When they arrived at the park, they met a much restored if somewhat agitated Mr. Williams, who wasted no time taking Patience aside.
“I am so glad you are unharmed. You must believe me when I say that I would never have forgiven myself had anything happened to you. Although your father used some low-handed means to bring me to do his bidding, it does not excuse my cowardly actions in the least. Both my father and grandfather would be ashamed to own me were they to hear of this!”
Patience patted his hand in a comforting gesture. “Do not worry. There is no need for them to be informed of today’s doings. I was afraid my father had used you abominably. Please do not trouble yourself any more over this unfortunate incident. Now, I have the perfect balm for that bump of yours. If you will give me your directions, I will have a jar sent to you as soon as I get home.”
“You are too good,” said Mr. Williams, his eyes brimming with unshed tears.
Patience tried not to show her amusement at Mr. Williams’ obvious distress. She could not help thinking that had he been the one to pick her up the day she fled her father’s home, he would likely not have survived the experience. If Jessup had not come to tell her they were ready to leave, she might have sat all afternoon patting Mr. Williams’ hand.
Patience took a seat next to her aunt. At Lady Rutherford’s orders, they drove off in the wake of Julius’ phaeton followed by Lady Arlington’s carriage and finally Philip’s vehicle. The procession reached the Earl’s house in good time. It seemed he had planned for this turn of events as well since they were soon sitting down to tea accompanied by an ample assortment of pastries. After this fine repast, they all adjourned to the salon.
Patience, after making sure her aunt was deep in conversation with Lady Rutherford, deemed it was well past time to speak with Julius, and interrupted his conversation with Philip.
“My lord, may I have a private word with you?”
“If you will excuse me?” The Earl bowed to Philip before taking Patience by the arm and leading her out of the room. They went up a flight of stairs then down a long corridor and did not stop until they reached the very last door.
“Where are we?” Patience asked noticing they had entered a vast bedroom decorated in dark tones obviously more suited to a man’s tastes.
The Earl executed a gallant bow. “Welcome to my bedchamber!”
Patience shook her head at him. “Julius! We cannot speak here!”
“Why ever not? If you wish to be private with me, then it is the only place where we are sure not to be disturbed. My servants never enter this room at this time unless directly summoned, and I would think that this would be the last place where our guests would look for us.”
Julius sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to him. Patience hesitated briefly before moving to join him. “Well, if you are sure.”
“I am.”
As soon as she made contact with the bed, Julius wrapped his arms about her and kissed her with such intensity that she barely felt herself falling onto the coverlet. When she was finally able to draw breath, Julius had thrown one leg over hers, neatly pinning her to the bed.
“Julius! I mean to talk to you!”
“Then go ahead, love.” He nibbled on her earlobe, sending little sparks of pleasure running down the whole length of her body.
Patience, not willing to be deterred, took a deep breath and trying to ignore the kisses he was now raining along her neck said, “Julius, I do not know how much you may have overheard while I was speaking to my father in the church, but the short of it is that if you marry me before I turn twenty-one, you will receive my dowry. It is an inheritance left to me through my maternal grandmother. But if you wait until the date set for our wedding, I will be twenty one and the whole will revert to me.”
Patience gasped when Julius tugged at the front of her dress and licked the valley at the top of her cleavage.
“Julius! Are you attending me?”
“Yes, darling, but I must say I find this conversation very annoying,” Julius responded before moving lower still.
Patience could not resist the moan that escaped her. Using every ounce of willpower she possessed, she forced her hands to push his head away in order to pry his mouth from her heated skin .
“Julius, pray listen to me!” she said in exasperation.
Julius let out a sigh against her chest before slowly lifting his head to look at her. “I have listened to you, love. But I find all this talk to be quite unnecessary. To please you, however, I will endeavour to answer your unspoken questions. One, I do not want your money. You may give it all to your father if you wish, though I sincerely hope you will find a more worthy cause. Two, I will be glad to marry you on the date originally set for our wedding; and three, I intend to kiss you senseless right now. Any more objections?”
“No, my lord,” Patience answered meekly.
“Oh, I nearly forgot. This might also help to convince you.” He retrieved a folded sheet from his breast pocket and handed it to her.
Curious, Patience took it and spread it open. Glancing at the writing, she uttered a sound of surprise. It was a list headed with the title My Requirements in a Wife.
As her eyes scanned the page, Julius recited the words aloud, “My wife must be wellborn, of course. Her manners unpredictable, her disposition caring and loving. In conversion she must use her cunning intelligence to come up with the most formidable stories or most useful piece of advice. Physically, she must be on the short side so that her lord may get off his high horse and worship at her venerable feet. And last but not least, she must possess bewitching green eyes, lovely red curls, and an enchanting dimple in her left cheek so that her lord will not be able to keep his hands off her.”
When Julius reached the end of his recital, Patience put down the sheet of paper. With tears of joy running down her cheeks, she reached out and gently took his face between her hands.
“I love you, Julius.”
“And I adore you, my little imp.” Julius closed the distance between them and kissed her fiercely.
The door of the bedchamber suddenly burst open.
“Julius!”
“Patience!”
The couple looked up to find the shocked faces of Lady Rutherford and Lady Westbury staring at them.
“You were gone for so long, we started getting worried lest some other dreadful thing should have happened to you!” cried Lady Westbury.
Julius gave them a wicked smile. “Why, that I have thoroughly ruined my wife-to-be. Not once, but twice!”
About the Author
Pascale Duguay writes for both children and adults. Being a huge fan of Georgette Heyer Regency romances, her writing naturally led her to that world. Twice Ruined is her first novel in the genre with more soon to follow.
Pascale holds a degree in translation from the Université de Montréal. While doing freelance translating, she has worked as a library clerk and ESL teacher before moving on to become a bookseller. Having discovered along the way a passion for making up her own stories, she now writes for all ages.
Pascale lives in Drummondville, Quebec, with her partner and their son.
www.pascaleduguay.com
Table of Contents
title page
Copyright Information
Warning
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
About the Author