Lord Blackwood's Valentine Ball: An Authentic Regency Romance Read Free Page A

“The park? Excursions? You should be with them, making the most of your opportunities! You don’t let Lorna go off alone, I hope?”
    Patience made an irritated noise. Henrietta could be extremely trying. “No, of course not alone. She goes out either with me as chaperone or with his lordship’s groom and Lorna’s maid in attendance. Lorna also invites her friend, Miss Sutcliffe, and sometimes Miss Sutcliffe’s mama accompanies them. Lorna and his lordship seem to have a lot to talk about—they are always deep in conversation, so I can only surmise he is interested in her. And she seems to like him well enough.”
    She did not mention that Lord Blackwood often tried to include her in these conversations, but she found his presence overwhelming, to say the least. When he addressed a few words to her, Patience became tongue-tied and blushed like a foolish young debutante at her first ball. How she longed to exchange witty, sparkling repartee with him and add her thoughts to the conversations between him and Lorna. The pair laughed and chatted so comfortably together, as if they had known each other for an age. They appeared to be more friends than anything else, but a man like Lord Blackwood did not seek out a particular lady for attention without some specific goal in mind. Perhaps he had deeper feelings and Lorna was too young and inexperienced to recognise his behaviour as anything more than pleasant companionship. However, given encouragement and opportunity, that could change.
    Henrietta looked downcast for a moment. “Well, I am disappointed.” Then she brightened as her natural optimism in matters of the heart came to the fore. “But not to worry, we can make sure you create a lasting impression at the ball. If you like, I can come over to make sure you are dressed properly for once in your life. No dismal gowns, please!”
    Patience sighed inwardly. Since Henrietta clung limpet-like to her idea, it appeared to be useless to try to change her mind.
    “No, don’t trouble yourself, Henrietta. I am sure Lorna will not let me out of the house in a dull gown.”
    “I don’t understand you. Aren’t you the least bit interested in Lord Blackwood? He is so very attractive.” Henrietta sounded plaintive. “I tell you, if I were only thirty years younger…”
    Patience did not answer right away because she could not. How could she tell Henrietta that she feared she was falling truly, madly, deeply in love with Lord Blackwood? Just the thought of him created the strangest feelings, sensations that were quite frightening because they felt like waves of physical desire. It was lunacy to feel this way, and such passionate thoughts were best kept secret!
    Charles Edward Jasper, Lord Blackwood, was, in her opinion, the handsomest man she had ever met, possibly, the handsomest man in London. The first time he shook her hand had sent a shocking tingle radiating right through her body and caused her to blush so fierily that she was sure he must have noticed. He had held her hand for a few moments as he spoke to her, his touch producing such an alarming effect that her knees trembled as if they had turned to water. Patience had felt breathless and thought she might have gasped her greeting. He did not appear to have observed her awkwardness because by then he had turned to welcome Lorna and her ever-giggling friend, Miss Sophie Sutcliffe. Had he even really noticed her that first time? Perhaps the only reason he tried to engage her in social chat on subsequent occasions was out of politeness to her as Lorna’s hostess during her London sojourn.
    For her part, Patience had noticed everything about Lord Blackwood in one massive burst of clarity, as if his physical proximity heightened all her senses. The cleft in his firm chin, the somewhat tired look in his eyes that might be the sadness Henrietta mentioned, the way his coat fitted him so well across the breadth of his shoulders, his height which made her feel small and