Chapter 21
“ A nother one! Papa, please!”
Prudence watched William sigh, long-suffering as he nodded with a grin.
“All right. Watch me closely,” he prompted gently.
Prudence watched as William’s fingers danced over the piano keys, his movements growing more certain with every note. He seemed to regain more confidence with every song he played for Melanie, spurred by her admiration and awe.
It was touching, to see them bond and converse over something they clearly shared a mutual love for and even more so to see them spending some quality time together.
“Can I try?” Melanie questioned uncertainly.
“Of course,” William prompted softly, urging her further with a hand on her shoulder. “Remember, if you make any mistakes, it is fine. I will be here to show you the correct way to play.”
Melanie nodded seriously, her enthusiasm nothing short of adorable as she faced the piano and tried to mimic the collection of notes her father had played earlier. If Prudence had harbored any doubts on whether or not they were related, they would have been cleared completely at that moment.
The duchess had learned in the last hour how remarkable the duke was – a factor proven by how he was easily able to influence and teach Melanie in such a short time. The girl was incredibly eager to learn from her father, determined to prove herself without a shadow of a doubt.
But surprisingly, William was not looking for perfection or anything of the sort. He merely sought someone to share his passion for music with. His playing was phenomenal, each note played at a measured and concise rate, stirring up strange feelings within her.
“Ah–”
The crash of a note out of place tore into the peaceful atmosphere around the music room, followed by Melanie’s upset whine.
“It is all right, it is all right,” William said quickly, reaching out to his left to pat her hair softly. “This progression is quite tricky, and it took me a long time to learn it as well. You merely need to keep practicing to get it right and I know you will eventually–”
“Can you show it to me again, Papa? Just one more time? Please?”
Prudence saw the exact moment the duke learned it was a near-impossible task to refuse his daughter, smiling as he sighed fondly and told her,
“Just this once. Then you may practice it later, as much as you can until you have mastered it.”
Melanie nodded, clapping eagerly as her father faced the piano once more. Pride welled up in Prudence’s heart as a wave of relief flooded her veins.
It felt good to see them together like that, finally spending some time in each other’s company, as happily as they were meant to be. Prudence was thankful to have managed to bring them together, at least before her approaching departure from the estate.
She eventually had to steer them away from the music room as time progressed, huffing at the matching frowns they both sported in response.
“Surely, your fingers must hurt,” she implored gently. “You can play again some other time, but for now, it is best to give your hands a break. You can simply move your conversation to a drawing room and continue over refreshments.”
William turned to Melanie. “That is an excellent idea, I believe. What sort of biscuits do you like? Let us have the chef make us as many as possible.”
“Chocolate!” Melanie grinned, and then she deflated slightly. “I am only allowed to have four a day, unless it is a special occasion, though.”
Prudence sputtered, both embarrassed and proud of Melanie for sticking to the rules that had been put in place for her well-being, feeling a little shy because she had been the one to put such a rule in place.
“Today certainly counts as a special occasion,” Prudence said quickly. “You have more than earned as many biscuits as your heart desires.”
“Hooray!” Melanie clapped happily, reaching for the gift her father got her with one hand and his hand with the other. “Shall we go, then?”
“We shall,” William smiled, looking so incredibly handsome and charming, that Prudence had to look away.
They made their way to the door together, Melanie faltering when she noticed Prudence was not following them.
“Will you not be joining us?” Melanie asked, her small brow furrowed with concern as she noticed Prudence lingering behind them.
William, too, turned, his sightless gaze directed toward her, an unspoken question in his posture. The anticipation that had lit up his face at the prospect of sharing biscuits with his daughter seemed to dim slightly at Prudence’s hesitation.
No, she cautioned herself silently. Do not make things harder on yourself.
Prudence forced a bright smile, though a sharp pang of loneliness pierced through the warmth she felt at witnessing their reconciliation. Seeing them so happy together, finally finding their way back to each other through the shared language of music, filled her with a bittersweet ache.
Her purpose here, she could not help but feel, was nearing its end. The threads that had bound her to Pemberly were slowly coming undone, one by one, and the image of her future, separate from this estate and its inhabitants, had begun to take on a more defined shape.
“I am afraid not, dear,” she said lightly, waving a dismissive hand, her tone deliberately casual. “I have some… rather pressing estate matters I must attend to. You two go on and enjoy your chocolate biscuits. I shall find you later, perhaps, if my duties allow.”
It was a flimsy excuse, and she saw a flicker of doubt in Melanie’s innocent eyes, a hint of disappointment causing her to pause for a moment. But the allure of the treats she was promised, alongside the company of her father, quickly won over her hesitation.
“All right,” Melanie said, her small hand tightening on her father’s larger one. “But you promise you will join us afterward? We can even save you some biscuits.”
“That is sweet of you, darling. I promise, to try my best to finish quickly,” Prudence lied gently, her gaze lingering on Melanie’s hopeful face for a moment longer than necessary.
She watched them walk away, their figures receding down the hallway, William’s hand resting protectively on Melanie’s shoulder, a silent testament to the rekindled affection between them. A sigh, heavy with a mixture of relief and a profound sense of solitude, escaped Prudence’s lips as she turned and made her way upstairs, the sounds of their happy chatter—mostly Melanie’s happy chatter and William’s hums of agreement—gradually fading behind her, leaving a void in their wake.
It is the right way. How things should be.
In the quiet sanctuary of her room, the weight of her decision to leave settled upon Prudence. She knew she needed to remain unwavering because, at the end of the day, she was the only one who would look after herself.
The duchess summoned Anna, seeking the familiar comfort and firm loyalty of her maid’s presence, to soothe her slightly wounded spirit. The house she had been insistent to remain in before suddenly felt too large, too empty without the constant purpose that Melanie’s presence had provided.
“Anna,” she began after the maid arrived, her voice soft as she sank onto the edge of her bed, the plush velvet yielding beneath her weight. “It is time we spoke plainly of my departure from Pemberly.”
The words, once merely a distant thought that she had recently begun to put into action, now felt heavy and real as she finally voiced them.
Anna, who was carefully folding a delicate linen dress in a bid to tidy up the room, paused in her task, her gaze lifting to meet Prudence’s with a knowing sadness that mirrored her own internal conflict.
“I had suspected as much, Your Grace,” she replied quietly, her tone filled with a gentle understanding that bypassed the need for lengthy explanations.
“I tried – quite hard – to fight for a place here. Because I believed it was my right, as the former duke’s wife. But now, I have grown weary and tired. I had another purpose, but that has been fulfilled as well,” Prudence continued, trying to imbue her voice with a resoluteness she did not entirely feel. “Melanie and her father… they are finally mending their fractured relationship. The estate is running smoothly and efficiently. Everything is as it should be – as it would have been, without my presence here. There is no longer any real, pressing need for me to remain in this estate.”
The logic was sound, the reasons practical, yet a persistent whisper within her questioned the completeness of this decision.
“And what of your own needs, Your Grace?” Anna asked gently, setting aside the folded dress and turning fully to face Prudence, her eyes filled with a quiet concern that spoke volumes. “What is it that you truly need, beyond the fulfillment of duty?”
Prudence looked away, unable to meet Anna’s questioning gaze. Her own needs were a messy sea conflicting emotions, only silenced by the undeniable pull she felt toward William. A pull she knew she had to resist. Prudence let her haze wander to the lands outside the window, trying to distract herself as she forced her tongue and lips to curl around words that were difficult to utter.
“I need… a fresh start, Anna. Somewhere I am not constantly reminded of…” She trailed off, the unspoken truth of all that had weighted down on her, past and present. “Somewhere I can begin to build a life for myself, on my own terms, without the constraints and complications of all that has transpired in the last year.”
“And what of Lady Melanie?” Anna asked softly. “You have, if I may be so bold, Your Grace, grown quite remarkably attached to her.”
“She is a sweet child, undeniably so,” Prudence said quickly, perhaps a little too quickly. “And I do care for her, deeply. But as you witnessed just now, she and her father are finally, truly connecting. They will not require me to hover about, mediating, and encouraging, for much longer. They have rediscovered each other, Anna. They have each other now.”
She tried to convince herself as much as she tried to convince her loyal maid, the words echoing in the quiet room, sounding almost hollow.
Anna remained silent for a long moment, her expression thoughtful, her gaze steady. It was as though she knew the true depth of Prudence’s affection for Melanie, the countless hours the duchess had spent nurturing the young girl’s happiness. And it was likely that she also suspected that Prudence’s reasons for leaving Pemberly were far more intricate and emotionally charged than she was willing to articulate.
But in the end, Anna likely had an idea of Prudence’s pride, the unyielding determination that settled upon her once her mind was truly made up. And as such, there would be no reason to press on the matter any further.
“Wherever you choose to go, Your Grace,” Anna said finally, her voice filled with sincere loyalty that transcended her role as a mere servant, “I shall go with you. Your happiness, wherever it may lie, is and always will be my greatest concern.”
Prudence’s eyes welled up with a fresh wave of gratitude, the sincerity of Anna’s words a comforting balm to her troubled soul.
“Oh, Anna,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion, reaching out to take her maid’s hand. “I truly do not know what I would ever do without you by my side. You are my only true friend.”
The following afternoon, as the estate fell into a gentle state of quiet, Prudence found herself meticulously organizing the contents of her writing desk. It had been long few hours of finalizing some of the more delicate arrangements for her eventual departure, and she could only hope it would occur quietly. As she put the last of her stationary away, a soft knock echoed at her chamber door.
“Your Grace,” the butler said, bowing slightly as he stood just inside the threshold, his usually composed face bearing a hint of earnestness that piqued Prudence’s curiosity. “His Grace requests your presence in his study at your earliest convenience.”
A nervous flutter stirred in the pit of Prudence’s stomach. She had not expected to speak to William alone since their undeniably intimate encounter in his study, a memory that still held a potent and unsettling pull, a reminder of the dangerous currents that flowed between them. And yet, it seemed she was fated to do so twice in as many days.
I really must leave this place soon . Before I have my heart broken completely, she sighed to herself as she went to his study to find him.
Prudence found him seated at his imposing mahogany desk, the familiar and comforting scent of aged paper, rich ink, and the subtle spice of sandalwood filling the air, a sensory reminder of his presence. One she would miss after her departure.
He turned his head slightly as she entered, his gaze, though unable to truly see her, seeming to penetrate her very soul, making her acutely aware of his awareness of her.
“J-Jefferson informed me you wished to see me, Your Grace?” Prudence asked, her voice betraying a slight tremor that she hoped he would not notice.
She clasped her hands together, trying to project an air of calm she did not entirely possess.
“Indeed, Duchess,” William replied, his tone more serious, more grounded than his usual playful banter. “I wished to express my sincere gratitude to you, in person, without the distractions of a shared meal or the presence of others.”
“There is truly no need for that, Your Grace,” Prudence said quickly, waving a dismissive hand, her cheeks flushing slightly under his intense, unseeing gaze. “As I said before, I simply did what any responsible adult would do for a child placed in their care. Melanie is a dear girl, and her happiness is… was… important,” she stumbled slightly over the past tense.
William’s brow furrowed slightly, a subtle line appearing between his dark eyes. “Responsibility?” he echoed, the single word laced with a hint of disbelief, a quiet challenge to her seemingly simple explanation. “If it were merely a matter of responsibility, you would not have invested yourself so fully. You would not have gone to such extraordinary lengths, employing such creative and heartfelt measures, to mend the fractured bond between Melanie and myself. Especially considering my own decidedly less than gracious behavior toward you upon my rather abrupt and, I now realize, somewhat churlish arrival to Pemberly. I apologize for that. I should have been more… sensitive to what you had endured.”
His words, spoken with a quiet sincerity that resonated deep within Prudence, chipped away further at the carefully constructed walls around her heart. They reminded her of the unexpected depths of kindness and perception she had discovered in this imposing, blind Duke.
A kindness that made her unknowingly open her heart to him, and led her to consider a life she had never thought she would have. Suddenly, all the strange notions began to reveal themselves and she gained an understanding of what had plagued her.
She was slowly… falling in love with William. She wanted to remain by his side, to live the rest of her days as his wife and even the mother of his child. Once it had set off on this path, her mind could only fall farther down the rabbit hole as she begun to wonder what such a life would look like.
But… that life was not meant for her. It would never be, because no one would want to give her such a chance. And it would be best for her to hasten her intentions to leave, before she gave into her hopes and ended up devastated.
“You have my profound and sincere gratitude, Prudence,” he continued the unexpected and intimate use of her given name sending a shiver, both pleasant and unsettling, down her spine. “You have, in a way I cannot fully articulate, brought a light back into my daughter’s life, a joy that had been absent for far too long. And in doing so… you have inadvertently brought a measure of unexpected peace back into my own existence. In more ways than I would have ever thought because I – ah. Never mind.”
His voice was soft, almost a caress, the timbre low and husky, and Prudence felt her heart clench with a longing so intense it was almost a physical ache. The carefully constructed dam of her resolve threatened to break, and the urge to confess her burgeoning feelings, to lay bare her plans to leave Pemberly and escape the very source of this emotional turmoil, rose within her, a desperate plea for honesty.
But the unexpected sweetness of his words, the genuine warmth that seemed to emanate from him held her captive, suspended in a fragile moment of connection. She could not bear to shatter this delicate balance with the harsh reality of her impending farewell.
“You are most welcome, Your Grace,” she managed to say, her voice a little breathless, betraying the inner turmoil she was desperately trying to conceal.
She needed to leave this room, his presence before her carefully guarded composure completely crumbled.
“If you will excuse me,” she said, forcing a polite and somewhat shaky curtsy, her gaze fixed on the intricate patterns of the carpet to avoid the pull of his eyes. “I have… some business, of a rather… time-sensitive nature, to see to.”
William nodded slowly, a thoughtful and perhaps even slightly troubled expression clouding his handsome features. “Of course. Please do not let me detain you from your important tasks.”
Prudence turned and all but fled from the study, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs, the lingering warmth of William’s earnest gaze burned into her mind. She had accepted his heartfelt gratitude, but in doing so, she had only intensified the bittersweet ache of her impending departure.
The fresh start she so desperately craved felt further away than ever, the path ahead shrouded by the undeniable and increasingly powerful pull of the man she was trying so desperately to leave behind. The silence of her own chambers offered little comfort, amplifying the echoes of his kind words and the undeniable truth of her own conflicted heart.
Because it was rather unfortunate that she had grown to care for the duke so deeply, enough for her heart of all things to want him. And that was only going to be a problem in the future.