The door opened. Vane strolled in, to be greeted with a panoply of smiles. His gaze flicked to Patience. She met it coolly. She studied him as he nodded to them all, then greeted Minnie elegantly and affectionately, inquiring after her health and how she'd spent the night.
"I very likely got more sleep than you," Minnie replied, a roguish twinkle in her eye.
Vane smiled lazily down at her and made no move to deny it. "Are you ready to brave the park?"
Minnie grimaced. "Perhaps tomorrow I might let you persuade me to a stroll. For today, I'm content to sit quietly, gathering my failing strength."
Her color, better than it had been for days, showed she was in no danger of fading away. Reassured, Vane glanced at Patience, watching with a reserved coolness he didn't appreciate. "Perhaps," he said, looking back at Minnie, "if you're settled today, I might take Miss Debbington up in your stead."
"By all means." Minnie beamed at Patience and made shooing motions. "So trying for Patience to be cooped up inside."
Vane slanted a rakish glance at Patience. "Well, Miss Debbington? Are you game for a turn about the park?"
Her gaze locked with his, Patience hesitated.
Angela opened her mouth and stepped forward; Mrs. Chadwick motioned her back, mouthing a definite "No!" Angela subsided, sulking.
Unable to read anything in Vane's eyes to explain the challenge in his words, Patience raised a brow. "Indeed, sir. I would be glad of the chance of some fresh air."
Vane inwardly frowned at her temperate acceptance. He waited while she set aside her work and stood, then, with a nod to Minnie and the rest, offered Patience his arm from the room.
He halted in the hall.
Patience lifted her hand from his sleeve and turned to the stairs. "I won't keep you above a minute."
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 gentleman's residence."
Patience humphed. "Regardless, I don't believe the allure of billiards will keep that trio satisfied. They were p
lanning 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."