Chapter Ten
“How much longer do you think it will be before we reach London?”
Kolton stretched out his legs casually in front of him, crossing his ankles. “Are you anxious to be home and share our news with the family, my sweet?” he asked with an amused expression.
“Did you want to let the family know right away? Amanda will be at her own house with Cecil and his father. Surely you want both Amanda and Christopher there when we break the news?” Prudence pointed out.
“I want the family to know immediately,” he stated firmly, studying her in such a way that Prudence felt as if he were able to see right through her clothes to what lay beneath.
“And when do you plan to appease their curiosity, my lord? Will you make them wait until after dinner, or will you announce it before the meal?” It didn’t really matter to Prudence, either way she would have a million questions to answer from their surprised relatives.
“I thought perhaps when we gather before dinner,” he replied. “Would you agree?”
“Whatever you wish is fine with me,” she answered, her gaze drawn to the window and the passing scenery that was quickly fading as dusk approached.
“I thought I would answer the bulk of the questions our news is sure to bring,” he graciously offered. “I think suggesting our time alone aided in our discovery of how well we got on together that I thought marriage between us might suit, and I proposed.”
“So I am to be presented as the desperate spinster who gratefully accepted?” she asked, unable to disguise her distaste at the idea.
“Well, I had not considered you would be perceived in such a light,” he replied rubbing his chin with a thoughtful expression. “Perhaps I could say you were hesitant at first, but I persisted and just before we returned, you finally consented to be my wife? Would you be more comfortable with that?”
Prudence thought this over for a few moments. “I believe I could live with that version,” she agreed with a slight nod.
***
The two arrived well before the dinner hour, and Kolton sent word to his sister and her husband requesting they join the rest of the family to dine with them as he had promised. Then they each retired to their respective rooms to wash and dress for dinner.
Prudence couldn’t wait to take a nice long bath and wash away the dust from the day’s travel, the fact that it gave her time alone, away from the earl’s heated looks, was simply an added benefit, she told herself.
Her maid was waiting when she entered her room. “Your bath is waiting for you,” Harriet informed her and stepped forward to help Prudence undress.
“Oh, thank you, you are an angel. If you would, Harriet, in my smaller trunk is the new soap I picked up while I was away. I would like to have it for my bath.”
“Yes, my lady. I will bring them to you right away.”
***
Prudence lingered in the tub after Harriet rinsed her hair and went to set out her clothes for the evening. Prudence worked up a lather and ran the sponge over her body, enjoying the smell of the scented soap she had purchased while shopping with Amanda in the marketplace in Bath. It smelled of spiced apple as did the cream she found to go with it. Kolton had commented several times how much he admired the scent, and Prudence made a mental note to send for more in the future.
She washed her legs and, as she ran the sponge over her inner thighs, she remembered Kolton’s hands caressing her, his mouth pressed against her in the most intimate of kisses. Her breasts began to tingle, her womb contracting with arousal. She snatched her hand away and concentrated on quickly finishing her bath. There was nothing productive in thinking about such intimacies. It would be weeks, in all likelihood, before they would share a bed again. Working herself to a desperate state of sexual tension would make the separation unbearable.
Finished, she stepped out of the bath, toweled herself off, and went about rubbing the cream into her skin. She was pleased with her purchase; it made her skin silky soft—yet another thing Kolton had commented approvingly upon. Donning her robe, she opened the door to her bathing chamber and entered her room where Harriet had her clothes laid out. She changed into her shift and sat before her dressing table so her maid could brush her hair.
When the tangles were freed and her hair only slightly damp, Harriet went about putting up her hair in her usual, severe style. Prudence stopped her. “I believe I would like to try something different tonight,” she informed the startled woman. “Perhaps something softer, more becoming.”
Something Kolton would admire.
“
Really
, my lady?” her maid exclaimed excitedly. “I have always wanted to style it in upsweep with curls atop and some framing your face.”
“That sounds marvelous,” she replied, curious to see what the finished product would look like.
When her maid was done, Prudence gazed at her reflection. She didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror. The effect was startling. Her features looked less pinched, her appearance much younger.
“You look wonderful, my lady,” Harriet gushed, obviously pleased with her work.
“Thank you.” Prudence blushed, not used to such effusive compliments. “I think I will wear the emerald taffeta gown tonight.”
“Th-The emerald taffeta? The one you
hate
?”
The gown in question was one Amanda and Victoria had talked her into last season. Prudence hated the thing because it didn’t hide her curves and, up until now, hung unworn in the back of her closet.
“Yes, that would be the one,” she replied, a smile twitching the corners of her lips at her maid’s astonishment. “I thought I would see if I liked it better with my new hairstyle.” The rich emerald green gown fit her perfectly. It had small puffed sleeves accented with white silk rosettes and fell just shy of the edge of her shoulders. The neckline also trimmed with white rosettes, dropped to a deep ‘v’, showing much of her rounded breasts without being too daring. The bodice was form fitting and emphasized her small waist where it met the full skirt which fell to her feet and whose hem was decorated with more silk rosettes. Overall, it was a simple gown, but it did extraordinary things for Prudence.
“Oh, my lady,” Harriet breathed in awe. “You look...I can’t describe how beautiful you look.”
Prudence felt horribly exposed in the gown without loose layers to hide behind, every curve was on display. Pushing aside her self-consciousness, she squared her shoulders. If his lordship didn’t like it, it would serve him right.
“Thank you Harriet. I believe I am all set.”
***
“Is this what Kolton was so cryptic about in his note inviting us to dinner?” Amanda quipped as Prudence entered the hall moments after her cousin and her husband arrived. “You look absolutely stunning! I just knew that dress would suit you.”
“Prudence?” Lord Broadshire exclaimed before Prudence could open her mouth. “By God, you look ravishing.” With a dramatic flourish, the viscount took her hand on which he placed a lingering kiss.
“Christopher! You are an incorrigible flirt. Stop panting after my cousin and escort us to the study,” Amanda admonished with a good-natured laugh.
“As if any woman could replace my wife in my affections. Although,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “I have to say; your cousin appears to be giving you a run for your money this evening, darling.”
“Oh, you rat!” Amanda swatted her husband’s shoulder before taking his arm.
“My goodness,” Prudence declared with overstated astonishment, “if I thought I would cause a row between the two of you, I would have worn one of my oldest gowns.”
“Don’t you dare!” ordered Amanda.
“I quite agree with my wife,” Lord Broadshire said with a smile.
Prudence followed them into the study, a bit overwhelmed at their effusive praise. The Countess and her two stepsons were already in attendance gathered at the opposite end of the room and conversing amongst themselves when the small group entered. All conversation stopped abruptly as Prudence swept through the doorway. She stopped short when she noticed three pairs of stunned eyes focused on her.
***
The earl had never seen a more spectacular sight—well, not clothed at any rate, he amended—than the image of Pru silhouetted in the doorway. The dress she wore fit her perfectly, accentuating her alluring curves, the neckline giving a tantalizing glimpse of her full, rounded breasts. The color brought out the green in her eyes. Coupled with her dark hair and fair complexion, she virtually glowed with refinement and beauty. He had all he could do to keep himself from dashing across the room shouting “
Mine!
” and dragging her up to his bed.
“Though I sympathize with your reaction, gentlemen, you should close your mouths lest you attract flies,” Lord Broadshire quipped with a knowing grin.
Kolton shut his jaw with a click and shook himself out of his lustful daze. He tore his eyes away from the vision in the doorway and glanced at his younger brother. Victor was staring unblinkingly at Prudence, as if she had cast a spell over him as well, his mouth still hanging open. Kolton frowned and nudged him none too gently in the side.
“Oh, Prudence,” his stepmother, Victoria, exclaimed. “That’s the dress, isn’t it? The one you had made then refused to wear for us?” She crossed the room to Pru’s side and took her arm, leading her farther into the room. “Well, what do you think of our dear Prudence, boys?”
“Pru,” Victor said clearing his voice, the look of stunned disbelief still present on his face, “you look...that dress...your hair...I am at a loss for words.”
Pru blushed but lifted her chin. “Come now, Victor, ladling it on rather thick, don’t you think?”
“Not at all, my dear Prudence,” Kolton answered for his tongue-tied brother. “I have yet to see a lovelier sight,” he added, stepping forward and taking her hand for a brief kiss.
“So, is Pru’s transformation the reason you invited us all here tonight, brother?” Amanda demanded, curiosity bright in her eyes.
“Actually, no,” he said, turning Pru to face the assembled group. Draping his arm casually around her waist, he smiled softly down at her, willing her to smile back at him, and was rewarded with a tentative smile in return. “Pru and I have something we wanted to share with you.”
A collected gasp sounded from the group. Even pragmatic Lord Broadshire looked shocked.
“Kolton, are you about to say what I think you are?” Victoria squeaked.
“Well, if you are thinking that I have asked Prudence to marry me and she has accepted, you would be correct,” he replied with a broad smile.
“B-B-But you...but Pru . . .” Amanda babbled, unable to form a complete sentence.
“Yes, I agree with my stuttering sister,” Victor interrupted. “The two of you have never, that is, I mean, I have never noticed a particular attraction between the two of you.”
“What I believe my simple minded brother-in-law is trying to say is; congratulations,” the viscount interceded, stepping forward to shake Kolton’s hand and bow over Prudence’s.
This seemed to shake the others out of their shock-induced stupor. Amanda and the Countess stepped forward, embracing both Prudence and Kolton and offering their best wishes as well.
***
“So when is the happy event to take place?” Vincent inquired over dinner.
Prudence took a sip of her wine and let Kolton answer. “We haven’t set a date yet, but I thought I would post the announcement in the paper the day after tomorrow,” he replied waiving the footman away when he offered to refill his glass.
“Well, I suppose there is no rush,” the countess remarked, “but we must have some idea how long we will have to plan the most perfect of weddings for the two of you.”
“Oh, Victoria,” Prudence interjected anxiously. “I don’t want a lot of fuss, really and—”
“Oh, now, Pru.”
“I won’t hear of it!”
Amanda and Victoria chimed as one. With a sigh, Prudence realized ‘simple’ was not going to be on the agenda.
“Now, before you hens start planning for Pru to wear the crown jewels and scare her off entirely,” Kolton injected with an indulgent smile at his over-eager stepmother and sister, “I suggest you give us a week at least to decide.”
“Take as long as you like, dear brother,” Amanda said flashing Kolton a determined look. “We ladies will begin discussing the preparations immediately.”
“Oh, yes,” declared the countess. “We should visit the dressmakers on the morrow and have a completely new wardrobe and trousseau ordered right away. Oh, and there is the ball we must throw in honor of your betrothal.”
Prudence’s head began to swim as Lady Ravensbrook rang off the list of ‘must do right aways.’ She should have realized all the fuss expected in regards to the marriage of a high ranking peer, but the idea never occurred to her – especially since they may have to marry sooner than anyone present expected.
Chapter Eleven
It wasn’t until after Amanda and Christopher said their goodbyes and returned home that Victor left for the evening and the countess retired for the night, leaving Prudence and Kolton alone in the study.
“I think the evening went well, wouldn’t you agree, my dear?” Kolton remarked stretching his legs out in front of him as he relaxed in an overstuffed chair, and sipped his brandy. He had been studying Pru for the last several minutes, wondering if she was interested in retiring for the evening alone or with him.
“It went much better than I expected, I must admit.” She stared into her glass of sherry as if it held the answers to all of life’s questions.
“Oh, how so?” he asked, just to make the conversation last.