Chapter Fifteen #2
“Sshh.” She slipped her arm through his. “I wish that too. But for tonight, I will not let the future, and its problems, intrude on our party.”
“All right.” Reid smiled then, following her lead. “May I have this dance, Lady Prudence?”
“It would be my pleasure, Mr. Chillendale.” She paused, listening. “Oh my goodness. How daring. A waltz…”
He took her in his arms and whirled her onto the floor where one or two other couples were starting the scandalous measures. “And you thought we were provincial here in Chillendale. Almack’s has nothing on us.”
Her laugh made others smile and for a short time, Reid waltzed with his love, both of them surrounded by laughter and the joy of sharing a special evening with people that matter in the best kind of way.
Even Emmeline was granted permission to waltz with Brent, and surprised everyone by her mastery of the more complicated measures.
She and Brent were well matched, realised Reid.
It surprised him somewhat, but then who was he to cavil at his friend’s happiness.
He was waltzing with Pru on a cloud of their own.
The evening progressed, with everyone enjoying themselves and the season.
There was mulled wine and syllabub, and the children who attended – mostly those too old for the nativity play and Fête – enjoyed a special time in another large room where games had been set up, along with a table of goodies just for them.
After a couple of hours, Reid saw his mother signal to the musicians to take their break, and he knew it was time for the Mistletoe Marquess announcements and crowning.
He felt his heartrate accelerate at the realization that the moment had arrived. And he wasn’t sure what to do.
Prudence must have sensed his distress, because she was suddenly there, her hand in his. “Do what you must, my love. Do your duty to your name and your family. It is who you are. And who you are is who I love.”
She looked at him, a gaze of faith and trust that pierced him like an arrow to his heart. He squeezed her hand. “I will.”
There was a bustling in the room as people moved to find food, and the buzz of conversation grew louder as mulled wine and Chillendale ale washed down the delicacies offered this evening.
“Good mince pies,” mumbled Brent through a mouthful. “Just excellent. And the lemon tarts are all gone.”
“How many did you have?” Reid tried to remain calm, even though his knees threatened to knock.
“Only two, I swear.” Brent crossed his heart. “Ah, here come the Mistletoe thrones.”
“Jesus.” Reid broke out in a sweat.
There was a ringing sound as Lady Jocelyn stood on the tall hearth and tapped a glass to capture everyone’s attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests. If I may have a moment?”
The conversations subsided to a murmur.
“As you know, this is the time when we crown our Mistletoe Marquess and announce the name of the lucky woman who will become the Marchioness and future bride.”
This is it.
Reid opened his mouth, but to his surprise, his mother continued. “We will do so shortly, when everyone is back in the ballroom. However, before we begin the ceremony, Lord Southwick has asked to be allowed to address us all. I have, of course, agreed. So…Lord Southwick? The floor is yours.”
“What the hell…” Reid couldn’t help the exclamation.
“This is out of the ordinary?” whispered Prudence.
“Yes, very.” Reid watched as the man walked to the hearth and took Lady Jocelyn’s place. He looked…older tonight. But perhaps it was the light.
“Thank you, Lady Chillendale. You are a gracious hostess, and this evening does credit to everyone at Chillendale Hall.”
There was a burst of applause at Lord Southwick’s first words, endorsing the event and making Lady Jocelyn smile, even as she shot Reid a worried glance.
“However, if you will forgive and indulge an old man, I have an important matter to take care of. I have to put history straight, if you will, and correct an error I made far too many years ago.”
There was a slight murmur, and the crowd seemed to draw closer, as if to catch every word.
“Over twenty years ago, when I was a lot younger and even more stupid – “ a murmur of laughter rippled through the audience, “ – my wife, whom I loved very much, became with child. Unfortunately, she did not survive the experience, and I lost her at the very moment a daughter was born.”
Reid felt Prudence grip his hand hard.
“I was devastated, as you might imagine,” continued Lord Southwick, “devastated to the point of madness, I think. I could not look at the child without seeing my beloved’s face, and every time I tried, the agony of the loss impinged upon my heart all over again.
It was a terrible, terrible time.” He looked around.
“Some of you here tonight were alive back then, and may remember.”
There were a couple of quiet “aye’s”, corroborating Lord Southwick’s declarations.
“In my extreme grief, I made a foolish decision that I have always regretted. I sent the babe away. Far away. With the intention of never being reminded of my late wife again, and being able to recover and go on with my life.”
His sigh was audible in the silence.
“I did so, and in time the pain eased, as all pain must. I remarried my dear Mary, and we were blessed with Emmeline, a joy and a daughter to be proud of.”
Emmeline was standing next to Brent, her arm through his, her gaze fixed on her father’s face. Reid had no clue what she must be thinking as she listened to all this ancient history.
“However, as time passed, I realised that I had done a terrible disservice to that child I abandoned. I never saw her grow up, never heard her laugh or watched her take her first footsteps. And that, my friends, was very wrong of me. It is time for me to publicly right that wrong, and acknowledge my daughter.”
He paused and took a breath. “She is here tonight. Right there.” He pointed. “Next to Reid Chillendale. Yes, Lady Prudence Eldridge is my daughter. And I hope she’ll accept this apology because I give it with all my heart.”
“Oh God.” Prudence staggered, held upright by Reid’s arm around her waist.
Lord Southwick stepped off the hearth and walked through the silent ballroom to stand before Prudence.
“Can you forgive me for sending you away, Prudence? I have not been a good man, you know, nor any kind of a father to you whatsoever. But I’m hoping that here, tonight, I have managed to redeem a little of myself in your eyes. ”
He held out both hands to her, a gesture of supplication.
For a long moment, nobody moved. Reid was as stunned as anybody and held on to Prudence for dear life.
Then she moved, easing herself from his arms and moving toward Lord Southwick. She took his hands in hers and stepped close to him. “Thank you, my Lord. Thank you,” she whispered, so low that Reid barely caught the words.
And then she leaned forward to kiss his cheek.
Absolute pandemonium broke out and the cheers rattled the chandeliers and set the candles to swaying.
The mistletoe wreaths were produced, and Reid and Prudence were marched to the head of the ballroom and seated with great fanfare.
Lady Jocelyn was the first to rush and embrace them, followed by a manly slap on the shoulder for Reid from his father. He noted that Prudence got a paternal hug that looked like it was about to crack her ribs.
The Southwicks approached, Lady Southwick looking confused, disturbed and with a light in her eye that bode no good for her husband when they got home.
But she was politeness itself in her congratulations and willingly surrendered her place to Brent and Emmeline, who were eager to talk with the two of them.
“I have a sister,” said Emmeline, her eyes wide. “And I never knew.”
“Extraordinary, isn’t it?” smiled Prudence, hugging her. “I couldn’t ask for more, or a lovelier sister. And you shall marry Brent, who will become my brother-in-law and we will be a rather muddled family.”
“I couldn’t have put it better,” said Brent. “We’ll talk later.” He too punched Reid on the shoulder. “Take care of her.”
“I will. But don’t hit me again, all right? That hurts.” He feigned pain.
The laughter rang out around them, the musicians struck up a jolly tune and the dance floor rapidly filled with couples ready to whirl away the rest of the night, in between discussing the extraordinary revelations made by Lord Southwick.
Prudence herself was hugged, kissed, hugged and hugged again. So many present felt that she was now one of the family, having been acknowledged as a Southwick, and betrothed to Reid all in the same night.
As for Reid, he had a million questions and couldn’t wait to find out the answers.