his eyes in Mr. Woodsworth’s direction. “Why shouldn’t she speak for herself?”
She laid her hand on Mr. Fairchild’s forearm in reassurance. Both men’s eyes followed the gesture. “Mr. Woodsworth doesn’t trust me to say the right things. But despite what he might consider a flaw, I almost always manage to say the right thing.”
“Is that right?” Mr. Woodsworth asked. The lines about his eyes were deeper than usual, as if all the movement in the ballroom was painful to him. “Then answer this question. Are you in London to stay?”
Patience turned to Mr. Fairchild and smiled. “Whoever stays in London when the air is so unpleasant?”
She turned back to Mr. Woodsworth triumphantly.
“And where do you go for fresh air?” asked Mr. Fairchild. “When you are away from London, where would I be likely to find you?”
Oh drat, a second question. No matter, she could handle that as well. Mr. Woodsworth stepped forward to answer the question for her once again, but she waved him aside.
“I’m afraid when I am outside of London, you are not likely to find me at all. However, if Mr. Woodsworth knows my location and would like to tell you, I will give him my full permission.”
After this was all over, she wouldn’t know Mr. Woodsworth at all. There was little chance he would ever know her location after she left his family’s service.
“So it will be up to Anthony to allow our acquaintance to continue after all.” Mr. Fairchild narrowed his eyes at his friend. Patience shrugged her shoulders. Mr. Fairchild was kind, but there was no way her brother would allow an attachment between the two of them. It was better he knew right away where she stood. She could remain a friend as long as he knew that at some point very soon, she would be gone. Mr. Fairchild glanced back and forth between her and Mr. Woodsworth. “Has Anthony introduced you to Miss Morgan yet?”
“No.” Now here was a subject she was quite ready to speak on. She searched the ballroom even though she had no possible idea what Miss Morgan looked like. “Is she here?”
“She came in just after you and Sophia did,” Mr. Fairchild answered. “I would have thought he would introduce you or at least point her out.”
“I would have.” Mr. Woodsworth’s voice was low and steady. “But you asked her to dance almost immediately after we arrived. I never had the chance.”
“Well, you have the chance now. She is just on the other side of the ballroom speaking with Lord Bryant. Shall we go over and introduce them?”
Lord Bryant? The room suddenly stilled, and people seemed to be falling in toward her. Lord Bryant was here? Her eyes flew to Mr. Woodsworth’s in a panic. He had told her no one of rank would be attending the same social functions as he. What was Lord Bryant doing here?
Mr. Woodsworth glanced between her and the group across the room. His head tipped to one side as he examined Patience’s face. “We don’t need to introduce you if you would rather not,” Mr. Woodsworth said. The deep furrows in his brows reflected concern.
“Oh, now you give her a choice.” Mr. Fairchild shrugged. “Are you certain it isn’t that you don’t want these two charming women to meet?”
“No,” Mr. Woodsworth said. “Can’t you see she doesn’t want to go over there?”
“Mr. Woodsworth is correct.” Patience stepped away from their small group slightly, trying to put Mr. Fairchild in between her and the group on the other side of the room. “I do not. In fact, I would rather not stay any longer.”
“Not stay any longer?” Mrs. Jorgensen asked. “Whatever did we come for? You haven’t even danced with Anthony.”
“And I do want to dance with Mr. Woodsworth. Truthfully I do.” Patience’s heart was reacting funny to Lord Bryant being across the room. She hadn’t seen him since she was a young girl, but he was unmistakable, even from across the room. She scooted so she was slightly behind Mr. Fairchild. “But more than that, I would like to leave.”
Mr. Woodsworth rubbed his temples. She didn’t blame him. She wasn’t helping at all. After he and his sister had gone to so much trouble.
“Miss Smith—” Mrs. Jorgensen began.
“No, it is fine,” Mr. Woodsworth interrupted his sister, dropping his hands to his sides and resuming his serious nature. He spoke softly, perhaps so Mr. Fairchild wouldn’t hear. “We can leave. There is a decent chance we should never have come. We will leave