presented my IOU to the attorney to no avail.”
“But my brother has come to forgive the debt,” Isabella added quickly.
“Yes, that’s right,” said Milford, after only a slight hesitation, for the baroness quite obviously met two of his requirements in a wife. The only doubt he entertained concerned his most important requirement: fortune. Without corroborating evidence, Purefoy’s word on the subject could not be trusted. After all, Purefoy himself might have been deceived.
“You’re very kind, sir, but I—” Patience began.
“Good,” Isabella interrupted her. “It has been troubling my poor brother a great deal.” She leaned forward, and before Patience could form a reply, went on, “And, I confess, dear Lady Waverly, that there is something troubling me a great deal. I must beg to speak to you alone. Ivor, will you be good enough to call for me in, say, twenty minutes?”
Milford frowned. “What am I to do for twenty minutes? It is not long enough for anything! In any case, you can have nothing to say to Lady Waverly that I cannot hear.”
“Would you care for more cherry water, sir?” Patience asked him.
“I would not put you to any trouble, my lady,” Milford said, and hastily took his leave, just as Patience had hoped, for she was very curious to hear what his sister had to say.
Chapter 6
Patience could not help but notice that, despite her claim, Isabella did not seem troubled in the least. “Yes?” she said simply, when Lord Milford had gone.
Isabella folded her gloved hands neatly in her lap. “It concerns your sister, I’m afraid. Miss Prudence Waverly.”
“You said you did not know my sister,” Patience said sharply.
“We have never met,” said Isabella. “But when I saw her yesterday in Bond Street, I felt it was my duty to come to you, and just give you a hint before her behavior sinks you both.”
“I don’t know Bond Street. But if it is so dreadful to be seen there, why were you in Bond Street?”
“Lady Waverly, my interference is of the friendliest nature!” Isabella protested. “Your sister is very young—you both are—and perhaps things are different in Pennsa-delphimore, but here young ladies do not chase young men down the street, no matter how great the temptation.”
“I beg your pardon,” said Patience.
“Not only is it unseemly, it rather defeats the purpose,” Isabella went on. “Such wild behavior can only give the gentleman a disgust for your sister. And you, Lady Waverly! If you do not take the trouble to check your sister, you very well may be tainted by the association!”
“You are mistaken,” Patience said coldly. “My sister would never do such a thing. No need! Men are perfectly happy chasing after her .”
“Not this man,” said Isabella. “Mr. Purefoy has only to snap his fingers, and he can have any girl he wants.”
Patience’s eyebrows shot up. “Purefoy!” she gasped, two livid spots of color blotching her cheeks. “ That man! You speak to me of that man ? I will not have his name spoken in my house!”
Isabella found this response both amazing and interesting. “I see you are acquainted with the gentleman,” she murmured.
Patience’s eyes flashed. “I certainly am not! And he is no gentleman! He is the devil. He is wicked, vile, degenerate, loathsome, lewd, drunken—!” She stopped, having run out of breath as well as adjectives. The night I came to this house, he was here ... cavorting with his disgusting friends. I saw such sights—sights too shocking to relate.”
“He is quite famous for his parties, I believe,” said Isabella.
“Famous! He should be notorious. And it was not a party! We have parties in Philadelphia. This was an orgy! If this man is imposing himself on my sister, I will have his guts for garters. Why has nothing been done about him?”
Isabella shrugged helplessly. “He is the Duke of Sunderland’s heir. Everyone—everyone knows he is a villain, but no one will stand up
“But my brother has come to forgive the debt,” Isabella added quickly.
“Yes, that’s right,” said Milford, after only a slight hesitation, for the baroness quite obviously met two of his requirements in a wife. The only doubt he entertained concerned his most important requirement: fortune. Without corroborating evidence, Purefoy’s word on the subject could not be trusted. After all, Purefoy himself might have been deceived.
“You’re very kind, sir, but I—” Patience began.
“Good,” Isabella interrupted her. “It has been troubling my poor brother a great deal.” She leaned forward, and before Patience could form a reply, went on, “And, I confess, dear Lady Waverly, that there is something troubling me a great deal. I must beg to speak to you alone. Ivor, will you be good enough to call for me in, say, twenty minutes?”
Milford frowned. “What am I to do for twenty minutes? It is not long enough for anything! In any case, you can have nothing to say to Lady Waverly that I cannot hear.”
“Would you care for more cherry water, sir?” Patience asked him.
“I would not put you to any trouble, my lady,” Milford said, and hastily took his leave, just as Patience had hoped, for she was very curious to hear what his sister had to say.
Chapter 6
Patience could not help but notice that, despite her claim, Isabella did not seem troubled in the least. “Yes?” she said simply, when Lord Milford had gone.
Isabella folded her gloved hands neatly in her lap. “It concerns your sister, I’m afraid. Miss Prudence Waverly.”
“You said you did not know my sister,” Patience said sharply.
“We have never met,” said Isabella. “But when I saw her yesterday in Bond Street, I felt it was my duty to come to you, and just give you a hint before her behavior sinks you both.”
“I don’t know Bond Street. But if it is so dreadful to be seen there, why were you in Bond Street?”
“Lady Waverly, my interference is of the friendliest nature!” Isabella protested. “Your sister is very young—you both are—and perhaps things are different in Pennsa-delphimore, but here young ladies do not chase young men down the street, no matter how great the temptation.”
“I beg your pardon,” said Patience.
“Not only is it unseemly, it rather defeats the purpose,” Isabella went on. “Such wild behavior can only give the gentleman a disgust for your sister. And you, Lady Waverly! If you do not take the trouble to check your sister, you very well may be tainted by the association!”
“You are mistaken,” Patience said coldly. “My sister would never do such a thing. No need! Men are perfectly happy chasing after her .”
“Not this man,” said Isabella. “Mr. Purefoy has only to snap his fingers, and he can have any girl he wants.”
Patience’s eyebrows shot up. “Purefoy!” she gasped, two livid spots of color blotching her cheeks. “ That man! You speak to me of that man ? I will not have his name spoken in my house!”
Isabella found this response both amazing and interesting. “I see you are acquainted with the gentleman,” she murmured.
Patience’s eyes flashed. “I certainly am not! And he is no gentleman! He is the devil. He is wicked, vile, degenerate, loathsome, lewd, drunken—!” She stopped, having run out of breath as well as adjectives. The night I came to this house, he was here ... cavorting with his disgusting friends. I saw such sights—sights too shocking to relate.”
“He is quite famous for his parties, I believe,” said Isabella.
“Famous! He should be notorious. And it was not a party! We have parties in Philadelphia. This was an orgy! If this man is imposing himself on my sister, I will have his guts for garters. Why has nothing been done about him?”
Isabella shrugged helplessly. “He is the Duke of Sunderland’s heir. Everyone—everyone knows he is a villain, but no one will stand up
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