Chapter 1
“Make sure your mask is in place, Prudence. You want to fit in at this ball!”
Prudence Wetherby twisted away from her sister’s hands as Caroline tried to adjust the ties of her butterfly mask. “I didn’t want to wear this in the first place,” she reminded her sister. “I wanted that black one.”
“But, Prudence, that one was so drab.”
“It was mysterious.”
“All masks are mysterious! But the point is to draw people’s eyes. You want to look lovely. You want people to spend the night wondering who the beautiful butterfly could be. And then, when the masks come off…”
Prudence groaned. “You keep saying you want, Caroline, but we both know that isn’t what I want. I don’t want men staring at me and wondering who I am. I don’t want to be approached at the end of the evening by someone who tells me he’s been watching me all night. I can’t think of anything worse!”
“You don’t want to find love?” Caroline looked back at her husband, Levi, who was discussing something with the carriage driver.
“You know, I never expected to marry, Prudence. I thought I would remain a spinster for the rest of my days, and I was ready to accept that fate. But falling in love with Levi was the very best thing that could ever have happened to me. I’m so glad that I opened my heart to the possibility of love, and I just want the same thing for you. ”
“I’m happy for you, Caroline,” Prudence said, and she truly was from the bottom of her heart.
She had been the one engaged to Levi first, and when she had run from that marriage, Caroline had been pressured into marrying him instead.
It had been a source of great guilt for Prudence, who hadn’t meant to put her sister in that situation.
But to see that Caroline was truly happy with her husband now was a great relief.
It meant that Prudence no longer had to feel guilt or shame.
Everything had worked out as it was meant to.
She liked Levi now, though she was glad not to have married him.
He was better suited to Caroline. Still, she could acknowledge that running away had been an overreaction.
There had been nothing to fear when it came to Levi, and she was looking forward to an evening spent with him and with her sister.
She was not looking forward to an evening of being looked at like she was a piece of merchandise by every gentleman in London.
Prudence secured her mask more tightly and squared her shoulders. At least no one would know who she was. Maybe when it was time for the masks to come off, she would be able to simply slip away without being noticed.
Levi came over to join them. He took Caroline’s arm and extended his other arm to Prudence. “Are you ladies ready to see what this party has to offer?”
“I’ve never been more ready in my life,” Caroline said with a smile. “Prudence, I just know that we are going to find you a husband this season, and then all three of us will be happily married.”
Prudence let out a long sigh. “I know that’s what you want, Caroline.”
“And I know you don’t think it’s what you want, but once you find the right man, you’ll see.
Everything is going to be different. Once you find the right man, you’ll know that I was right all along, and that marriage truly is the best outcome for you.
I didn’t believe it either until I got to know Levi, you know. ”
“But you and I are not the same,” Prudence pointed out as they crossed the threshold into the manor. “What you want and what I want have never been the same. You want stability and security, but me… I want freedom. I want to live my life.”
“Oh, Prudence, having someone to love doesn’t mean that you don’t have your freedom!” Caroline protested.
But Prudence felt as if she couldn’t handle any more of the conversation. “I think I’m going to step outside for some air.”
“Air? Prudence, we’ve only just arrived. The dancing is beginning. You need to get into the ballroom so that you have the opportunity to meet people. That’s why we’re here. You can’t just stay outside the whole time!”
Prudence had no intention of staying outside the whole night, though she rather wished she could. But she did want to get away from Caroline, who seemed unable to drop the topic of marriage. Prudence didn’t want to spend another moment on that subject. It always distressed her.
She knew her parents wanted her to marry.
Her father had been outspoken about it all her life.
Her mother had been more understanding for a time, going so far as to help Prudence escape one of her father’s more hideous arrangements.
But now, even Mama was losing patience. Everyone seemed to share the same opinion—Prudence would have to find a husband for herself this Season.
The only one who didn’t agree was Prudence herself.
She slipped between two ladies and made her way up a flight of stairs and out onto the balcony. Once outside, she really did feel as if she could breathe a little easier. She leaned against the railing, looking out over the grounds, wondering how long they would have to be here tonight.
She’d be much happier back at Mowbray Manor, her sister’s home and the place she planned to spend the night tonight.
Maybe once she had danced with a couple of people, Caroline would agree that it was time to go home, and they could spend the rest of their evening in the sitting room at Mowbray telling stories and laughing together.
“No—stop it! I said stop!”
Prudence turned toward the voice. A lady was emerging from a door several yards down along the same balcony, followed closely by a man. The man wore a toothy grin but no mask, and a heartbeat later, Prudence recognized him.
The drunk man from the Fox and Feather.
It was the same man. She was sure of it. That height and those muscles stood out. She found herself looking over his shoulder, wondering whether the other man, the brother with the piercing blue eyes, might appear. Hoping that he would.
He didn’t. The drunk man was on his own. And he had clearly been drinking again. She could smell it on him, even from where she stood.
“Peter, stop,” the lady insisted, pulling away from him as he came closer.
Peter’s smile widened. He backed her up against the balcony, pinning her there, and Prudence saw the lady’s eyes widen in fear as she looked over her shoulder.
Suddenly, Prudence couldn’t stand it. She couldn’t seem to help picturing one of her sisters entrapped by this horrible man. Both Caroline and their eldest sister, Arabella, had looked after Prudence all her life, and the idea of either one of them being treated so horribly made her blood boil.
And this lady might be someone’s sister, too.
Before she could properly think about what she was doing, she hurried toward them. “Stop that!” she shouted. “Stop that immediately.”
The man—Peter—turned to face her. “Who are you?”
“Unhand her.” Prudence was shaking with righteous indignation. “She told you to stop.”
“This has nothing to do with you. I’d advise you to mind your business.”
“I’m making it my business. Take your hands off that woman.”
He leered at her. “What are you going to do about it, little butterfly?”
What was she going to do? He was obviously much bigger and stronger than she was. “I’m going to… I’m going to fetch my brother-in-law,” she said. “He’ll sort you out. He doesn’t hold with men who bother ladies against their will.”
That was probably true. It wasn’t likely that Levi would have much patience with this behavior, and he’d certainly want to intervene.
He was a good man. But Prudence didn’t know where he was.
How long would it take to get him and come back?
She would have to hope that the threat of him was enough to scare Peter off.
He didn’t seem frightened. His grin faded slightly, but he didn’t run off as Prudence had hoped.
Instead, he turned and stepped closer to her.
Her heart raced. She recalled, suddenly, how frightened she had been in the pub at the sight of these huge men.
How physical things had gotten. He could hurt her if he chose to.
She had been unwise to get involved—and yet, how could she have done anything else? How could she have left that poor lady?
The lady, meanwhile, had seen her opportunity. She gathered her skirts in her hands and bolted like a hare. Prudence was momentarily glad to see her escape.
Then she realized that she was now alone on the balcony with a man. A man who had already shown himself twice to be dangerous.
She stepped back quickly, but he was quicker. He grabbed her by the wrist.
“Let me go,” she said, but her voice was far less powerful than it had been. Her confidence had completely evaporated, and all she wanted was to get back inside and find her sister. She wished she had never come out here at all.
Peter leaned close. She could smell the alcohol on his breath. Fear coursed like acid through her veins.
“Who are you?” he asked, his voice low.
She shook her head.
He reached up, and she thought he might be about to hurt her—she tugged wildly to free herself, but his grip was too strong. His hand traced her cheek, and she shivered.
And then he took hold of the ribbon tied behind her head, gave a tug, and the mask fell away.
He stared at her.
She felt heat rush into her cheeks.
“I know you,” he said. “Prudence Wetherby, isn’t it? You were supposed to marry the Duke of Mowbray before you ran off. I see you haven’t lost your proclivity for dramatics, have you? Interrupting a tryst that was none of your business…”
“Hardly a tryst,” Prudence said, summoning her courage. “The lady wanted nothing to do with you and said so. I was right to intervene.”
“Perhaps,” Peter mused. “Or perhaps you were hoping to take her place. Is that it? You saw something you liked?”
Shocked, Prudence raised her free hand and slapped him sharply across the face.
He released her, his hand going to his cheek, his eyes blazing. “You are a firecracker,” he said, voice low in his throat. “I admire that in a lady.”
He leaned closer, his hand landing on Prudence’s shoulder, and she cursed herself for not running when she’d had a narrow window of opportunity to do so.
“What the devil is going on out here?”
The sound of a new voice shocked both of them, and they turned toward the door through which Prudence had come onto the balcony.
Prudence’s heart sank.
A whole group of people had just come through—and right at the head of the group were Levi and Caroline.
Her sister stared at her in shock and dismay, and Prudence saw the scene through her eyes and knew exactly what this must look like.
Before she could say anything—before she could insist that it wasn’t what it seemed—Levi was hurrying forward. His arm settled around her shoulders, and he began to pull her away.
Prudence was too shocked and dismayed to do anything but go along with him and allow herself to be hustled through the ballroom and back out to the carriage.