Chapter 19
“ D o you wish to give up?”
Prudence thought all of Melanie’s feelings toward her father’s unintentional rejection were fair. She knew the work the girl had put into her music and understood that if she were in her shoes, she would feel just as hurt and as angry.
And Prudence herself was starting to question the extent to which she should meddle. She felt that she might have already done too much.
But still, she wanted to help. She especially wanted to help William who had admitted that he was struggling to be the sort of father he believed Melanie needed.
First, though, she needed to know what Melanie thought and felt.
“Was Papa angry that he could not play?” the child asked Prudence.
Prudence thought about how best to answer the question, without making William look weak and Melanie’s eyes. Then she realized this exact reason was what had crafted a rift between them in the first place.
“He was disappointed in himself. We had thought that if he heard you play, he could memorize the song and play with you, but we unintentionally put him at a disadvantage. He had not played in so long and without being able to read the sheet music, he was moving in the dark. It was not your fault, dear. And it was not his either. Neither of us was prepared for that and that was not good then, but it is fine now. It is fine that we know what to do. Still, the question remains – do you wish to give up?” Prudence questioned.
Melanie shook her head slowly, and the small, adorable reaction gave Prudence hope that William and his daughter would be just fine.
“All right. This time, we need to also find a way to help him play. Some way for him to be able to have the music sheet for him to study. Any ideas?” Prudence queried, also racking her own brain.
“I feel bad that I did not think of this then. If I had tried to help–”
“You cannot help someone who does not want to be helped, Melanie. A person needs to be open to receiving help after they have acknowledged that they need help. Your father was not ready then, but he is now. Let us do our best to help him,” Prudence reassured her gently.
Melanie nodded, then pulled a face as she thought of what they could do.
“What if we could put the sheet music on something? Papa uses his fingers a lot, to feel and know what things are. So, is there a way to engrave it somewhere for him to read it?” Melanie suggested.
That was a great idea, but engraving an entire song might take a little while and a lot of resources. They needed something less expensive, something that could be done within the estate’s walls within a few hours.
Just then, Prudence happened to look down at the cuffs of her dress, distracted by the gold and silver leaves embroidered on it giving a–
“Embroidery! We could have the song embroidered on a piece of fabric so he can trace the notes with his fingertips!” Prudence suggested eagerly.
Melanie perked up, “Will that be easy to do? Just the two of us?”
“It might be tricky because my needlework is quite… shoddy, but I know just who to ask!” Prudence smiled down at the child.
Two hours later, Marina – who had returned from the trip she had taken with her family a few days earlier – along with some of Prudence’s friends were seated in a drawing room, listening to Prudence’s plan.
“What exactly will we be embroidering?” Lady Ashford questioned, still somehow looking lost, despite Prudence’s concise explanation.
“These,” she held up the music sheet that carried the notes of the song Melanie had written. “It is a song. We need the notes to be on a piece of cloth so that the duke will be able to study them and play the song with his daughter.”
“That is very nice, Your Grace, but why did you not do this yourself?” Lady Swanson queried, looking as though she had been pulled away from something very important.
“Well, my embroidery skills are… lacking. And the duke is to return any day now. There is not much time to take on the project by myself. If you do not wish to assist me or you were previously occupied, I understand. I am sorry to have bothered you, but Melanie needs this. All she wants is to be able to play the piano with her father. I am begging–”
“Do not, sister,” Marina held her hand up to stop Prudence. “There is no need to lower yourself for a favor. You have done something selfless for every woman here, I am sure. Even if it was only that you opened up your home to them. Friends need no reason to help. They help because they are noble people, and there is nothing better than lending a hand.”
She faced the women with a smile and asked, “Is that not right, ladies?”
The women immediately agreed, already buzzing with strength, asking how exactly Prudence wanted the embroidered cloth to look like.
She sent her sister a look of appreciation before she got to work, sharing the tasks.
Firstly, she wrote down the full song in chalk on the board that was used to teach Melanie during her lessons. Then she explained the significance of each note being hit perfectly. It was crucial, to ensure that the duke did not make any mistakes from that point, so they were to embroider the notes as they were written on the board.
As the women got to work, they each had a few notes or a whole line, depending on their skill range. Prudence’s job was to supervise the work and also ensure all the women had refreshments to indulge in.
She had been worried that they would be too bored, but someone brought up some gossip and the whole room lit up immediately, demanding more details.
“They all seem very excited,” Marina noted with a grin.
“I am very glad for that. I was worried they would find the task too dull and refuse to finish it,” Prudence sighed in relief.
“Not on my watch,” Marina snorted, her hands working to create the line of notes that Prudence felt was her favorite progression in the song. “You are doing a lot for a man who wants to kick you out of his house. I hope he is at the very least very grateful.”
Gratitude was likely the only thing left that Prudence felt she could take from the duke. That was all she was allowed now because her desires had only grown since their ‘last’ night together. She had hoped it would be over and done with, marking the start of a new phase of her life.
But he was still running around in her thoughts and she wanted him to embrace her. To embrace her as though his life depended on it and never let her go. That was what she wanted.
But she could not have that, because such a life was not meant for her. It was for the best that they went their separate ways, if not figuratively.
“What in the blazes is going on here?” Clementina cried, walking into the room.
“Oh-ho,” Marina grinned mischievously. “I am going to enjoy this.”
“Marina,” Prudence half begged, half scolded.
“Lady Clementina? I thought you were on your way to visit that friend of yours who never has anything better to do than to bother other people. How strange.” Marina smiled innocently.
Clementina’s face turned red and she started to scream,
“How dare you? Who do you think you are to disrespect me so openly?”
“I know who I am, Lady Clementina. Do you know who you are? Because last I checked, you had nothing to your name but your childish attitude and insufferable noise. You are not welcome here. Go and be a bother elsewhere.”
The room was silent, watching Clementina’s face turn all kinds of colors in a short span of time. She stepped to Henrietta who had been lingering silently and nervously, behind her mistress, and grabbed her by the hair.
The young woman screamed as Clementina snapped, shoving her to her knees.
“You should have told me that wench was here! You must love to see me insulted!”
Her face was tinged with embarrassment as she whirled around, looking for something, pointedly ignoring Henrietta’s whimpering.
Prudence realized that Clementina was looking for her when she pointed at her and said, “You will pay for this. I swear it. I will make you rue the day you crossed me, you awful–”
“Do not threaten my sister. Or else I will put an end to you with my bare hands, you old shrew. Go and bark elsewhere. We have other things to do.”
Clementina turned and walked out of the room with burning ears. Marina sighed and settled back in her seat, remarking casually, “That was very fulfilling.”
“I cannot believe I was the one who used to stir up trouble when we were children. Now look at me, advocating for peace.”
“Whereas I advocate for chaos,” Marina grinned. “Not bad. We at least kept it within the family.”
Prudence felt immensely thankful for her sister’s presence, knowing that if she had to do any of this on her own without Marina’s help. Even without saying anything, Marina seemed to hear Prudence’s words of gratitude, because she looked up at her younger sister and smiled.
“I am glad I could help. Do not look as though you owe me some sort of magical relic. I would go above and beyond for you, sister.”
It took a lot from Prudence not to cry, because Marina’s words meant the world to her. In a bid to distract herself, she stared down at the notes Marina had embroidered so far, noting a problem.
Gingerly, she pointed at a spot on her cloth.
“This is wrong. You will have to do this again.”
Marina stared down at her work, then looked up to the board, losing her smile when she noticed that the note was indeed wrong.
“Oh, damn it–”
Time went by quicker than Prudence had expected. Without any further distractions – at least not counting the self-inflicted ones – the ladies were able to complete their tasks without incident.
They simply basked in each other’s company and the fine selection of refreshments they had been offered, and embroidered.
After the task was done, Prudence collected all the pieces and arranged them in the order they were meant to be read. Then she began to sew them up together into what was going to be a music sheet made of cloth, especially for the duke.
Unlike the others, Marina stayed behind for a little longer to help Prudence some more and she took some of the pieces and began to sew them together.
“Sister?” Marina called without taking her eyes off her work.
“Yes, dear?” Prudence answered, sparing Marina a singular glance.
“I have never seen you look so radiant and so in love before. I think it suits you.”
Prudence’s hands went still, as though they had been frozen. A moment passed, then two, and she tried to pretend she had no idea what she was talking about.
“I do not… it is not… I swear–”
“Prudence, calm down. It is not the end of the world. Do not allow your fear to make you think less of something wonderful. You owe it to yourself to enjoy it and relish in the goodness of the feelings,” Marina chided softly.
“Now you sound like Mother. Still, I do not think I am meant to harbor such feelings,” Prudence admitted. “I care for him. Deeply, more so than I thought. But we cannot be together. It simply would not work. There are too many complications that will not allow it.”
“Are you sure it is not merely your mind making up reasons to stop you from finding happiness in your life? God knows you need it, Prudence, after all you have been through. Would it be the worst thing in the world to give it a try?”
Prudence knew Marina made a fair point, but she could hardly counter it when all the bells in her head were telling her not to cross any more lines.
“I really do not–”
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace,” Anna said suddenly as she walked in. “Mr. Henry is here to see you.”
Prudence nodded and then turned to her sister. “I must go.”
“And I as well. Think about what I said, hm?”
Prudence nodded, then stepped closer to her sister to hug her.
“You will be just fine, Prudence. Never forget how wonderful you are,” Marina whispered, pressed a kiss to her cheek, and then left.
Anna brought Mr. Henry in, and he bowed to Prudence.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace. I apologize for the delay, there was quite a bit to comb through, but I have come bearing good news. You do have the right to own one of your late husband’s properties – a house by the countryside.”
Prudence’s heart soared at the news. “Really?”
The solicitor nodded. “Yes, Your Grace. A dower house. It is not in a great state right now, but with a little bit of repairs here and there, it will be great for you.”
Prudence sighed in relief and she told him. “That is perfect. Prepare all that is necessary and get started on the repairs.”
She paused, then she added.
“I intend to move there by the end of next week.”