Roses and Flames

Chapter 10

Patrick was filled with jealousy which he had wished for, and she was giving him exactly that. And there was nothing that he could do to show that. He knew that he should not have come here.

If all her smiles were for the Duke, like it should be then there was no point of him staying here. There was no place for him here at all.

And as much as Patrick would have wished to find fault with his rival, he could not. The man was worthy of Ambrosia. And Ambrosia was obviously fond of him. He had to step out of the way and let nature take its course. These two would be married by summer’s end.

All the more reason not to be trapped in the garden with the happy couple and sick to his stomach at the sight of love in bloom. He prayed for an excuse that might allow him to escape.

“Ambrosia!” Lord Wentworth called from the house, hurrying out to be with them. At any other time, Patrick would have thought that an interruption would be the most unwelcome and the sign of his foster father would mean that the situation had gone from bad to worse. But not today.

Today it was a welcome relief.

“You have found her then, your Grace?” Wentworth gave a self deprecating laugh and answered his own question.” Of course you have. She was not lost, after all. And Patrick?”

His eyes widened with surprise that was actually annoyance at his presence.” You are still with us? As I recall, you said that you would be leaving.”

“I had other plans for him,” said Ambrosia triumphantly.” He tried to get away without as so much as saying hello. So I stopped him and then trapped him and brought him here.”

“I am sure that he would have escaped you, had he but tried.” Another warning from Wentworth to mind his place. Patrick could feel his normally placid temper stretching to a breaking point. He had a mind to tell the man that he would leave immediately, if only to put an end to these continual reminders of his obvious inferiority.

“And he is staying at an inn and not with us, as he should. It is truly horrible of him. I will not stand for it,” Ambrosia scolded him in the same playful tone that she was using on the duke.

“If the good doctor wishes to stay at an inn then it is not our place to correct him, child,” said Wentworth sweetly, putting the blame on Patrick.

“Of course it is,” said Ambrosia unbothered.” We are his family. I will allow nothing less than for sending his baggage and luggage immediately and then making him stay in the room, making him move back to his old room for his duration of stay in London. I am going to make sure that his room is cleaned and aired. I am going to see to it, right now.”

She rose and set the kitten on the bench and then she twinned her arm with her father’s. Though she might be his affectionate and loving daughter, she had a will of iron and she was definitely used to getting her way.

If Patrick did not leave soon then she was going to work on Wentworth without mercy until he gave her what she wanted.

“Come along Papa and add your voice to mine. I am sure that Mrs. Abbott will be quite cross with me for the sudden change in plans.” She was fairly dragging her father by his arm and back towards the house, lecturing him on the hospitality that he should have shown to Patrick while she was neglecting both her guests.

She tossed a smile in their direction, as though would be more than enough to keep them, until she returned.” If you gentlemen would spare our company? You must know each other better.”

“Of course,” the duke said speaking for Patrick as well, as he said,” I am sure that Dr. Hastings can entertain me in your absence.”

“ I shall leave Diana with you as well,” Ambrose said as though she was not sure that Patrick’s company alone would not suffice on its own. Then she fixed him with a cool stare.” And do not move from this spot, Patrick Hastings, without taking leave of me. I still have not forgiven you for what you did with me last time.”

Nor had he forgiven himself. But he owed her a goodbye at the least if not anything else. He gave her a begrudging nod of agreement and she returned to take her father’s arm.” Do not fear. I shall not be long.”

Once they were out of the sight of the two men, Wentworth spoke to his daughter.” What is the meaning of this rudeness, Ambrosia? You left the duke all alone when he specifically came to see you.”

At her side, Ambrosia could feel that her father was puffing like a tropical fish.

She smiled at him and then added a loving hug and a doting look, ashamed of herself for this blatant manipulation. She had been taught by her mother and her sister as well that a lady always needs to use honey to catch flies. But sometimes she could not help but envy men and their ability to catch flies with reasonable argument itself.” I did not leave Samuel there alone, Father. Patrick was there.”

“That hardly signifies.” His grumbling was the last desperate attempt to rein her in. But since he had not been very successful in twenty-one years, she had no real fear of punishment.

“I believe it does,” she said, quietly, still smiling, but renewing her grip on his arm and leading him down the hall to the library, shutting the door behind them so that there was no chance for a servant to hear what she wished to say. Then she checked out through the window in the garden to see that that it was closed. No word of their conversation must reach the men talking in there until she had finally been able to confirm her suspicions.

“A physician and a duke?” father was shaking his head as if he was a dog worrying a bone.” The only reason that the two of them should be together is when both of them would speak and on the reason that they are ill. And you know for a fact that Samuel is not. Unless, you have fears, that is? Have you?” As usual her father was thinking of a future that she had not agreed to.

“Are you worried about my widowhood, even before I am married, Father?” asked Ambrosia with a raised eyebrow. When her father did not say anything and just looked at her in shock she said,” You were the one who wanted Anastasia to be away from London before she was even introduced to the Ton and now she has lost her husband within two years of getting married. I do understand that you wish to get me out of the house before she comes back from the States but no, nothing of that sort. I am not worried about his health. He is in perfect health and every member of the Ton is aware of that and so are you. But Patrick is an important member of the family and it is important that they both get to know each other, don’t you think?” Ambrosia looked at him expectantly.

She was hoping that he would not force her to badger the truth out of him.

“If you assume that Hastings will play a role or part in your future, you harbor a misapprehension. We have discussed it at length and he is leaving London shortly. I doubt you will see him again.”

The finality of this statement was in direct opposition to her desires, so she ignored it.

“Hastings?” she chided him.” Really Father. Now this is really too much. You are the one being rude. When from did you start calling Patrick as Hastings? And for what reason? And I think that if there is some kind of breach between the two of you, then I feel that you should heal it. In fact I beg you, for my sake.”

“There is no breach,” her father insisted, thinking that she was going to break into tears.” But we have an understanding, he and I. And what has been done till now and is all for your sake, I assure you.”

As if she needed protection from Patrick, The idea was quite ridiculous and not even worth mentioning.” I am more concerned with Patrick and his future, father. So should you be.”

“He is seeing to that well enough, without my help,” her father said. Perhaps he was simply hurt that the boy that he had raised could manage to prosper him without his help or his support.

“His success is credit to your early tutelage, I am sure.” She must turn the topic, for she wished to close the breach and not widen the same. Her father appeared somewhat mollified at the thought that he had contributed to Patrick’s obvious success.” And I see no reason that he cannot stay here with us, while he is in London.”

“He does not wish to,” her father said firmly.

“I am happy to see that you have no objection,” she said with another smile. One thing did not imply the other. But it was better to let him think her illogical than to allow argument. Then she added,” Once he is here, it will give you a chance to tell him what you know of his true parentage.”

“I?” That had caught him absolutely unawares, she was sure. He was flustered out of countenance and almost beyond speech. It took several seconds for him to manage a proper denial.” I know….nothing. And whatever, Patrick Hastings has told you is clearly a lie..”

“He….told me?” She gave a bat of her lashes to reinforce the innocence of her discovery.

“He did not tell me anything. But I needed to no great wit to draw any conclusion. I have my own eyes, if you wish to see the truth. You best give him the whole story, if you have not already.”

“I have no idea, what you mean,” said her father, in her slow and deliberate way that people sometimes use to deny the obvious.

Ambrosia sighed and then gave up on the honey. Then she thought that it would be better to catch this fly with the swatter.

“Then I shall explain it to you. I have had my suspicions for quite some time now. But it was only until just now, in the garden, that I was sure. When they are seen together by others, someone will remark on their resemblance between them. From there it is only a short step to see that the Duke of Mayburry and Dr. Patrick Hastings are alike as brothers.”

“Ambrosia, you mustn’t meddle in this,” It was the same weak prohibition that he tried whenever she stepped out of bounds.

And she knew that she had hit the jackpot.