Chapter Fifteen
Prudence looked at herself in the mirror in her room at the Inn.
It wasn’t the clearest reflection, but she could see enough to know that it was the best she could do.
Her gown was satin, green – of course – the bright green of fresh leaves in spring.
She had brought it with her, just in case she would be able to attend this event.
Brent had told her about it. Just as he’d told her earlier today that they now knew who her father was.
When she learned that she was the daughter of Jack Rowdean, she forgot to breathe for a few moments and felt the colour drain from her cheeks.
Deeply concerned, Brent sat her down and roughly pushed her head between her knees, just as he’d done as a child when she threatened to faint on him after almost shattering her kneecap on a rock in the river.
She’d kept her kneecap, fortunately, escaping with a bruise.
But Brent had never forgotten that little manoeuvre that had kept her conscious.
It came in handy at this moment when she learned she was his half-sister.
“Brent.” She reached out a hand. “You really are my brother.”
“Yes I am,” he answered, taking her hand in his. “And I suppose we should have known. We tend to think alike on things, and I love you dearly, always have, but never that way. Which is odd, when you come to think of it.”
“You’ve always been my best friend.” She nodded in agreement. “And I suppose I should have had a tendre for you at some point in our acquaintance, but I never did. Nature must have been telling us something.”
“I have a sister.” He squeezed her fingers. “I’m still getting used to the idea.”
She smiled, her eyes stinging at the first true family moment she could remember having for a long time. “I have a brother. And a family. Or do I? Where does this put us? Me?”
Her smile faded as Brent shook his head.
“Honestly? I don’t know. I would love to say that yes, now you’re a Rowdean.
But you know as well as I that you were never acknowledged as such.
I’ve been racking my brains to try and remember if my father ever mentioned anything about another child.
I don’t think he did, certainly not in my hearing.
So it’s entirely possible he never knew about you, love.
He travelled a lot when I was young, and then… the accident.”
“Damn it all.” She let his hand go and stood, shaking out her skirts. “I am no better off than before, am I?”
“That I don’t know. Let me just say this…
the first thing I did when I found out about it, was ask if I could acknowledge you as a Rowdean.
But because your mother was married at the time of your birth, I can’t.
” His mouth turned down. “I asked Sir Rodney, because he got a note as well. So did the Southwicks. And I’m really sorry that even knowing you’re an unofficial Rowdean, I can’t help. ”
“Why the Southwicks, I wonder? Oh…you and Emmeline, I imagine.” She paused then asked the question that popped into her mind. “Where did this information come from, Brent? Who found this out?”
“It’s a bit of a mystery, actually. Notes were delivered, from “A Friend”.
I tried to find anyone who saw the messenger, but apparently whoever it just vanished into the snow.
Nobody remembers him as anything other than some man in a dark cloak.
That’s it. So I have no clue who dispatched the notes, or if they will help or harm your situation with Reid.
But let’s be as positive as we can. Sir Rodney has a few ideas, so all is not yet lost.”
All is not yet lost.
Prudence kept that thought uppermost in her mind as she affixed a small sprig of mistletoe into the shining chestnut curls at the back of her head. She allowed one lock of hair to fall loosely over her shoulder and pinned a small red ribbon over the stem of the mistletoe.
Turning around, she nodded at the positioning, hoping that it would be suitable for the occasion.
Eschewing jewelry, of which she had little, she decided upon a thin green ribbon made from the same satin as her dress. When she tied it around her neck, she realised it was the perfect finishing touch. She needed no more than that.
A loud tap on the door was followed by Brent’s voice. “Almost ready, sister-of-mine?”
Her lips curved into a smile. “Yes indeed, brother dear.”
So it was on a positive note that she and Brent left the Inn and got into the carriage Brent had hired for the night.
Wrapped warmly in her cloak and with her gloves and reticule by her side, Prudence’s thoughts settled down.
She was going to see Reid tonight. She’d missed him so much; it had been like living with a permanent tooth ache.
No matter what lay ahead, they would have this night together.
And she now knew who her father was. That was something she’d never imagined, let alone the possibility that she had also gained a step-brother as well.
That fact alone warmed her heart – and suddenly she felt a touch of the joy of the Season.
She would no longer be celebrating Christmas as a lonely child.
The strains of the first dance were echoing through Chillendale Hall as Brent and Prudence arrived. There were lights everywhere, in every window, and smoke billowed from more than a few chimneys.
The servants were kept busy taking cloaks and assisting the guests tidy themselves before joining the line of people waiting to greet their hosts for the evening.
Reid, whose extra inches gave him a bit of an advantage, breathed a sigh of relief when a familiar head of chestnut curls appeared amidst the throng of the receiving line. She was here at last.
And when she and Brent finally stepped in front of him, he wanted nothing more than to sweep her off her feet and vanish with her into some far away room where they could be private.
“Stop it,” she whispered through a polite smile.
“Stop what?” He bent and kissed her hand formally.
“Looking at me like that. It’s doing terribly bad things to me.”
“Good. Regard it as practice. I will make sure to repeat them in their entirety later.” Reid grinned.
“If you two don’t mind, may I present my half-sister?” Brent’s smile was as wide as the horizon. “She maintains the family tradition of beauty and brains.”
Reid chuckled. “Well, Brent my friend. I have a feeling she started it, since you’re decidedly lacking in the beauty department and when it comes to brains…well…”
“Ahem.” A cough from the next guest reminded Reid of his duty and he nodded as he passed Brent and Prudence on toward his father and mother.
“Save me a dance,” he called after her.
“Of course.” She waved her fan as she departed.
Reid continued his portion of the receiving process, but managed to keep an eye on his love, noting how warmly Pru was received by his mother and father. They were doing the family proud tonight, but always had a moment to be kind and friendly, no matter how formal the occasion.
He and Pru would be like that to their family too. He refused to think otherwise.
“Dear Reid. How lovely it looks here at Chillendale. I’m convinced that I would never be able to produce such a pretty scene at Southwick, even though our ballroom has such magnificent dimensions.”
Thus reminded of how insignificant he was, Reid bowed and smiled at Lady Southwick. “Welcome, my Lady. Lord Southwick.”
Brent reappeared all of a sudden and swept up behind the Southwicks, seizing Emmeline’s arm and linking it through his. “There. That’s where you belong, my sweet.”
Emmeline gave him a look that Reid could only describe as worshipful.
“Hallo Emmeline. Welcome to the Mistletoe Ball. I see your escort is ready to dance you off your feet this evening.” Reid smiled at them both.
“I do hope so,” replied Emmeline. “We haven’t danced together yet. So many wonderful experiences lie ahead.” She smiled at Reid, then looked back at Brent.
“I can’t wait,” he said, looking down at her with much the same expression in his gaze.
“Well then. Perhaps you should find the ballroom, Brent. It’s still where it always was. And a few more people would like to do the same thing, but they’re standing behind you.”
“Ah, yes. Sorry.” Brent smiled over his shoulder. “I just got engaged to this beautiful woman. You’ll have to forgive my behaviour.”
A small cheer and a round of applause sounded in response to his words, and Emmeline blushed and curtseyed. It was quite adorable and driving Reid mad, since he wanted nothing more than to find Prudence and get out of the public spotlight.
It was another ten minutes before he could shake free of his duties and head to the ballroom himself.
When he did, it was to find his quarry enjoying a country dance with a local farmer, who looked in awe of his partner, but managed to remember the steps quite well.
As it ended, Reid worked his way around the dance floor to meet her.
She curtseyed and smiled at her partner, who blushed and bowed – if not gracefully, at least enthusiastically.
Reid made sure he was there when she turned. “Hullo. I hope you’re not booked for the next dance?”
She shook her head. “No, I thought perhaps you might be free for this one, so I kept it empty.”
“That’s my girl.” He led her to a quieter spot. “I’ve missed you so much this last week. Have you been well entertained?”
“Indeed yes.” She told him some of her experiences with Brent and Emmeline. “But there was something missing. You.”
“And now you have a name for your father,” said Reid, wanting to touch her so much, but knowing he could not – this was not the moment.
“I do. And a half-brother,” she answered with an odd look on her face. “How strange that sounds. I thought I had a cousin, and now it turns out we’re much more closely related. Isn’t the world strange, Reid? So many odd twists to our lives, ones we could never have anticipated.”
“I wish…”