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

his attentions are welcome.”
    Patience said, “That’s not a very certain method of discovering who likes whom.”
    “But since no one is supposed to know who sends a Valentine, it’s also quite in keeping with the whole idea. It’s supposed to be a mystery. It’s so exciting to guess!”
    “But how will the lady and the gentleman finally know their love token has reached the right target?”
    Lorna clapped with joy. “This is the best and cleverest part! There will be a Valentine waltz just before midnight. Each gentleman will approach the lady wearing his posy—and of course, he must make sure his posy is unique so he does not mistake it for another—and ask her to dance. On the stroke of midnight, the music will stop and all will be revealed.”
    “Pardon me for appearing dull-witted, my dear, but how will everything be revealed?”
    Lorna looked taken aback. “Didn’t I say? It’s a masked ball! No one will know who is wearing their posy until everyone removes their masks. Isn’t that a novel entertainment?” She laughed. “And to make it even more romantic and daring, the lady must remove her partner’s mask at the same time as he removes hers! What do you think of that?”
    “I hope there will not be too many disappointments,” Patience murmured.
    Lorna smiled. “But it’s up to the lady to insert a reference, a clue, or a hint in her Valentine verse to the object of her affections so he does not make a mistake. The gentleman must then make sure his posy contains some token of recognition, such as a flower with a particular meaning or a ribbon to assure him he is sending it to the right lady.”
    Patience nodded. “Yes, it does sound very unusual.”
    “And here’s where I need your help, my dear, sweet friend.”
    “My help?”
    Lorna took her hands. “Dearest Patience, will you write my Valentine for me? I am so useless at any kind of artistic and literary expression.”
    Patience demurred. “But, Lorna, my dear, that’s the whole point of sending a Valentine verse. It’s about how you feel, not about how perfect it should be.”
    Lorna shrugged. “Well, I just know I cannot put pen to paper, and besides, can you imagine me trying to decorate my verse with illustrations and ribbons and all the elaborate things I’ve heard some people do? You will do it so much better than anyone else I know.”
    Patience laughed out loud. Lorna’s artistic efforts left much to be desired. Her embroidery inevitably ended in knots and tears; and although she danced beautifully, her attempts at singing and playing the pianoforte were mediocre.
    She patted Lorna’s hand. “Yes, of course, I’ll do it.”
    “You’re not sending one to someone special are you?” Lorna asked.
    Patience thought for a moment. The one person she would love to send a Valentine would not wish to receive it from her, and she would not make a fool of herself simply to release some of the pent-up emotion she felt.
    “No,” she said slowly, “there is no one special.”
    Lorna hugged her. “Oh, good! So mine will be unique and exceptional.”
    “To whom would you like to send your Valentine?”
    Since Lorna had many gentleman admirers besides Lord Blackwood but had not expressed any particular affection for anyone yet, who would be the lucky recipient?
    Lorna turned a laughing, glowing face to her. “Why to Lord Blackwood, of course. Don’t you think he is just the handsomest, most wonderful man in the whole world?”

Three
    P atience felt as if a huge fist had appeared out of nowhere and punched her in the chest. It wasn’t a physical blow, of course, but her body reacted as if she’d been struck. Outwardly, she remained motionless, even calm, but inside she reeled from the onslaught.
    Lorna loved Lord Blackwood already? She must love him to appear so happy when speaking about him and even suggesting he was to be the recipient of her Valentine. Her Valentine, meaning the Valentine Patience would create. Even though