Vane reached out, grasped her elbow, and drew her back to him. All the way back until he looked down into her now wide eyes. After a moment, he softly asked, 'The others. Where are they?'
Patience struggled to think. 'Whitticombe has taken over the library-it's well stocked but unfortunately quite small. Edgar and the General had nowhere else to go, so they've braved the chill, but I don't know how long they'll remain there. Edgar said something about looking in at Tattersails.'
'Hmm.' Vane frowned. 'I'll make sure Sligo knows.' He refocused on Patience. 'The others?'
'Henry, Edmond, and Gerrard made straight for the billiard room.' Vane's grip on her elbow slackened; twisting free, Patience straightened-and shot him a severe glance. 'I won't tell you what I think of a house that has a billiard room but no music room.'
Vane's lips twitched. 'It is a
Patience humphed. 'Regardless, I don't believe the allure of billiards will keep that trio satisfied. They were planning all manner of excursions.' She gestured widely. 'To Exeter Exchange, the Haymarket, Pall Mall. I even heard them mention some place called the Peerless Pool.'
Vane blinked. 'That's closed.'
'Is it?' Patience raised her brows. 'I'll tell them.'
'Never mind. I'll tell them myself.' Vane glanced at her again. 'I'll have a chat with them while you fetch your pelisse and bonnet.'
With a haughty nod, Patience acquiesced. Vane watched as she ascended the stairs, then, frowning more definitely, strode for the billiard room-to lay down a few ground rules.
He returned to the front hall as Patience regained the tiles. Minutes later, he handed her into his curricle and climbed up beside her. The park was close; as he headed his horses toward the trees, Vane checked over the list of Minnie's household. And frowned. 'Alice Colby.' He glanced at Patience. 'Where's she?'
'She didn't come down to breakfast.' Patience's brows rose. 'I suppose she must be in her room. I haven't seen her about at all, now you mention it.'
'She's probably praying. She seems to spend a good part of her time thus employed.'
Patience shrugged and looked ahead. Vane glanced at her, letting his gaze slide appreciatively over her. Head high, face to the breeze, she scanned the avenue ahead. Beneath the poke of her bonnet, wispy tendrils of burnished brown fluttered against her cheeks. Her pelisse was the same powder blue as the simple morning gown she wore beneath it. His brain registered the fact that neither was new, much less in the latest style, but, to his eyes, the picture she presented as she sat on the box seat of his curricle was perfect. Even if her chin was tilted a touch too high, and her expression was a touch too reserved.
Inwardly, he frowned, and looked to his horses. 'We'll need to ensure that none of Minnie's menagerie has a chance to get loose on their own. I think we can assume there's no conspiracy or partnership, at least between un related individuals. But we must ensure none of them has a chance to pass on any stolen valuables, like the pearls, to an accomplice. Which means we-you, me, Gerrard, Minnie, and Timms, with Sligo's help-will have to accompany them whenever they leave the house.'
'Angela and Mrs. Chadwick plan to visit Bruton and Bond Streets this afternoon.' Patience wrinkled her nose. 'I suppose I could go with them.'
Vane suppressed his grin. 'Do.' Most ladies of his acquaintance would hie off to Bruton and Bond Streets at the drop of a hat. Patience's lukewarm enthusiasms augered well for a peaceful life in Kent. 'I've agreed, suitably reluctantly, to act as guide for Henry, Edmond, and Gerrard this afternoon, and I tipped Sligo the wink to keep his eye on Edgar and the General.'
Patience frowned. 'There are rather many to watch if they should decide to go out on their own.'
'We'll have to curb their taste for town delights.' Vane noted the carriages drawn up to the verge ahead. 'Speaking of which… behold, the
Even without the warning, Patience would have recognized them. They sat delicately draped over velvet or leather seats, elegant turbans nodding, sharp eyes bright, gloved hands artfully waving as they dissected and discussed every snippet of potential gossip. From youthful but elegant matrons to eagle-eyed dowagers, they were assured, secure in their social positions. Their carriages lined the fashionable route as they exchanged information and invitations.
Many heads turned their way as they bowled steadily along. Turbans were graciously inclined; Vane returned the nods easily but did not stop. Patience noted that many of the eyes beneath the turbans came to rest on her. The expressions she detected were either arrested, haughtily disapproving, or both. Chin rising, she ignored them. She knew her pelisse and bonnet were unfashionable. Dowdy. Possibly even frumpish.
But she would only be in London for a few weeks-to catch a thief-so her wardrobe hardly mattered.
At least, not to her.
She glanced sidelong at Vane, but could detect no glimmer of consciousness in his expression. She couldn't read anything in it at all. He gave no sign of registering, let along responding, to the more artful of the looks directed his way. Patience cleared her throat. 'There seem to be a lot of ladies present-I didn't think so many would have returned to town.'
Vane shrugged. 'Not everyone does, but Parliament's back in session, so the political hostesses are in residence, exerting their influence with the usual balls and dinners. That's what draws many of the
'I see.' Scanning the carriages ahead, Patience noted one lady who, rather than reclining languidly and watching them go by, had sat bolt upright. A second later, she waved-imperiously.
Patience glanced at Vane; from the direction of his gaze and his set lips, he'd already seen the lady. His hesitation was palpable, then, gathering tension as if girding his loins, he slowed his horses. The curricle rocked to a stop beside the elegant brougham.
Occupied by the lady, of similar age to Patience, with bright chesnut hair and a pair of exceedingly shrewd, blue-grey eyes. Said eyes instantly locked on Patience's face. Their owner smiled delightedly.
Grimly, Vane nodded. 'Honoria.'
The lady switched her bright smile to him. It deepened fractionally. 'Vane. And who is this?'
'Allow me to present Miss Patience Debbington. Minnie's niece.'
'Indeed?' Without waiting for more, the lady held out her hand to Patience. 'Honoria, my dear Miss Debbington.'
'Duchess of St. Ives,' Vane grimly announced.
Honoria ignored him. 'It's a pleasure to meet you, my dear. Is Minnie well?'
'She's much better than she was.' Patience forgot about her shabby clothes and responded easily to the duchess's openness. 'She took a chill a few weeks back, but she survived the journey down surprisingly well.'
Honoria nodded. 'How long does she plan to stay in town?'
Until they caught their thief-unmasked their Spectre. Patience held the duchess's clear gaze. 'Ah…'
'We're not certain,' Vane drawled. 'It's just one of Minnie's usual bolts to town, but this time she's brought her entire menagerie with her.' He raised his brows in patent boredom. 'Presumably for distraction.'
Honoria's gaze remained steady on his face long enough to make Patience wonder how much of Vane's glib explanation she believed. Then Honoria switched her gaze to her-and smiled warmly, welcomingly-far more personally than Patience had expected. 'I'm sure we'll meet again shortly, Miss Debbington.' Honoria pressed Patience's fingers. 'I'll let you get on-you doubtless have a busy morning ahead of you. Indeed'-she shifted her gaze to Vane-'I've some calls to make, too.'
Vane, tight-lipped, nodded curtly-and gave his horses the office.
As they bowled down the avenue, Patience glanced at his set face. 'The duchess seems very nice.'
'She is. Very nice.' Also very nosy, and definitely too perceptive. Vane inwardly gritted his teeth. He'd known the family would find out sometime, but he hadn't expected it to be quite so soon. 'Honoria's effectively the matriarch of the family.' He struggled to find words to explain precisely what that meant-but gave up. Acknowledging the power Honoria-or any of the Cynster women-wielded within the family was something he, and all his male relatives, always found exceedingly difficult.
Vane narrowed his eyes and headed his team toward the park gates. 'I'll call for you tomorrow, at much the
