Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

S winging her leg idly, Prudence leaned her head back against the bench, letting her eyes close as the sunlight shone down upon her. She could only linger here for a few moments with the sun on her skin for fear of developing freckles, but the warmth felt good and made her smile.

"Prudence? Your mother said that you were out in the gardens." Prudence sat up quickly, rearranging her skirts as she inclined her head to her father, afraid of what he would think. "My dear girl, you need not stand on ceremony for me!" Lord Lymington chuckled and then, much to Prudence's surprise, embraced her. "I thought you did very well last evening, my dear."

"Did very well?" Prudence's eyebrows rose. "Papa, I did nothing."

He grinned at her.

"Precisely."

"I – I do not understand what you mean."

Lord Lymington tilted his head.

"I mean to say that, given the expectation, you did not appear to be nervous or even anxious when the announcement was not made. You seemed contented to return to the carriage."

"Oh." Prudence sat back down on the garden bench as her father took the one opposite her. "I did not see Lord Kingshill last evening, though I knew he was present."

Her father nodded.

"And you did not feel upset at all when the announcement was forgotten?" Leaning forward in his chair, he clicked his tongue. "You were expecting him to announce the betrothal, were you not?"

Prudence sighed.

"I was, but it seems that he chose not to do so, though I do not know why."

"That is what I wish to speak to you about, Prudence." Her father smiled at her as though to take any sort of fear away. "That gentleman was in his cups, and was much too inebriated to speak with any clarity or any consideration. Therefore, when I note that another gentleman, Lord Childers, came to speak with you and, thereafter, came to your aid, I wonder what it is that you might think of him."

"Of Lord Childers?"

Her father nodded.

"He is a scoundrel," Prudence told him, wondering if her mother had already spoken to her father about this - was he was now coming to make certain that Prudence understood? "He is a friend of Lord Kingshill, and he was the one who made possible the arrangement between us."

"And yet, be that as it may, it appears that he is rather concerned about this marriage and hopes and prays that all with go well." He reached up one hand to rub his chin. "I confess, I find that rather surprising, for a gentleman such as he. But yet, I cannot help but believe that he is genuine, given all that he did to protect you last evening."

Confused, Prudence's breath swirled in her chest.

"Protect me?"

Her father nodded.

"I watched as he spoke at length with Lord Kingshill, and saw how utterly inebriated Lord Kingshill was. The more the evening went on, the more brandy he consumed and, though I fully expected him to make the announcement, he did not."

"And he did not because of Lord Childers?"

Lord Lymington nodded.

"Precisely. Your friend took Lord Kingshill from the center of the room and pushed him back into the shadows." He held up one hand, perhaps hearing what Prudence's mind whispered. "You do not wish me to call him your friend, then. I shall call him an acquaintance instead."

"I thank you," Prudence mumbled, her face growing a little hot as she realized just how hard she found that to consider.

"He kept Lord Kingshill from making any sort of proclamation when he was so without sense," her father continued, quietly. "He even made certain to place Lord Kingshill in his carriage so that he could not attempt to come back into the ballroom! I watched that happen and felt such a great appreciation, I could not help but speak to him."

"You did?"

Her father nodded.

"I talked with him and made it clear that I was very grateful for his consideration of you and his recognition of what the ton would have said, had they heard such a thing from the inebriated Lord Kingshill! He says that since he has arranged the match, he feels a responsibility and that he is now going to set his mind away from his own activities this Season until all is at an end between yourself and Lord Kingshill. Is that not remarkable?" Lord Lymington shook his head and chuckled. "From an upstanding gentleman, I might not be surprised, but for a rogue… it was most extraordinary to hear such words from his lips! And given what I witnessed, I had no reason to doubt him."

A thrill ran up Prudence's spine upon hearing all of this, only for her mother's warnings to come back to her mind. She dared not let her father see all that she felt, for fear that he would question her further – asking questions which she did not have answers for.

"That is remarkable indeed, but he is still a scoundrel, Papa, as Mother has reminded me."

To her surprise, Lord Lymington did not immediately answer and certainly did not instantly agree. Instead, he mused for a few moments, his gaze drifting away from her as Prudence found herself waiting urgently for what judgment he might bring upon Lord Childers. For whatever reason, it seemed to matter a great deal to her what her father thought of Lord Childers, and she wondered silently if her father would urge her to stay away from Lord Childers, just as her mother had done.

"You are correct that he still has the reputation of a rogue," Lord Lymington agreed, after a few moments. "However, I do not think that, in this situation, he is acting as one. It seems to me that Lord Childers is genuinely interested in making certain that all is well – though that might very well be because his friend is involved and he feels partly responsible, given that he was the one who made the match."

Prudence looked down at her hands, twisting her fingers in her lap as a slow joy began to burst up from within her.

"That is good of you to say, Papa." She dared a glance at him, praying that he could not see within her heart and know what was hidden there. "Might I ask if I ought to refrain from his company, however?"

Again, her father paused but, this time, there was a light smile on his face as he thought.

"No, I do not think so," came the eventual reply. "If Lord Childers proves himself to be your guide in this – though I think that he does it all for the sake of his reputation – then you can continue on in his company at present. Though, if he should return to his rakish ways, I will immediately pull you from his company and nothing more will be heard of him." A severe heaviness sank into his expression, his smile fading. "Do you understand me, Prudence?"

"I do, Papa. You are very clear on the matter, and I greatly appreciate it." Prudence managed to smile, relieved when her father rose to his feet. He had given her a good deal to think about and now she wanted to be able to do that in silence and alone. "I thank you for sharing that with me."

Her father walked towards her, leaned over, and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"You are a very dear daughter, Prudence," he said softly, looking down into her face. "You need not fear the past, nor be concerned for your future. I am here to both guide and support you, as is your mother. I will not set you wrong in this, though I must also have your trust so that if anything Lord Childers does or says is improper, you will step back from his company at once and inform me of it."

Prudence looked up at her father, seeing the way that he searched her face.

"I shall, Papa," she swore, reaching up to take his hand for a moment. "Will you tell Mama of this also?"

"I go to speak with her at this very moment," he smiled, as Prudence released his hand. "Excuse me."

Watching him leave, Prudence then turned her head and, after a moment, dropped it into her hands. She closed her eyes tightly and dragged in air, her heart pounding in a way that she had managed to keep hidden from her father.

Lord Childers told me that he would be devoted to my betrothal, to making certain that all was well, and I was contented. But I did not think that he would ever do something like this!

"I do not know what to think, I confess it."

"Nor do I," Prudence answered, passing one hand over her eyes. "It was the most extraordinary thing to have heard from my father. I admit, when I first heard Lord Childers speak such words, when he first told me that he would be devoted to my happiness in my upcoming betrothal, I did not know what to think. I did not fully believe him, I suppose. For why should a gentleman, such as he, care about anything to do with me?"

Miss Rockwell shook her head, her brows furrowing as she looked at Prudence.

"I do not know," she said again, digging her spoon into the ice they had both just purchased from Gunther's. "That is most extraordinary. Do you truly think that he will be devoted to this, as he has said?"

Prudence shrugged.

"It seems as though he might be, given what he did. My father seemed… pleased."

Miss Rockwell's eyebrows shot high.

"Pleased?"

"Yes," Prudence admitted, her mouth twisting to one side for a moment. "He seemed rather taken with the fact that Lord Childers had done such a thing. I did see that Lord Kingshill was a little overcome with liquor at the ball and… well, I was relieved when no announcement was made."

Her friend smiled sympathetically as Prudence took a mouthful of her ice.

"I can understand that. Are you still quite certain that you wish to marry him?"

Prudence took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. She knew that she could be honest with her friend and yet, inwardly, something held her back.

"I must marry him if I am to have any hope of a satisfactory future."

"But not a happy one? What of that?"

Taking a breath, Prudence set her shoulders and tried to speak plainly.

"My dear friend, I greatly value our friendship, but it will not last forever, will it? Not in this way, at least, for you will soon marry and go to set up home at your husband's estate. I shall be left alone and, if I do not marry, then I will only have my mother and father for company for as many years as God grants them. What then? Must I become a spinster aunt to whatever nieces and nephews I have? What will happen when they grow, and my sister desires her own house to be filled with simply her own family? I do not say that I will be destitute, but that I shall certainly be unfulfilled and lonely. Is that any sort of future for a young lady such as myself?"

A long sigh came from Miss Rockwell.

"Well, when you speak in such terms as that, I can understand why you are so concerned. But does it have to be Lord Kingshill?"

A small, sad smile touched Prudence's lips.

"I do not know who else it would be, Anna. It is not as though any gentlemen have come in search of me, is it? And no one knows that I am betrothed as yet, so I cannot use that as an excuse."

Miss Rockwell's lips tugged to one side, only for her eyes to flare and her spoon to drop to the table. She did not even glance at it, did not stop to pick it up but instead reached out to touch Prudence's hand with her own.

"What about Lord Childers?"

"What do you mean?" Prudence could not deny that her heart quickened a little at that name, but she steeled herself inwardly. "What about him?"

"Could you not betrothe yourself to Lord Childers?" Miss Rockwell's eyes widened all the more. "He has said that he will devote himself to you, has he not?"

"Yes, but to ensure the betrothal that follows is a happy one."

"Which speaks of his interest in you, does it not?"

Prudence blinked and then shook her head, her lips pursed for a moment.

"I do not think that it means that he has any sort of genuine interest, not in that regard. He says that he feels it only because of his hand in the arrangement, not for any other reason."

"But regardless of that, he is proving himself to be a little more reformed than Lord Kingshill, is he not? And your father seemed pleased with him."

"Yes," Prudence said slowly, wishing that her heart was not so eager to cling to this particular idea, given the way it jumped around. "But I could not dare to suggest such a thing to him! He does not want to marry, while his friend does. What if–"

"What if you miss this opportunity and instead, find yourself tied to Lord Kingshill for the rest of your days, wondering what would have happened, had you been bold enough to speak with Lord Childers?"

Prudence swallowed thickly, her stomach lurching. Was this what would happen to her if she did not do as Miss Rockwell suggested? She could not help but admit to herself that the thought of marrying Lord Childers was a good deal more appealing than the idea of attaching herself to Lord Kingshill, though she did her best to hide that from her friend.

"I will think about it, Anna. That is all I can say."

Miss Rockwell nodded.

"Then think on it quickly, my friend. It will not be long before Lord Kingshill makes his announcement about your courtship, and then what will the ton do if they see you connected to Lord Childers instead?" Picking up her spoon, she dug it into her ice again. "I think that Lord Childers might be the better prospect, even though he is just as much of a rogue as Lord Kingshill!"

"Perhaps," Prudence mused, seeing her friend nod fervently. "I do not know how I would even approach such a subject, however!"

"It will come to you, I am sure," Miss Rockwell said, firmly. "I am very glad that I thought of such a thing." Reaching out, she pressed Prudence's hand, her eyes steady. "I want you to be happy, my dear friend. I cannot bear the thought of you being wed to that fool and left unhappy for the rest of your days."

A sense of sadness twisted Prudence's heart and then spread out across her chest.

"I do not want to be sorrowful either," she answered, as Miss Rockwell took her hand back. "I will think about it, I assure you. I will think about speaking to Lord Childers about changing my betrothal from Lord Kingshill to him."