Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

" W hat a pleasant day it is for a walk, Lady Prudence!"

"Indeed." Prudence glanced at Lord Childers then looked at her mother, who was gazing back at Lord Childers with clear dislike in her expression. They had come upon each other quite by accident and yet, seeing him again so soon after they had danced the waltz together the previous evening made her heart quicken in a most disconcerting way. "It is not yet the fashionable hour and I thought to take a short walk before the ton arrives."

"A capital idea! I have always thought that the fashionable hour can get a trifle too busy," Lord Childers answered, though he smiled at Lady Lymington rather than Prudence. "I thought to walk this way. Might you wish – might she be permitted – to join me, Lady Lymington?"

Prudence's heart quickened but she quietened it just as hastily as she could. She was not about to start losing her good sense over one gentleman! That would make very little sense, especially since she was supposedly soon to be wed to his friend.

"Prudence, do you wish to do such a thing?"

The warning in her mother's voice was clear, but Prudence glanced around the park, seeing that there appeared to be very few others present.

"For a short while, Mama," she suggested, as Lady Lymington's lips pressed tightly together. "We are to return home before the fashionable hour anyway, are we not? I will not walk for too long a time."

Lady Lymington sniffed but nodded, leaving Prudence to accept Lord Childers arm and then, to fall into step with him. No doubt her mother was still thinking about what they had discussed between them previously. Lord Childers might well be a means of pushing her back into society and, even though Lady Lymington was clearly disconcerted at the idea of having her daughter walk with a rogue, she did not object.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, though the nearness of him made Prudence's heart squeeze with the memory of being in his arms. They had not spoken a single word to each other all through the waltz, but Lord Childers had never once taken his eyes from hers and she had struggled to look anywhere but up at him. It had been as though the rest of the ballroom had fallen away, that it had only been the two of them upon the floor, and when it had come to an end, there had been so much regret in her heart, it had been like a very sharp, sudden pain piercing right through her.

"A very fine day."

Prudence started, having been lost in her thoughts.

"Indeed."

"And with excellent company."

She pressed her lips together, seeing how his gaze was roving around the grounds surrounding them, rather than looking at her. Did he truly feel genuine happiness in being in such pleasant surroundings? Or was he only saying such things in the hope of garnering her interest in him.

"You have not told me why Lord Kingshill wishes to marry so quickly," she said, before their conversation could drift into all manner of things. "You said you would answer any questions I have and, therefore, I should like to ask you why Lord Kingshill has not married as yet. He is a highly titled gentleman and yet he has not found himself a bride. What reason for that is there?"

Finally, Lord Childers looked back at her, surprise lingering in his eyes.

"You mean to ask me about Lord Kingshill's standing?"

Prudence nodded; she felt a tightness in her chest which made it difficult to breathe deeply.

"You asked me about my reasons for being a wallflower," she explained. "I should like to ask why a gentleman with such a high title has not yet considered matrimony. It is clear that this has come to him as a sudden demand, an unexpected desire and I must wonder why he turns to a wallflower rather than to any other young lady of the ton. I am looking for the truth as to why such a thing must be."

"I can understand that."

Lord Childers did not give her any further explanation though a frown began to pull at his forehead, making Prudence's heart twist with concern.

"As a wallflower, I confess that I am not entirely aware of all that is going on in society," Prudence continued when he said nothing. "I do hope that you do not think I am prying."

"Of course not." Lord Childers looked at her for a long moment, his eyes steady, but that frown still flickering there. "I confess that I was wondering when this conversation would come about, Lady Prudence. I was hoping that you would not ask, truth be told, but I suppose that I should tell you regardless."

Prudence's heart flipped over in her chest, a sudden tightness – a sudden fear – lurching through her. What was it that he had been hiding from her? What was it that he had wanted to keep hidden? Surely Lord Kingshill did not have some sort of dreadful circumstance clinging to him?

"He is as much a scoundrel as I am, Lady Prudence." With a heavy sigh, Lord Childers looked away. "I am sorry to say it, but that is the truth."

If she had not had her hand on his arm, Prudence was quite sure she would have come to a complete stop. Shock ran through her, her fingers tightening on him as she fought her way through a sudden, blind panic.

I am going to marry a rogue!

"He has hidden a good deal from society, Lady Prudence, but they know him to be something of a rogue, at least," Lord Childers continued, not seeming to understand the pain that suddenly tore through her at his words. "I do not think that you need to fear such a thing, however. After all, you are a wallflower, rejected by society and he is a rogue, also rejected by society."

"They are two entirely different things!"

Prudence could not seem to catch her breath, her heart pounding as cold sweat broke out across her forehead. Lord Childers was saying something to her, but she did not hear him, did not seem to notice his words. Instead, there was nothing but a gentle buzzing in her ears, and she was both hearing and feeling every beat of her heart. Her vision blurred, panic gripping her until, all of a sudden, she could not seem to even take another step.

"Lady Prudence?" Lord Childers released her hand from his arm and turned so he might look down fully into her face, his hands finding both of hers and gripping them tightly. "I have shocked you, I can see. I did not mean to do such a thing. I–"

"I cannot marry a scoundrel!"

Lord Childers held her gaze steadily, saying nothing as she looked back up at him, her breath still coming fast as she battled her overwhelming emotions. Everything that had been built up within her, the faint hope that she might find herself a suitable husband and live a contented, happy life, was all torn away in a single moment.

"What if he is to reform himself?"

The quiet voice of Lord Childers brought her back to the present, looking up at him again as she swallowed tightly.

"I – I do not know."

"A scoundrel still requires a wife. Besides which, the eagerness also comes from the realization that he requires an heir. To find a young lady who will be eager to accept a scoundrel as a husband might be rather difficult and, since he has such an eagerness about this matter, he decided an arrangement would be suitable," he told her, his voice quiet and his expression soft. "And if he will be a rogue no longer, then would that not be a good thing? Yes, it does mean that society will be rather astonished at the match and will, no doubt, whisper about it for a time, but if it is to bring you eternal happiness, then there is no real seriousness to that, is there?" Prudence did not know what to say. The shock still ran through her and, even though his hands were squeezing hers, even though he stood so close to her so that she could feel his breath on her cheek, she could find nothing to say. "Will you still meet him, at the very least?"

Closing her eyes, Prudence nodded slowly.

"I suppose I should still do so, yes."

"I thank you." Lord Childers released her hands and then stepped back. "I can understand your hesitancy, but I can assure you that Lord Kingshill wants to marry. I am certain that he understands all that is required of a gentleman who desires such a thing!"

"I must hope so," Prudence murmured, glancing over her shoulder, only to see that her mother was standing with another lady, deep in conversation with her. Little wonder that she had voiced no concern in seeing Prudence and Lord Childers so close together. "I am aware that, as a wallflower, I ought not to care too deeply about who I marry, but all the same, Lord Childers, the thought of being married to a rogue who will care nothing for me and use me only as decoration in front of society's eyes, is not something that I can bear! I believe that, even though I stand to the side, even though the ton does not really consider me, I am still worthy of being treated with consideration and respect."

Lord Childers looked at her for a long moment, saying nothing. Then, with a heavy breath, he inclined his head, nodded, and then took her hand again for a brief moment.

"I quite understand, and I agree entirely."

Her eyebrows lifted just a little.

"You do?"

"I do, and I promise you that I shall make that expectation very clear to Lord Kingshill."

A little light relief filled her though, as they stood there, hand in hand, that relief grew into something more. There was a gentle heat that was not unwelcome, curling through her stomach and leaving her sighing with something akin to contentment – though that faded rapidly when Lord Childers took his hand away.

"I must beg to take my leave of you now," he said, softly. "Do excuse me, Lady Prudence. Thank you for walking with me for a time. Mayhap we shall be able to walk together again on another fine day such as this."

"I should like to, yes."

The words came out of her mouth and shocked Prudence utterly. She stared back at Lord Childers as he took his leave and then walked away from her, leaving her staring after him in utter astonishment. What had possessed her to speak in such a way to him? No doubt his suggestion was simply spoken out of propriety, given all that she had said to him before as regards his consideration of her. But now, she had spoken with a fervency as regarded her desire to walk with him again on a fine summer's day, rather than simply remaining silent, as she ought to have done.

Why did I say it? She dropped her head. Why did I suggest that I would like to be in his company again? I am meant to be considering betrothal to his friend, to Lord Kingshill, rather than enjoying Lord Childers' company! And besides which, he is still nothing but a rogue and I should be doing all that I can to stay far from him.

Those thoughts, those quiet whispers to herself, did nothing to persuade Prudence's heart to change all it felt, however. Squeezing her eyes closed for a moment, she fought hard to push everything away, to remove every single ounce of feeling… but instead, she was left with nothing but confusion, upset, and to her dismay, a lingering warmth that crept into the very depths of her heart.

Prudence let out a heavy sigh and shook her head.

"I do not know what to think, Anna."

"I would demand an introduction if I were you!" Miss Rockwell exclaimed as they took tea together in Lord Lymington's drawing room. "It has been almost a fortnight now and all you have done is talk with Lord Childers!"

Yes, I have, Prudence thought to herself, finding a slight smile tilting her lips. And I have not found that at all disagreeable.

"Prudence?"

Prudence looked back at her friend, realizing that she had lost herself in her thoughts for a moment.

"Yes?"

"When will you demand a meeting with this gentleman? It seems rather strange to me that he has not met you as yet, especially since there is some haste in his desire to marry."

Considering what she would tell her friend, Prudence took a breath and then spoke.

"It is a little odd, yes, but it has given me a lot of time to think about what my future would be like, should I accept him."

"That, I suppose, is a good thing."

"I do have some concerns," Prudence continued, recalling that she had not yet told Miss Rockwell what she had learned of Lord Kingswell's reputation.

"Oh? It cannot be about his title, I am sure. A Marquess is a very high title indeed."

Prudence shook her head.

"No, it is not."

"Then do you think you cannot believe Lord Childers? That Lord Childers has made up this story for reasons of his own?"

"I confess that I did put that to Lord Childers when I last spoke to him," Prudence admitted. "He did reassure me, however."

Miss Rockwell scowled, her expression rather dark as she reached to take a sip of her tea before setting it back down again.

"I understand that you have been reassured, but I am not certain that you can trust either Lord Childers or Lord Kingshill. It has taken too long for this introduction. I do not see why Lord Childers cannot simply do as he has said!"

"I think that he will," Prudence answered, a little surprised at how quickly she came to Lord Childers' defense. "He has told me that Lord Kingshill is taking a little time to consider all that has been put to him. Lord Childers explained that it came as something of a surprise, for within only a few days of Lord Kingshill expressing his desire to wed – and to wed quickly – Lord Childers came upon us and then, after he had spoken to me, went to his friend with the news."

"And why is there so much haste?" Miss Rockwell's eyes narrowed just a little. "There is a reason for his haste, is there not?"

Prudence nodded.

"He does not desire to court or the like." Something like embarrassment swarmed through her and she reached for her tea to cover it. "He desires to have an heir produced as quickly as possible."

"And yet he takes all this time to consider?" Miss Rockwell clicked her tongue. "I am not certain that such a thing is true."

"There is another reason." Prudence pressed her lips tightly together, steeling herself for whatever reaction Miss Rockwell would throw at her. "Lord Childers told me that his friend is as much a scoundrel as he is."

Miss Rockwell froze in place, her teacup held halfway between the table and her mouth. She stared back at Prudence with wide eyes and Prudence, feeling her embarrassment rising all the more, simply looked away, unable to bear her friend's astonished look.

"I was terribly shocked," she admitted, when her friend still said nothing. "But Lord Childers has told me that Lord Kingshill will reform himself when he marries. And I, being a wallflower all the same, cannot exactly think of a reason why I ought to refuse him simply because of his reputation." A strangled sound came from her friend, but when Prudence looked at her, waiting for her response, Miss Rockwell simply shook her head. "Not everyone can have the happiness that you have found," Prudence murmured, when Miss Rockwell finally took a sip of her tea. "I will admit to being a little envious of that. While being very glad for you indeed, but my situation is vastly different. I do not have any other gentlemen vying for my hand and nor do I have the prospect of such gentlemen coming to seek me out either! All I have is this rogue pursuing me in the hope that I will agree to marry his friend. And I cannot see a good reason to refuse him."

Miss Rockwell nodded slowly and then, after a moment, let out a slow breath.

"Far be it from me to offer you any advice," she said, softly. "But please, my dear friend, consider all of this with great seriousness and be aware that you are placing a great deal of trust in all that Lord Childers says about Lord Kingshill."

Prudence nodded, a sense of relief washing over her now that she had been honest with her friend.

"Thank you, Anna." She let out another breath, her shoulders dropping just a little. "I swear to you, I shall be."