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

strange and exotic artifacts from distant shores. In fact, I am sure she has an entire museum of unique gifts from me.”
    Patience smiled. “It will be finished soon, and I think, when framed, will be the perfect gift for a doting mama.”
    He opened his mouth to reply, but the door opened and Doris interrupted to announce, “Captain Lyndon, if you please, ma’am.”
    A good-looking fair-haired man dressed in an officer’s uniform entered. He bowed to Lorna and then to Lord Blackwood and Patience. Lorna, clearly on friendly terms with him, danced over to the captain, her hands outstretched in a welcoming gesture.
    “Dear Captain Lyndon, have you come to steal Lord Blackwood away so soon?”
    The captain smiled at Patience and murmured that he was delighted to meet her. His gaze fell upon the sketchbook and he reached for it, saying, “By Jove! If that’s not Charles, then I’m a monkey’s uncle. Who did this?”
    When Lorna announced that the gifted artist was none other than Patience, the captain grinned. “But you have made this old dog so handsome, Miss Cherwell, that I fear you will puff him up with flattery. How will he fit through the door with such a swollen head, I wonder?”
    Amidst roars of laughter and goodbyes, the captain and Lord Blackwood took their leave with his lordship’s admonition to Lorna not to forget the particular details of the forthcoming Valentine Ball.
    “For I expect to see you there too, Miss Cherwell,” he said as he shook her hand again. “There’s no escaping me this time.”
    “Yes…no…but I mean—” she stammered, flustered by his meaningful look and the way he held her hand for a moment longer than necessary.
    “No buts!” he said with mock severity. “All my friends are expected to attend.”
    The front door closed, the sound of carriage wheels and horses’ hooves died away, and Patience looked at Lorna.
    “What exact details of the Valentine Ball is his lordship talking about?”
    Lorna made a little moue. “Now don’t try to cry off, Patience, for I know you never want to go to these flamboyant affairs, but this time you will come and you will look beautiful.” She grasped Patience’s hands. “I have the very dress picked out already for you.”
    Patience shook her head, laughing. “Oh, no, I shan’t worry about anything fancy, dearest Lorna, because it is you all the men will be staring at in enthralled admiration.”
    Lorna frowned. “Will you promise to wear the dress that I choose?”
    Patience sighed. “You sound like Henrietta, except that you are far more tactful. Yes, if you insist, of course I will wear the dress that you choose.”
    “Now for the details of the ball,” Lorna said, with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “Just think, Lord Blackwood has come up with such novel entertainment that I do believe this Valentine Ball will go down in history as the best one ever.”
    “I’m listening.” Patience settled back comfortably on the sofa.
    Lorna clasped her hands in glee. “Lord Blackwood has devised the most romantic way for gentlemen and ladies to declare their affection for each other without fear of rejection. Firstly, all the ladies must write a special Valentine to the man they would like to attract. Of course, these must be delivered as early as possible to the gentleman’s residence to give him time.”
    “Time for what?” asked Patience.
    “Time to find the right flowers to reply to the Valentine. All the men will scour the flower sellers’ stalls for the perfect blossoms.” She giggled. “Or else they will rush down to their family estates’ hothouses to select the prettiest spring blooms available.”
    Patience frowned. “I do not grasp your meaning.”
    Lorna sighed. “It’s quite simple, let me explain. Each gentleman must send a particular posy on the day of the ball—Valentine’s Day, of course—to the lady he would like to address. The lady will wear the posy at the ball to indicate to the gentleman that