grandfather clock in the hallway. Hunting down Lord Nathaniel Kingsley had taken longer than she'd hoped and she was late for supper. Not that her mother would mind but with her brothers gone and Jacob laid up in bed, she felt it was her duty to continue the family tradition of always being rigidly on time.

Grimacing at the silent house that had once been so full of life before her brothers had grown and joined the war, she shucked off her muddy boots and made her way to the drawing room in search of her mother.

Pushing open the door to the drawing room, she found her mother in her usual corner, right by the window where the light was just right for painting. The scent of oil paints struck her instantly. Cordelia Grey had retained the honeyed fair color of her hair—a shade the same as Patience's though now peppered with a few streaks of white. Paint smudges covered her mother's cheeks and her fingers were tinged green, resembling long sprouting vegetables.

It was a sight Patience was used to. Her mother had painted for as long as she could remember, tucked up in the corner and creating scenery after scenery. It seemed at times that Mama preferred paints and oils to her family. She supposed it was her mother's way of dealing with an all-male family. Even with Patience's presence, she would hardly claim to add anything feminine to their life.

She waited in the doorway, unwilling to disturb the long brush strokes and careful attention until the right moment. One wrong word or footstep and it would throw her mother off her stride and upset her. Her mother tilted her head, leaned into the painting and dabbed just so before turning her head toward her daughter.

"Are you late?"

Patience nodded.

"It doesn't matter you know, my dear. It is only the three of us after all, and Jacob will be staying in bed for the foreseeable future. You need not be so rule-bound."

She lowered the brush into a jar of water and swiped her hands down the apron covering her simple muslin gown. Built much like Patience, yet with a lot more height, her mother's face radiated a sort of warmth that always made Patience want to fling herself into her arms. But she was a grown woman and grown women did not want embraces from their mothers, particularly not when their brothers would tease them mercilessly.

"You're going to Falmouth I hear?"

Patience nodded. Alone, if she had anything to do with it. Though perhaps she would not mention that fact to her mother. She might not be the most traditional or even protective of mothers but she had a few standards and would not want scandal.

Patience could hardly care less about scandal. There was none to be had anyway. She was of good breeding but hardly nobility and no one in Falmouth would recognize her, she would be certain of that.

"Make sure you pack a good wardrobe," her mother said. "There may be opportunities to dine and dance."

"I hardly think I shall be dancing and enjoying myself, Mama. This is an important mission."

Her mother's smile took on a wistful air. "I know, my dear. I am sure you shall relish every moment. It is about time you had some adventure. But do be careful. Your escort is not the most gentlemanly of men."

"I hardly think I need concern myself with him."

As if Nathaniel Kingsley would be interested in her! A short, sturdy, barely pretty woman. Oh no, he would have far more exotic women in mind for his conquests. Not that it mattered as they would not spend time together. Patience would make sure of that. A quiet word with Jacob and all would be resolved.

"You would be surprised." Her mother stood and came close. Her hands came to Patience's cheeks, still cold from the paint and water.

"You are a fine young woman with much to offer," she said. "This is your first trip away from home without me or your brothers. I know you have been hungering for it but be warned, my dear, no matter how strong you are, life can send many surprises your way. Jacob tells me all will be well and that we must do our duty but it is hard for a mother to let go of her daughter."

"Mama," her voice caught a little.

Her mother dropped her hands from her face. "Well, would you look at me? What a silly fool. You are the bravest and boldest girl I know. Always have been, ever since you started walking. Always following your brothers and trying to prove yourself better."

"I will be fine, Mama. No one shall know. You can tell everyone I am visiting with cousins and I shall be back before you know it."

"Excellent. And on time, I should hope. Heaven forbid you be late." Her eyes twinkled with mirth as her mother knew all too well that Patience had quite the thing for timekeeping.

"I shall," Patience promised. She glanced at the mantle clock resting upon the large stone fireplace. "Is Jacob abed?"

"Indeed. I think he is enjoying the rest if I am honest." Her mother shook her head. "Who knew Jacob was even capable of rest?"

"I shall go speak with him. I must finalize the details of our plan."

Her mother eased herself back into the chair and picked up a brush and sighed. "All these plans. I shall never understand how I gave birth to these children who so adore plans."

Patience did not remain in the drawing room any longer. Once her mother had started the next brush stroke, there was no chance of having any further conversation. She backed quietly out of the room and mused her mother's candid affection. It seemed her going away had made her mother more appreciative of her. She smiled. Already life was getting better. Just wait until she returned with the information. All her brothers would be in awe of her and finally her eldest brother, Harry, could be proud of his annoying little sister.

Taking the steps two at a time, she reached her brother's room and knocked. She pushed open the door after hearing a muffled command to enter.

Her brother grinned when he spotted her glare. "Patience," he warned.

She strode over to his bedside and put hands to hips. Jacob was tucked carefully under several layers of blankets and propped up against the aged wooden headboard with several pillows. It was unusual to see her brother at home, let alone lying still but it seemed he could adjust to any situation, even being a patient, and was quite relishing all the attention.

"No," he said.

She jerked her gaze to his face. "What do you mean?"

"No. You are not going to Falmouth alone."

She opened her mouth and clamped it shut before drawing in a long breath through her nose. "But, Jacob, you cannot expect me to go with that man. He is a rogue!"

"Yes, which makes him perfect for the role."

She blinked at him several times. Six years her senior and the second oldest, Jacob had never had much time for her. He had been a good enough older brother but hardly bothered about playing with his irritating sister. However, she certainly never expected him to care so little about her safety and welfare.

Not that she really considered herself in trouble when it came to Nathaniel. But she had hoped to play on Jacob's protective side.

"Which role would that be? The one where he is to keep your sister safe? But who will protect me from him?"

Jacob laughed. "I am certain you can manage that yourself. I still recall you kneeing Michael Wetherby in the balls two Christmases ago."

"He tried to force a kiss on me. He deserved it."

"I am certain if you can handle Wetherby, you can handle Nate."

"But what does he know about working for British intelligence?"

"What do you know?" her brother pointed out.

"Plenty! I have been watching you all these years. I've studied everything that I can study."

"A few detective books does not make one an agent." His lips quirked with amusement.

Oh, how she hated that patronizing look. The only one who never bestowed it upon her was her mother. All the men in the family loved to smile at her like that. Oh bless, little Patience is trying to be one of the big boys.

"I can do this alone. I do not need help, particularly from a spoiled lord with no experience of anything other than chasing after petticoats."

Jacob pressed fingers to his brow. "Patience, he has more experience than you know. Trust me, he is perfect for this role. Besides, they need a man and a wife for this. That was the whole reason for me taking you. Now that I am unable to go, we must have a replacement, and fast. If we're to catch this woman, we must have you and Nate pose as husband and wife."

Patience made a disgusted sound. "I can do this alone."

"No."

"But—"

"No, Patience."

"Jacob, please."

He shook his head vigorously. "No. I trust Nate and you should too."

"Why should I trust a roguish lord who can only think with what is in his breeches?"

Jacob released a long breath. "Sometimes I think you would benefit from some ladylike company. You have clearly spent too much time in the company of men."

"Well that is not going to change anytime soon, is it, if you force me to go with Nathaniel Kingsley?"

"That is true but, alas, we have no choice. No one else can know of this mission so we must make do. You will go to Falmouth with Nate and that is that. Unless, of course, you would like me to find another woman or perhaps cancel the mission altogether?"

"Certainly not."

"There we have it then. You shall leave in two days and pose as husband and wife."

She pressed her teeth together until her jaw hurt.

"Do not look at me like that," he warned. "We have no choice."

"I suppose I had better go and pack then," she said tightly.

"Yes, you better had. And, Patience," he said as she went to the door, "pack a damned dress."

Patience huffed and stormed out of the room. Pack a dress, take a lord, pretend to be married. This mission was getting worse by the second.