Chapter Nineteen

Patience hardly knew what to say to Nate on the journey home. What could she say? Sorry you were dragged into this and wasted your time while my brother gets to take all the credit? Actually, I quite enjoyed your company after all? And perhaps I was wrong and you're not such a bad man after all? Would you like to spend more time with me?

She shook her head. No, there was nothing more to be said so she remained quiet while the carriage rolled across the bumpy road that ran along the coastline.

Drake appeared disappointed to leave Falmouth. Perhaps more because he did not wish to leave Pauline. The handsome captain had perfected a sort of masculine sulk ever since they had packed up and departed. Patience had to admit to being quite intrigued by Pauline's effect on men. It was certainly something to behold.

She could not deny being envious of Pauline and how comfortable she was using her womanly wiles to get through life. Not that Patience wanted to use what little wiles she had or was even interested in affecting men but to be so comfortable in one's own body was quite something.

If Knight was disappointed to leave without completing the mission, he did not reveal it. Eyes closed, arms folded, he remained perfectly still, even as the carriage tossed them about like toy dolls being played with by a child. The man was like a rock that neither weather nor time could move.

Patience tilted her head and eyed his scarred face. She knew little of Mr. Lewis Knight even though he had been living in Penshallow for several years. She did not even know where he resided. Most of the time he could be found in the Ship Inn which was out of bounds for a woman like her. Some of the women said he was a criminal, on the run from the law, but surely not. Nate had said nothing of a criminal past even if what they were doing now was not exactly legal.

The carriage hit a particularly big rut and Nate's shoulder bumped into hers. "Forgive me," he murmured.

Their gazes connected and Patience was sure her heart nearly jumped from her throat. His blue eyes were a little darker than usual, probably because of the gloomy confines of the carriage. Either way, they seemed to reach deep down inside her and twist her stomach into a tangle of knots. If she looked hard enough, she was certain there was an unspoken message there.

What it was, however, she did not know. If only she was like Pauline and understood men. For all her time trying to pretend to be one, she still had little idea how they actually thought—particularly one like Nate, who was far more complex than his arrogant exterior would have one believe.

She looked away, her cheeks hot, and focused on peering through the clouded and slightly mud-splattered window.

"I have asked my driver to stop at your house first."

Forced to look at him again, she nodded. "Excellent."

A pang of dread speared her stomach. The house would be empty apart from her mother who had likely hardly noticed she was gone. Her moment of excitement and adventure was over. Now what would she do?

Never before had she longed for a journey to take more time or for something like a broken wheel to befall them. Unfortunately, nothing delayed them and they arrived outside her house by mid-afternoon. Knight peeled his eyes open long enough to nod his farewell whilst Drake gave her a grin and a wink and told her he hoped he would see her again soon.

Patience hardly knew how to respond to his flirtatious manner that seemed to be his default so she merely smiled before taking Nate's proffered hand and exiting the carriage.

As her foot hit the shingled path in front of the house, the front door opened. She had to take a moment to comprehend who the man standing upon the doorstep was.

"Harry!"

Her eldest brother, and the head of the family, beamed at her and rushed down the steps to greet her. Nate stepped back so that Harry could embrace her. Patience found herself enveloped in her brother's hold, barely able to breathe but far too happy to complain about it.

He finally stepped back and she craned her neck to view him. War had aged him a little, making the creases along his forehead deeper and peppering his hair with strands of white. Other than that, he looked in good health and the same as he had always been.

"When did you return?" she demanded.

"Only two days ago. I'm to remain for two months and likely head back out to Spain after that."

Her heart dropped a little but it was nothing new. Her brother had been coming and going out of her life ever since he got his commission. At least they would have a little time together.

Harry turned his attention to Nate and offered out a hand. "Nate, it has been a while. I hear I am to offer my congratulations."

Nate took her brother's hand and threw her a puzzled look. "Uh..."

"Mother told me all about it," he explained to Patience. "If we hurry things along, we can have you wed before I leave. There's nothing I would like more than to see my sister taken care of."

Patience peered at Harry for a moment. What on earth had her mother said? She knew Patience wasn't going to marry anyone, let alone Nate.

"Everyone is very happy for you, Patience." Harry grinned. "Of course a few were surprised. I did not even know you two were friends."

"Well, it was very sudden," she found herself saying.

"All that matters is that you are happy."

She gulped. Never had her brother looked so proud of her, so pleased and happy. Had it been plaguing him that his sister was not taken care of by another man?

"Um, yes. I am."

Nate lifted his eyebrows but said nothing.

"You must be weary. Will you come in for a moment, Nate? We have a lot to discuss."

Nate shook his head. "I had better return home." He motioned to the carriage where Drake was peering out, trying his best to appear like he was not listening at all. "I am not alone. But I shall call on Patience tomorrow if I have your permission, Harry? Then we can discuss things fully." He gave Patience a pointed look.

She grimaced inwardly. Who knew how her brother had come up with the idea they were truly engaged but for the life of her she could not bring herself to correct him, not when he appeared so happy. She would put him to rights, of course. Just not yet.

Not yet.

Not whilst he was beaming at her. Apparently the only thing she ever needed to do to win her brother's pride was to get married.

Nate bid them farewell and she stood by her brother's side to watch the carriage depart. When Nate returned tomorrow, she would let him know that she would rectify this. She certainly wouldn't hold him to a marriage that had been intended as nothing more than a cover. Or that anyone aside from a select few were meant to know about.

"Harry, when you say everyone is happy for me, what did you mean?"

He grinned. "The whole village is talking of it. I think they are likely as surprised as me but they say if anyone can tame Lord Nathaniel Kingsley, it is you."

She sighed. "I am not at all sure he is tamable."

Her brother paused on the first step into the house. "Patience, are you happy? Did he treat you well during your time away? Mother said you were doing something of great importance but could tell me little."

"Where is mother anyway?"

"In the drawing room, of course."

"Of course." She put a hand to Harry's arm. "It is good to have you home. All is well, I promise. Now, I must speak with mother."

She strode into the house, eased open the door to the drawing room and closed it gently behind her. Her mother sat as though she had never moved from her position by the window, except now she was painting something else—a hare by the looks of it, set against lush green grass.

"Mama." She approached slowly, aware that if she jolted her mother out of ‘the moment' as she liked to call it, she would not get a word of sense.

Her mother held up a finger then pressed it to pursed lips while studying the bare bones of her painting. Shades of brown and green stained her fingertips and apron and there were a few streaks upon her cheeks. Her hair was ruffled and wild and Patience detected a few paint-tinged strands.

Finally, her mother turned her attention to Patience. She lowered the brush into a jar on the windowsill and smiled. "All done then?" She opened her arms for an embrace.

Patience nodded and bent to hug her mother. "All done. Did Jacob tell you he was to join me in Falmouth?"

"He mentioned something. I thought he needed more time to rest but he said he could hobble about. He missed Harry's arrival home, unfortunately."

"Yes, it seems he could manage," Patience said, biting back a sigh. If only he had waited a little longer. They could have finished the mission themselves and explained to Harry that she was never really engaged to Nate.

Patience drew over a chair and sat it next to her mother's. Slinging both legs over it, she rested her arms upon the back and fixed her mother with a look. "Mama, did you tell Harry I was engaged to Nathaniel Kingsley?"

She blinked at her. "Well, you are, are you not?"

"No, of course not." Patience pinched the bridge of her nose. "Mama, it was pretend, remember?"

A crease appeared between her mother's brows. "Was it?"

"Yes. It was a cover."

Mama tilted her head. "Are you sure? You look so much like a woman in love?"

"Of course I am sure."

Her mother shrugged, sending her lace shawl slipping from her shoulders. Patience stood and helped her readjust it. Mama patted her hand.

"He's a handsome man and a little wild. I think I like that for you. Better than some staid old grump who would stick you in silk and feathers."

Patience laughed. "I do not think I would let any man stick me in silk and feathers, though I did wear a dress twice."

"Oh indeed? Did you like it?"

"Once perhaps." A touch of warmth spread into her cheeks at the memory of how Nate had looked at her. For the first time in her life she had understood a little of what Pauline experienced every day. There was power in femininity. Being a woman did not always have to mean being weak.

Her mother peered up at her. "Are you sure you are not in love?"

"Very sure, Mama. How could I be? I hardly know the man."

"What a shame. He is so very handsome."

"You know handsome is not enough for me."

"That I do. Shall you tell your brother? He was quite happy to hear you had an offer. You know how these men worry about us looking after ourselves."

"I shall tell him soon," Patience vowed.

She just had to find a way to break the news without disappointing Harry. He had looked after them all since he was five and ten. It was quite an undertaking with four brothers and one sister. The last thing she wanted to do was upset him, but she could hardly hold Nate to a fake marriage, could she?

No.

She gave her mother a kiss on the cheek. "I am going to wash and change. Please do not say anything more to Harry. I shall solve this problem."

"It is only a problem if you make it one, dear."

Patience shook her head and left her mother to her painting. How she could think that an engagement that was not really an engagement was not a problem, she did not know. Of course there was the issue that the whole village seemed to think they were to be wed too. She would have to get Nate to call it off, so to speak. Certainly, she would be pitied by everyone and in some eyes, ruined, but she had never cared much for the idea of marriage and her suitors were hardly lining up at the door to propose. Let Nate save his pride and break things off—that was the best way of dealing with it.

She just hoped Harry did not take offense and feel the need to call him out.

Patience paused outside the drawing room and pressed her back against the door. Oh what a pickle this was.