Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

" M ama? Papa? I – I must speak with you."

Prudence sat down quickly, hoping that by clasping her hands under the table, they would not see how she trembled. After her walk around the park earlier that morning and speaking with Lord Childers, she felt overwhelmed with thoughts. Although she had managed to sneak back into the house without being seen by anyone, she had not returned to her bed. Yes, she had changed back into her night things and taken the morning chocolate brought to her by her maid but all the while, she had done nothing but think of Lord Childers. Now, the moment had come for her to speak to her parents about what he proposed.

"Yes?" Her mother smiled at her, then gestured to the teapot. "Would you like to have a cup of tea before you begin? You have not eaten a single thing thus far and you must be thirsty, at least!"

Prudence shook her head.

"I am quite all right, I assure you. Might I begin?"

Her mother tilted her head, looking at her.

"This is a serious matter, yes?"

"Yes."

"My dear."

Reaching across, Lady Lymington touched her husband's hand, causing him to look away from the newspaper he held in his hand and look instead at Prudence.

"There is something you wish to say, Prudence dear?" Lord Lymington smiled warmly. "What is it?" A faint flicker came into his eyes. "Is it that you hope now to remove your connection with Lord Kingshill? I confess that I would not find that a disappointment if you were to do so."

"My dear!"

Lady Lymington hissed but Prudence smiled, feeling a little relieved that her father had spoken so.

"It does make this conversation a little easier, to know that you feel that way, Papa," she said slowly, hearing her mother's swift intake of breath. "Yes, I should like to end my connection to Lord Kingshill before it has even begun!"

Both of her parents glanced at each other though, much to Prudence's relief, her father immediately began to smile.

"I am glad to hear it. That is not because I do not want you to be happy, but I am sure that Lord Kingshill is not at all the sort of gentleman you should be connecting yourself to."

"I quite agree," Prudence answered, though Lady Lymington looked a little sorrowful, her expression rather downcast. "However, I do not intend to become a spinster. That is not something I want for my future. Therefore, rather than stepping away from Lord Kingshill without any other possibilities laid out ahead of me, I have instead accepted an offer from another gentleman."

At this, Lady Lymington let out a huge gasp, her fingers grasping the tablecloth in obvious astonishment. Prudence swallowed and said nothing, wondering if she ought to have accepted her mother's offer of a cup of tea given that her mouth had become so dry. Her father was also evidently astonished, given the way that his eyes had rounded, though he merely cleared his throat in a rather gruff manner rather than say anything.

"You… you have received another offer?" Lady Lymington whispered, as Prudence nodded. "In place of Lord Kingshill? A reputable gentleman?"

Prudence winced.

"No, I would not say that." Her mother's shoulders dropped instantly. "Though he has promised that he will reform himself and, thus far, he has proven himself."

Lord Lymington's hand thumped hard on the table.

"You are speaking of the Marquess of Childers, are you not?"

A little surprised, Prudence nodded.

"I am," she said, slowly. "How did you know?"

"From your description," her father answered, rubbing one hand over his chin. "I spoke to him recently."

"You… you did?"

"I did, yes." Lord Lymington smiled. "I thanked him for keeping the announcement away from the ton when Lord Kingshill was in his cups. I thought it would have been a most inappropriate time, and found myself rather surprised to see that another rake, such as he, was aware of the same thing. I did not expect that he would have cared about you in such a way, but it was clear to me that he did."

"He has offered himself in place of Lord Kingshill," Prudence told him, a little flushed now. "He has said that he will speak to Lord Kingshill, and I said that I would speak to both of you. I know that he is a rake, I understand that he is a scoundrel, but he has sworn to reform himself – and thus far, these last few weeks, he has done that."

"Yes, he has."

"You – you cannot be seriously considering this, Lymington!"

Prudence's shoulders rounded and she dropped her head as her mother instantly began to shake her head, her distrust of the gentleman clear.

"I am considering it, yes," Lord Lymington answered, mildly. "Lord Childers is a rogue, yes, but we have just agreed to Lord Kingshill, so why would we not accept him?"

Lady Lymington blinked and then threw up her hands.

"Because he is even more a scoundrel than Lord Kingshill! Do you not know of his reputation?"

"He cares for me." Prudence closed her eyes the moment the words came out of her mouth, feeling her mother's gaze shooting through her. She trembled a little as she spoke, but she forced herself to speak words of truth anyway. "And I believe that I care for him." Silence met her words and, anxiety raking up her spine, Prudence opened her eyes and looked at her mother who was staring, wide-eyed, at Prudence.

"I believe him, Mama," she continued, her voice catching. "He is a rogue, yes, but he has not done anything which would make me question his present determination to be devoted to me. The fact that he has spoken to me truthfully, confessing his initial motivations in arranging the match, and then explaining how his thinking has changed significantly since then, makes me believe that his words are genuine. I can see now that I would have nothing but misery should I marry Lord Kingshill, but with Lord Childers, do I not have a small hope of happiness?"

Lady Lymington closed her eyes and let out a long, slow breath.

"You have a small chance, yes, but there is still so much danger. I was never hopeful that you would have any sort of happiness with Lord Kingshill, but I did not know if… well…" She shook her head, her voice breaking. "I want only the best for you, my dear. I care for you so very much, and I do not want you to have a life of misery."

"I think that I have a better chance of happiness with Lord Childers than I would ever have had with Lord Kingshill."

"I would agree," Lord Lymington murmured, reaching out to take his wife's hand. "Come, my dear, consider all that your daughter is saying, and all that Lord Childers has said to her. I will say that I too was rather surprised at his consideration of her, and it did make me question whether or not there was a chance that this very thing might occur."

Hope filled Prudence's heart.

"Then you will permit him to court me? Knowing that betrothal will soon follow?"

Lord Lymington smiled and nodded.

"Yes, my dear. Of course. The choice I will give to you, but I believe that the decision has already been made, yes?"

Prudence nodded, tears beginning to threaten, her voice hoarse.

"Yes, Papa. I thank you." Her vision was a little blurred when she looked at her mother, who was now gripping her husband's hand tightly. "Mama?"

Lady Lymington took a moment and then, with a wobbly smile, nodded.

"Yes, Prudence. If you are sure, then I will not hold back my consent, even though it is not needed."

"Thank you." Prudence rose from her chair and, coming across to her mother, went to embrace her. "I think that I will be happy, Mama. Even if I am married to a rogue."

"A reformed rogue," Lady Lymington stated, firmly, managing to smile. "I will make certain to speak to Lord Childers myself and make sure that he is fully aware of what my expectations are of him, as your husband!"

Laughing, Prudence went to embrace her father, her heart happier than it had been in some time.

"I am sure that he will take it very well, Mama. I thank you."

"Let us hope that Lord Kingshill takes this news as well as we have!" Lord Lymington laughed, hugging her tightly. "What an excellent end to the Season this will be!"

"Prudence?"

Prudence smiled and made to greet Miss Rockwell, only to see her friend's expression as she hurried towards her.

"Anna? What is wrong?"

"Many people are speaking of you!" her friend exclaimed, her eyes wide. "I believe that there has been an argument between Lord Kingshill and Lord Childers and now they are both coming in search of you so that you might put an end to it."

"An argument?" Prudence's heart began to beat hard. "What sort of argument?"

"I do not know, but half the ton are coming with them!" Miss Rockwell grasped Prudence's hand. "Has something happened? Is Lord Childers–"

"Oh!" Gasping aloud, Prudence stared back into her friend's eyes. "I am not to be betrothed to Lord Kingshill any longer. I am going to wed Lord Childers, just as you suggested."

Despite the worry in her eyes, Miss Rockwell smiled brightly.

"How wonderful! I am delighted to hear it! How did such a thing come about?"

Prudence hesitated, her eyes now searching the ballroom.

"I – I shall explain all, but mayhap I should go and find Lord Childers? I do not want to garner the attention of every single person in the ton ."

Miss Rockwell nodded.

"I think you should. Come, I will go with you." Looping her arm through Prudence's, they walked a little further forward, out of the shadows and back into the crowd of guests. Prudence felt as though every step was heavy, her legs weighted and desperate to hold her back from the scrutiny that was going to follow. She had not been a part of the ton for a long time and, no doubt, some of them would know what it was she had done as regarded Lord Newling and might now begin to speak of it again. Would they tell Lord Childers of it? What would he think if they did? "There."

Miss Rockwell turned her head and nodded in the direction of a small group of people who appeared to be walking as one, following two figures. One was Lord Kingshill and the other, Lord Childers. Prudence's heart twisted and she caught her breath, trying to fight the desire to step back, to step away from the many looks, the many whispers and the many remarks which were soon to be directed towards her.

"I see them."

Swallowing her fear, Prudence lifted her chin and, with Miss Rockwell beside her, she made her way towards the gentlemen. The moment one of those within the group caught sight of her, it seemed as though a ripple ran right around the room. The whispers grew into a torrent and then a great and heavy wave that felt, to Prudence, as though it crashed over her. Her breath hitched, her chest was tight, and her hands were suddenly very cold as she continued to walk towards them.

Then, Lord Childers looked at her and, with a broad smile on his face, began to come towards her. Lord Kingshill followed, though he appeared to be a good deal more ill-tempered given the scowl which pulled at his face.

"Whatever could their argument have been about?" Miss Rockwell whispered as Prudence forced a smile to her lips. "Do you think that they argued about you?"

"I do not know," Prudence returned, as Lord Childers came close to her, bowing low. "Good evening, Lord Childers." She looked at Lord Kingshill as he came closer. "And to you also, Lord Kingshill."

Glancing around, she caught sight of the gathered crowd who were all now looking toward her. Her face grew hot, but she returned her gaze quickly to Lord Childers, who was still smiling. That expression brought her a little relief, and she took a deep breath and then lifted an eyebrow.

"Lady Prudence, as you know, you and I are courting," Lord Kingshill stated, stepping forward so that he was the nearest one to her. "I do not know why Lord Childers now believes that he has taken my place, but I want you now to tell both him and the other guests gathered here that it is not as he says. "

"And if you are wrong?" Lord Childers asked, his eyebrow lifting. "Then, will you step back? Will you step away without any further protestations?"

Lord Kingshill lifted his chin.

"I shall."

"Oh?"

Lord Childers' voice was filled with doubt.

"I shall!" Lord Kingshill exclaimed, speaking a little more loudly now. "If Lady Prudence states, here and now, that we are not courting, then I shall step back without further hesitation." Prudence frowned, seeing the sudden glint in Lord Kingshill's eyes. Clearly, Lord Childers had already spoken to him, so why now was he speaking with such confidence? Did he truly believe that she would agree with his statement, simply because he demanded it? They had barely spoken, and he had not given her more than a glance here and there when they had been in company, so what was it that he thought would pull her towards him? "We have an agreement, Lady Prudence," Lord Kingshill stated, looking down at her, his eyes sharpening. "We are to court, then we are to become betrothed and marry. You shall bear the heirs to my line, and we shall live as husband and wife. Is that not so?"

"Or is it that we are betrothed?"

Prudence's eyebrows lifted as Lord Childers' eyes searched her face, widening a little at the edges. No, they were not yet betrothed, she wanted to say, though it seemed that was what he had spoken to the crowd, given the way that they were murmuring. It did not matter to her, however, for though that question had not yet come from his lips, though he had not formally asked her to wed, she was not about to refuse him. Having spoken to both her mother and father and received their consent for the match, it did not matter to her one bit if they were now betrothed rather than courting! That had always been what she had hoped for, what she had intended, and this was now being offered to her, it seemed.

"I–"

"Lady Prudence," Lord Kingshill interrupted, before Prudence could continue speaking. "I should like to remind you that, though we all have something of a reputation here, there are… reasons for our reputation to be so. I will fully admit to being a rake and find myself a little proud of it, I admit." He snorted as he gestured to Lord Childers. "This gentleman has decided that he shall reform himself a little, though I think that in itself is foolishness, I confess."

"It is not foolishness!" Prudence exclaimed, only for Lord Kingshill to hold up one finger to her, silencing her.

"As I was saying, we each have a reputation," he said, a little more slowly and a good deal more quietly now. "I do wonder if you have told Lord Childers the reason for your standing as a wallflower, Lady Prudence?" Prudence blinked, a sudden fear clutching her heart. "I confess that I was a little intrigued as to why you were a wallflower, and I shall also state that Lord Childers' explanation of it was a little lacking in detail. While I was sure that you were certainly not ruined, there was still more I wanted to discover. And I have discovered it, though I did not think it of any benefit to share with Lord Childers at the time. Mayhap now I should?" He smiled and tilted his head as though she were a child and he simply teasing her. "It was somewhat difficult to find out the truth, I must admit. I shall suppose that you are rather glad that the ton does not know all of it, does not know of your manipulation and your coercion. And Lord Childers certainly does not know of it either, else he would not have described you in such sweet terms to me!"

Miss Rockwell grasped Prudence's hand.

"Do not listen to him," she hissed, though Prudence could not take her eyes from Lord Kingshill's face, such was her fear.

She could see exactly what he was threatening, could see all that he was laying out for her. There were two paths before her now. One where she said nothing, agreed to wed Lord Kingshill, and took her place by his side – lonely, broken, and unloved. Or she could take the other path, where the truth would be revealed, the ton would know all, and Lord Childers might easily reject her. Then she would be left just as alone as she had been at the beginning, but without any hope of ever making a match again.

"Do not listen to a word Lord Kingshill says, I beg of you." Lord Childers came closer to her, his hand outstretched. "I do not care what such a thing might be. I have done far worse, I am sure!"

"Ah, but can you manage the ton' s rejection of you? Of you both ?" Lord Kingshill laughed, tilting his head, bird-like. "You will have that stain lingering on your children! You will have them–"

"Please!" Prudence's voice was trembling, her whole body shaking as she squeezed Miss Rockwell's hand. Every eye was on her, making her feel as though every guest at the ball was looking at her, listening to whatever it was that she was going to say. Her heart clamoring, she looked at Miss Rockwell, feeling sweat trickle down her back. "I do not know what to do."

"Do not listen to Lord Kingshill!"

"But Lord Childers might turn away from me," Prudence whispered, tears in her eyes. "When he knows the truth, then–"

"Can you trust him?"

Prudence took in a long breath, barely able to form the words.

"I do not know if I can. We are so little acquainted and, though my heart has begun to form an attachment, there is still so much more that he needs to prove."

Miss Rockwell's eyes searched hers.

"Would he say the same of you, do you think? Do you believe that he too would wonder whether or not he could trust you?"

Closing her eyes, Prudence steadied herself.

"I have not told him the truth about my past but yes, I would hope that he could trust me."

"And that is what he hopes for you at this moment," Miss Rockwell stated, firmly. "I believe that you should not resign yourself to a life without love and care, Prudence. Take the risk. Even if society should turn its back on you, even if it should say that you are unworthy to be in its presence, you will still have Lord Childers." She pressed Prudence's hand and smiled. "And you shall have me."

Prudence blinked away her tears, her stomach coiling with fear.

"But you do not know what I have done."

"I do not need to know. I know who you are now and that is all that matters." Miss Rockwell looked at Lord Childers. "And that is all that matters when it comes to Lord Childers too."

Understanding what her friend was saying, Prudence hesitated and then looked back to the two gentlemen. Lord Kingshill was standing tall and proud, his lips curved into a cruel smirk as though he knew all too well that what he had said had taken root. Evidently, he believed that his threats would be enough for her to give in to him, expecting her to reject Lord Childers and bend to his will. Lord Childers, on the other hand, was gazing at her with what looked like desperation in his eyes. He was chewing on the edge of his lip, his hands curled into fists and one foot tapping lightly on the floor. He did not have the same confidence as Lord Kingshill exuded and certainly had no bravado about him. Could she really trust that no matter what Lord Kingshill told him, he would still continue in his connection with her? Would they still marry? Would he still feel the same way about her?

"We are all waiting, Lady Prudence," Lord Kingshill said, his voice light and mirthful as though this was all something to be laughed at, something that the ton would find mirthful. "Tell us all the truth, will you not?"

"The truth." Taking her hand from Miss Rockwell's, Prudence took a step forward and then, lifting her chin a notch, looked directly into Lord Kingshill's eyes. "Here is the truth."

An idea came to her as she spoke and, with a slight lift of one side of her mouth, she began. Whether it would be of any benefit to her, she did not know, but it was her only hope. Perhaps telling the ton the truth about Lord Kingshill – even though he was a rogue – would be enough to have them push back from him all the more.

"Lady Prudence, please," Lord Childers began, though his hands then fell back to his sides when she looked to him, his shoulders rounding as though he knew exactly what it was that she was going to say.

"Here is the truth," Prudence began, speaking loudly enough for almost everyone to hear. "Lord Kingshill did suggest that we court, with the expectation that betrothal and matrimony would follow. What he did not initially state, however, was that he did such a thing solely so that the heir to his title would follow. He made it quite clear that he did not care a jot for me, stating that I had to speak with my father about the arrangement rather than Lord Kingshill going to speak with him, himself. That is how little a gentleman he is." A few murmurs began to move around the room and, filled with a little more confidence, Prudence took a deep breath, noting how Lord Kingshill's sneer had begun to fade away. "My father was reluctant, but I was assured that Lord Kingshill would attempt to reform himself, that he would do all that he could to be an upstanding husband and reformed rogue. I did not expect love and affection, but I certainly hoped for a respectful, considerate husband, and it was with that expectation that the arrangement was made. However," she continued, her voice a little stronger now that she could see the reaction amongst the other guests, "I learned from Lord Childers – who came to speak to me out of consideration for me – that this was not as Lord Kingshill truly intended. Instead, he thought only to marry me so that the heir could be produced and, in the interim, he planned to continue in his roguish ways here in society, doing just as he pleased. He had no interest in me, expecting me to live in my own quarters of the house while he remained in his… or spent the majority of his time at the houses of others!" This statement brought a loud gasp, for even though Lord Kingshill was known to be a scoundrel, to hear of his intentions was shocking indeed. "With that revealed, Lord Childers then stated that he would take the place of Lord Kingshill so that I would not be without a husband, and without hope. I accepted his offer, seeing that Lord Kingshill would never be able to provide even the smallest amount of care for me, and dreading to think what sort of life I would have… and what sort of father any children we had would be given also."

Another murmur ran around the assembled group, with both gentlemen and ladies nodding in understanding.

"Uhhh…."

Lord Kingshill made a strangled sound, which Prudence ignored.

"Even now, you see that he threatens and seeks to coerce the lady to get what he wants," Miss Rockwell cried, coming to stand beside Prudence again. "His words cannot be trusted! Nothing he says can be believed! He expects to gain whatever he desires and when he is in danger of being denied it, he threatens instead. Is that the sort of gentleman that any young lady ought to marry? Would any of you who are fathers or mothers be glad to offer up the hand of your daughter to such a fellow?" She stood beside Prudence, clearly aware of the reason behind all that Prudence had said and adding her weighty words to it. "You cannot hold anything against Lady Prudence for stepping away from Lord Kingshill, and you certainly cannot believe anything that Lord Kingshill says about her, not when you know the sort of gentleman he is and what he will do to get his way."

Prudence, filled with a fresh confidence, threw out one hand towards Lord Childers.

"I am betrothed to this gentleman!" she declared, ignoring the narrowing of Lord Kingshill's eyes, and the way that he took a step towards her, as though he wanted to silence her before she had even begun. "I am to marry Lord Childers, and I shall never be coerced into betrothing myself to the selfish, arrogant, cruel person of Lord Kingshill."

With that, she made her way directly towards Lord Childers who, taking her hand, set it on his arm and, without so much as glancing towards Lord Kingshill or anyone else, led her directly away from them all.