in the garden a couple of times.
“I wish Papa could be here tonight,” Patience said.
Nicholas held them each by one shoulder. “He will be.”
Mama grabbed his hand and squeezed it. They all knew he was right.
The footman announced that the first carriage had arrived, and they took their place in the receiving line as the first guests arrived.
It was the Woodsworths, of course. The only family in London who arrived on time to a party.
Patience had been prepared to meet Mr. Woodsworth in a room full of people, not just the two of their families. This felt too intimate and formal at the same time.
General Woodsworth was the first to come through the line. Skipping formalities with no one else there, he and Nicholas shook hands and grabbed each other by the shoulders. Then the introductions began. First Nicholas, then Mama, and finally . . .
“Lady Patience Kendrick, I would like to present you to General Woodsworth and his son, Mr. Woodsworth,” Nicholas said. “Also his daughter, Mrs. Jorgensen.”
She curtsied to his father and then to him. Low and grand, like the awkward curtsy she had performed in his study when she was first introduced to Mrs. Jorgensen, only this time she didn’t stop halfway through. When she looked up, he was smiling.
Just like a duck.
“Lady Patience?” Mrs. Jorgensen was looking back and forth between her and her brother. “Anthony, what have you done?”
Anthony didn’t take his eyes off of Patience. Patience supposed he would have to explain things to his sister later. First the general bowed to her, then Mr. Woodsworth reached for her hand. If there had been a desk between them, she would have climbed over it. He was just as handsome as she had remembered him.
“Lady Patience,” he said and then took her hand in his. His finger traced the simple pattern on her gloves. They weren’t her best pair. They were the pair she had found under her door one night when she had only been at the Woodsworth home for about a week. She had always wondered if it was Mr. Woodsworth or Mrs. Jorgensen who had left them. Based on his reaction to them, it was he. “It is wonderful to finally meet you.”
She pulled him closer to her and smiled broadly. “That it is.”
Another carriage was announced. Mr. Woodsworth kissed her hand slowly and then let her go, but the look in his eyes told her it wouldn’t be for long. Their time apart was coming to a swift end. “Will you save me the first dance?”
“I will save you any dances you would like.”
“The first one, then. I fear my patience for being without you has long run out.”
He moved away from her but glanced back at her several times before Mrs. Jorgensen stepped in front of her and gave her a swift curtsey. “Lady Patience, is it?”
Patience nodded.
“How long has Anthony known?”
“Three months.”
“Since you left,” she said.
“Yes.”
Her eyes grew even wider, and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my lands, the things Anthony made you do.”
Patience had never seen Mrs. Jorgensen surprised or perplexed even. This evening was even more entertaining than she had imagined.
Mrs. Jorgensen’s cheeks were red. “And you must speak French.”
Patience stifled a laugh. “Oui.”
“I hope we never said anything disparaging in front of you.”
“On the contrary, all I ever heard were compliments.”
After the Woodsworth family left, a steady stream of guests was introduced. Midway through welcoming guests, she noticed Lord Bryant giving Mama a bow. She ignored it and instead pulled Lord Bryant into her arms. Nicholas groaned, and Lord Bryant’s suave demeanor fell for a moment until he returned Mama’s embrace. Mama pulled away and held Lord Bryant by both shoulders. “It has been much too long, Lord Bryant. We haven’t seen you for years.”
“Yes, well I have been quite busy.” Lord Bryant still looked dazed at Mama’s reception of him. That was Mama, always surprising people. “I was sorry to hear about His Grace.”
“And I about Lady Bryant,” Mama said. “She was such a quiet, sweet young lady.”
Lord Bryant’s smile changed. He was back to the man she had seen at Green Park—aloof and charming.
Mama continued. “Please come visit us sometime. It has been far too many years.”
As if in response to Mama’s overexuberance, Nicholas barely managed a nod and a sparse “Bryant.”
Where did that leave Patience? She couldn’t embrace him like Mama had. Nor did she feel comfortable with only a short bow after all he knew about her.
“Lord Bryant, what a