Chapter 2
“Prudence, I don’t care what you have to say about it—you’re going to marry now, whether you like it or not! No more excuses! This scandal is exactly what comes of your deviant behavior!”
Prudence’s father, Baron Stephen Wetherby of Highgate, paced the length of the sitting room. Her mother, Caroline, and Levi all sat looking pensive and distressed.
The carriage ride to their parents’ home had been silent.
Prudence hadn’t even had a say in what had happened—Caroline and Levi had agreed without consulting her that they would come here instead of returning to their own home as had been the original plan.
It had been Levi who had told the baron and baroness, in rushed whispers, of everything that had happened at the ball and the scandal they should expect come morning.
No one had gotten much sleep.
Now the scandal sheets had arrived, and sure enough, Prudence’s name was in black ink at the very top. Well, this wasn’t the first time she had been the subject of society gossip. Who cared what stories people wanted to make up? Prudence never had, and she wasn’t about to start.
“Father,” she said, attempting to strike a reasonable tone. “What’s printed there is a fabrication. It simply isn’t true.”
“Oh? So you weren’t seen on a balcony alone with a drunken rake who had his hands on you?”
Prudence sighed. “Well, no, that part is true. But I can assure you, nothing scandalous occurred.”
“For God’s sake, Prudence, you aren’t a child. That is scandalous. You can’t possibly think that sort of thing is all right.”
“I only mean that it wasn’t what it looked like. What people are saying it was. We had an argument, that’s all.”
“And what were you doing on a balcony arguing with strange men when you ought to be socializing?” He turned to Caroline. “Where were you during all of this?”
“I was inside,” Caroline said evenly. “She wanted some air.”
“And you didn’t think she ought to have a chaperone? You know how Prudence is.”
“Father, that’s unfair,” Prudence said. “It’s certainly not Caroline’s fault that this happened. It’s mine far more than it is hers.”
“Oh, it’s utterly your fault,” her father snapped.
“And we’ll be lucky now to marry you to anyone at all, but I’m going to find you a marriage no matter what it takes.
And this time, Prudence, you’ll accept it, no matter who it is.
I don’t care if you like him or not. You should have married one of the many perfectly decent men I have found for you over the years, but you chose to be difficult.
Now you’ll take whatever you can get—and in light of this scandal, I don’t imagine you’ll find him too favorable. ”
Prudence turned away. The truth was that she did feel guilty—she knew her actions had put her in this position. Not that she had done anything truly scandalous, the way people were going to believe. There had been no inappropriate moments between that man—Peter—and herself.
“This is all going to blow over,” she said. “As soon as there’s another party, something else will happen, and it will be the new talk of the town. Everyone will forget about this.”
But her father shook his head. “We told ourselves that when you ran from your first wedding, Prudence,” he said. “There are only so many things we can ask people to overlook. There are only so many times we can expect them to forget. Your name is becoming sullied whether you like it or not.”
They were interrupted by a commotion in the hallway. Prudence’s father frowned, turning toward it, and Levi rose to his feet. A moment later, two men came bursting in, trailed rather frantically by a footman.
Prudence recognized them at once, and her heart stuttered.
One of the men was Peter. He appeared to be sober today.
He wasn’t wearing that idiotic grin, and he held himself upright.
Seeing him sober made Prudence realize for the first time what a mess he was when he drank.
She’d thought she had known that, but the contrast brought it home to her. He looked like a normal person.
But it was the sight of the other man—his blue-eyed brother—that really shocked her.
This was her first really good look at him.
There had been so much going on when she had seen him at the pub that she hadn’t been able to focus on him for long.
But now, she did. Though Peter was a tall man, his brother towered over him.
And those eyes! They were so arresting! For a moment, she forgot to wonder what the two of them were doing here. All she could manage to do was stare.
“What’s the meaning of this?” her father demanded, and Prudence was jerked out of her reverie.
“Lord Highgate,” the elder of the brothers said, “My name is Leonard Hall. I am—”
Prudence’s mother gasped. “You’re the Duke of Desford!” She turned toward Prudence and Caroline. “Is that any way to greet the duke?”
The sisters looked at one another and rose to their feet. “Begging your pardon, Your Grace,” Caroline said. “We were not expecting company.”
“A great many things have happened that I’m sure none of us were expecting,” the duke said dryly. He glanced at the scandal sheet that was still in Prudence’s father’s hand. “But now that they have, we must deal with them, and that is why my brother and I have come here today.”
“Your brother?” Prudence’s father repeated.
“Peter Hall,” the duke said. “This is the man who was seen on the balcony with your daughter.”
Prudence’s mother gasped once again and pressed a hand to her heart..
The duke looked at his brother, his countenance dark.
Prudence felt a shiver pass through her.
She had been so caught up in staring at those eyes of his that she’d let herself overlook the expression on his face.
But now that she was taking it in, it made her shudder.
He seemed so angry. She couldn’t tell whether that anger was directed at his brother or at her, but if she’d had to venture a guess, she would have said that it was likely for both of them.
The duke cleared his throat meaningfully. “Go on, Peter,” he said.
Peter Hall stepped forward, his mouth puckered as if he had swallowed a lemon. “Lord Highgate,” he said, “I am here to ask you for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
The words had not even registered with Prudence before her father had begun to nod. “Yes,” he said firmly. “Of course, yes.”
It shocked Prudence to her core. Not that her father would accept this proposal—that wasn’t shocking at all.
Of course, he would. But the whole thing had just been decided so quickly, and she felt as if she was racing to catch up.
How could it all be settled already? She hadn’t exchanged two words with Peter Hall since he had walked into this room.
“Father,” she said, her heart racing. She didn’t know exactly what she wanted to say, but she had to say something.
If only she could find the right words, maybe she would be able to put a stop to this.
She couldn’t marry this man who cornered ladies on balconies against their will.
He was the worst possible choice for a husband for her, and though she knew her father was eager to see her married, surely, he would understand that this was not a suitable match.
Lord Highgate held up a hand to forestall her. “Say nothing, Prudence,” he cautioned. “Do not attempt to sway me on this. You are most generous to make this offer, Your Grace, and of course, we mean to accept. I agree completely that it is the best—the only—way to handle this rumor.”
“Wait a moment,” Prudence protested. “Father, we—we don’t even know this man.”
“Perhaps you should have kept that in mind before deciding to spend time with him alone on a balcony,” her father snapped.
“You are not a fool, Prudence, for pity’s sake.
You understood what might happen if you were seen alone with a gentleman.
You chose to do it anyway. Do not expect me to treat you now as if you are being victimized in some way when we both know you made this decision yourself.
You have been reckless and rebellious one time too many, and it has finally caught up with you. ”
“If the lady does not wish to marry me, I assure you, I have no quarrel with it,” Peter Hall said, his voice low and rough. “I will happily go on my way, and you and your family can see to your own affairs.”
“No,” the duke snapped. “Peter, we came to an agreement about this, and you will see it through.” He turned his gaze on Prudence. “Is your father mistaken? Are you a fool?”
“No,” Prudence said hotly.
“Then I must assume you understand the situation you are in. You are acting naively, but you surely realize that circumstances have changed drastically for you in light of this scandal. You ought to be thanking me and my brother for our proposal—we are certainly under no obligation to offer it. A gentleman’s reputation is far more durable than that of a lady. ”
“My reputation ought to be of no concern to you,” Prudence snapped.
“Now, Prudence, that’s enough.” Her mother took hold of her shoulders.
“You must forgive her, Your Grace. She has been so distraught about all of this, she hasn’t slept.
I doubt she fully knows what she is saying at the moment.
I can assure you, Prudence is very grateful for your offer as are we all, and once she has had time to consider her circumstances, she will express that gratitude appropriately. ”
The duke nodded. “I expect that’s true,” he said. He looked from one member of the family to the next. “Please remember that we are doing you a kindness here, and this offer will be withdrawn should we come to feel as if our generosity is not appreciated.”
“It is deeply appreciated,” Lord Highgate insisted.
Prudence was rocked to her core. Was no one going to stand up for her? Not even her sister? She looked in Caroline’s direction. Caroline’s eyes were wide, but she said nothing.
“Very good, then,” the duke said with an air of finality. “We will be in touch over the coming days to finalize the arrangements. I bid you all good day.”
His eyes met Prudence’s once more. That arresting blue. She shivered. He seemed to be assessing her, trying to figure something out. She forced herself to stand her ground. It doesn’t matter what he thinks of me.
But it did, of course. If she didn’t come up with something, and quickly, she would be married to his brother. How could she not care for his opinion of her under those conditions?
The duke and Peter took their leave. For a moment, the tension they had brought into the room with them remained. Nobody spoke.
It was Lord Highgate who broke the silence. “Well, that’s a blessing,” he said. “Now we don’t have to worry about who will marry her. I think we should take steps to ensure that the wedding can be held as soon as possible.
That spurred Prudence into action. She turned and strode from the room.
“Prudence, come back here at once!” her mother called after her. “We have things we must discuss!”
But Prudence ignored her mother’s call and hurried up the stairs in the direction of her bedroom—in the direction of the secret folded garments in her chest of drawers that represented freedom.
She knew that those garments might represent the only chance she had to resolve this situation.