Just then Kolton returned with a glass of punch. “Here you are, my dear. I am sorry it took me so long. Are you feeling better?”
“Thank you, my lord,” she replied taking the proffered glass. “And yes, I am feeling much better. The ballroom was a bit warm, and the fresh air has quite revived me. Oh, let me introduce you to the Duke of Stonewell’s daughter. Lady Hope, the Earl of Ravensbrook. Lord Ravensbrook, this is Lady Hope Kingsley.”
“Lady Hope, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Kolton said taking young woman’s hand and bowing over it politely.
Lady Hope curtsied. “The pleasure is mine, my lord. And may I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your engagement? Lady Prudence is quite charming, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to meet you both.”
“Thank you. And I would have to agree with you, my fiancée
is
quite charming.” He sent Prudence a heart-melting smile and took her hand in his.
“Well, I will leave you lovebirds to your own devices. Again, it was a pleasure to meet you both.” Lady Hope gave them a bright smile and disappeared back inside the crowded ballroom.
“A friend of yours?” Kolton asked lifting a curious brow.
Prudence took a sip of the blessedly cool punch. “We just met, actually. I like her though, quite a bit, in fact. She doesn’t seem at all like the usual young ladies one encounters.”
“Neither does she appear shy,” he commented dryly.
“No, she certainly doesn’t.”
***
“Have I told you, you look ravishing tonight?”
“No, Victor, I don’t believe you have,” Prudence replied with a warm smile for her soon to be brother-in-law as he partnered her later in a waltz. “Although, ‘ravishing’ is a bit of an overstatement.”
The evening had gone well. Kolton had rarely left her side as they made their way about the ballroom accepting the good wishes of the guests. Although some of the female members of the gathering were cool and assessing while others were curious, there were some who seemed almost genuine in their congratulations. The majority of the men gave her discretely appreciative looks while others ran their eyes over her, their gazes clearly revealing ungentlemanly thoughts. Those were the men who received the full measure of the earl’s chilling stare and suddenly found a pressing reason to depart. Prudence found the varied reactions both unsettling and amusing, and was surprised to realize she was actually enjoying the attention.
“Not an overstatement at all,” Victor argued, distracting Prudence from her musings. “I have always thought you were pretty.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Such praise, one would think you were up to something.”
Victor chuckled good-naturedly, his jewel-green eyes sparkling with laughter. “One would think that, wouldn’t one? But no, I am telling the truth. I have long thought you and Kolton would be a good match. He needs a steadying influence, a purpose, and I think you are the type of woman to provide that. I also think he is the type of man who could encourage you out of that shell you insist upon hiding in, and it appears I was correct,” he said waggling his eyebrows flirtatiously. Prudence laughed at his antics. “I’ve never understood why you chose to hide your beauty for so long but, then again, why women do most of the things they do is beyond my meager ability to comprehend.”
“I could say the same of men,” she countered with a sweet smile.
“Touché,” he replied with an answering grin.
The dance soon ended and Victor returned her to her betrothed with an exaggerated bow and lingering kiss to her hand.
“Watch yourself, dear brother, or you will find yourself on the receiving end of my fist. I guarantee you won’t be using those lips for anything other than covering a lack of teeth,” Kolton assured him while keeping a pleasant smile fixed firmly in place.
Victor gave his brother a cheeky grin. “You sound jealous, brother,” he said with mock astonishment. “One would think you considered me – your devoted sibling – likely to steal away with the most charming woman in the room. Who, as it happens, is betrothed to you and not myself, might I remind you.”
“Don’t tease him so, you rascal,” Prudence admonished Victor, swatting him lightly on the arm with her fan.
Kolton’s brother lifted his hands in a supplicating gesture and retreated a step. “Now, now, can I help it if he has suddenly lost his sense of humor? Lighten up, old man. With a beauty like Pru, you are going to have to resign yourself to the fact men of all ages will be falling all over themselves to catch her eye, married or not. Just remember they haven’t a chance, it is you she has chosen. After all, she will be going home with you at the end of the night. No need to let the green-eyed monster make an appearance.”
Prudence blushed. “Please, do stop your outrageous chatter,” she said, raising her fan threateningly toward him.
“I know when I’m not wanted. I’ll just occupy myself in the card room and leave you two to stare adoringly into each other’s eyes,” he said with a wink before he turned and strode off.
Kolton shook his head resignedly. “Some day that silver tongue of his is not going to get him out of trouble so easily.”
“Now, Kolton,” she said with a placating smile. “He is simply trying to get a rise out of you. You know he thinks of me as nothing but a little sister. He is very happy for us.”
“Yes, I know. He enjoys raising my hackles. That is why I must occasionally indulge him with an appropriately provoked reaction.”
“You weren’t angry?”
Kolton took her hand and squeezed it affectionately. “No, I was not angry. A bit irritated at most, but not angry.”
“Good,” she said lightly squeezing his hand in return. “I am going to go freshen up. Perhaps I can prevail upon you to fetch me another glass of punch?”
“It would be my pleasure, my lady.” He brought her hand to his lips and gave her a slight bow before he headed off in the direction of the refreshment table.
Prudence located the retiring room and slipped behind the screen to take care of her most pressing of needs. She was in the process of setting herself to rights when a group of women entered with a rustling of skirts and conversation.
“…I have never met her, but she is very beautiful.”
“I suppose,” a second, older voice replied. “If one were interested in that type.”
Prudence stood silent, hoping the two would leave without noticing her.
The door opened again.
“What do you mean ‘that type’?” the first woman asked.
“Well, the dark, overly rounded kind,” the second voice replied. “It is disgraceful how the men gawk at her like she is some delicacy they are eager to gobble up. A woman like that is better suited to the roll of mistress. She certainly doesn’t look like a countess.”
Prudence stifled a gasp and frowned, her mouth hanging open in outrage.
“A countess?” a third voice Prudence recognized as Lady Hope enquired. “Are you referring to Lady Prudence?”
“Of course,” the second voice replied. “You must agree she is quite unacceptable for an earl. I hear that she is the daughter of a
baron
, you know. And the way she dresses! A woman her age should wear more modest clothing, but Lady Prudence flaunts herself like a bitch in heat.”
The other women gasped in response. “Aunt Helena!” the second woman cried in horror.
Prudence gritted her teeth, her hands fisting at her sides.
“What a nasty thing to say!” Lady Hope spat. “She is close to your age, and you have no problem ‘flaunting’
your
self. Why if that neckline were any lower, your breasts would be completely on display instead of simply threatening to tumble out of your bodice!”
“Well!” huffed the woman. “You impertinent little—”
“Don’t you take that outraged tone with me, you vicious hag. At least I have the courage to insult you to your face.”
Prudence bit back a snort of laughter. The girl had pluck.
“And who might you be, you insolent little gutter snipe? How
dare
you speak to me that way?”
“I am Lady Hope Kingsley.”
“Stoneville’s daughter?” The woman sounded shocked; understandable, considering she had just insulted the daughter of one of the most powerful men in England. “Well,” the woman replied in an icy tone, apparently deciding to brazen out the situation. “Your father has much to learn about raising a proper young lady, that much is evident!”
“I would say
your
parents were quite well versed in how to raise a cowardly, backstabbing shrew. And it shows. They must be
so
proud.”
“I do not have to stand here and listen to this!”
“I wish you wouldn’t. You are a tiresome woman; your departure would brighten the room quite nicely.”
The woman huffed and Prudence heard the door slam shut. She wanted to clap her hands and cheer for Lady Hope. Prudence would never have the nerve to stand up to such a woman.
“I must apologize for my aunt,” the younger woman who had remained behind said with a note of embarrassment. “I believe she had hopes of marrying the earl herself.”
“As would the majority of the unattached women in society, I would assume. Well, it is obviously a good thing for the earl she didn’t,” Lady Hope huffed. “No offense, but his life would have been miserable.”
Prudence nodded silently in agreement, and heard a soft giggle from the other side of the screen. “I quite agree. My aunt is not one of my favorite people, and I honestly do not share her assessment of Lady Prudence. It is nice to meet you Lady Hope. My name is Lady Constance Warring; my father is the Earl of Brookshire.”
Prudence decided it was safe to let presence be known. She wanted to thank Lady Hope for standing up for her, and she was curious to meet Lady Constance.
She cleared her throat pointedly and stepped out from behind the screen. She was met by two pair of wide eyes and two identical slack jaws.
“Lady Prudence,” they chorused, their voices filled with shocked horror.
Prudence smiled reassuringly. “I would like to thank you both for your flattering opinion of me. Lady Constance? It is nice to meet you.”
“I am so sorry you had to hear all that,” Lady Constance, a delicate young woman with honey-gold curls and light blue eyes apologized, her face going from pale to crimson.
“I’m not,” Prudence replied lifting a brow while pursing her lips with suppressed amusement. “It is always interesting to hear what people really think. It is a rare occurrence among the
ton
.”
Prudence turned to Lady Hope. She could see her more clearly now that there was sufficient light. Her hair was lighter than Prudence had first thought. So blonde in fact that it almost appeared white. She had a pixie face with wide eyes Prudence thought might be blue or possibly green, framed by dark lashes and brows a shade or two darker than her hair.
“Thank you for defending me so...diligently.”
Lady Hope raised her chin defiantly. “I hate it when people speak so nastily behind each other’s backs. You didn’t deserve to be talked about in such a way.”
“Yes,” Lady Constance agreed. “Please accept my most sincere apologies on behalf of my aunt, Lady Whenton. I am truly sorry.”
The girl looked genuinely miserable about what had happened. “It is over, all in the past. No need to dwell on it. I accept your apology. You have no control over what others say; I certainly do not hold you responsible.”
Prudence knew Lady Whenton in passing. The young widow was attractive, but vain in Prudence’s opinion. She did recall Kolton had joined the lady and some mutual friends on some outings, but to think Kolton would propose?
Perhaps they had been having an affair. The thought made her stomach roll. She knew Kolton hadn’t been a monk, but the idea of coming face to face with a woman she knew he had slept with made her nauseous.
Chapter Sixteen
“I fear I am growing too old to spend all night at these functions,” Victoria lamented as she waived her fan in front of her face. “They are crowded, always stiflingly hot, and the dancing wears me out.”
“We have stayed long enough. If you wish to leave, I am sure Pru and Victor wouldn’t mind leaving before the festivities end.” Kolton surveyed the crowd for his betrothed who was dancing with the Viscount of Trentmont. He was an old but harmless lecher whose eyes came to the level of Pru’s breasts, to which he was now conversing, as Pru appeared to be politely attempting not to notice. It was a good thing the man’s age had him one foot in the grave or Kolton would feel much more obliged to plant him a facer.
Kolton sighed. Marrying a woman of Prudence’s breathtaking countenance would have at least one drawback after all. But Victor had been right. Pru was a woman of good character. She was his, and he knew she wouldn’t stray. He should just sit back and enjoy the fact that so many other men wished they were in his shoes. As long as they didn’t step over the line, there was no reason to be bothered with jealousy.
“Oh, here comes Victor,” Victoria exclaimed as she caught sight of his brother headed their way. “I could ask him to escort me home if you and Pru would like to stay longer.”
“No, no, mother. If I don’t miss my guess, Pru has probably had quite enough excitement for one evening.”
“You are probably right. She does appear a bit wilted,” Victoria observed in a hushed voice as the aged viscount escorted Pru back toward them.
The viscount returned Pru to Kolton’s side, his eyes never leaving her ample bosom as he thanked her for the dance. When he departed, Pru turned to Kolton with a discrete roll of her eyes and a deep sigh.
Kolton leaned close to her ear. “Did your breasts enjoy their dance with the viscount?”
Pru muffled a chuckle with her hand and swatted him with her fan. “It is not funny, Kolton,” she chastened him with an expression which attempted to appear firm, but came up sadly lacking. “I swear, I was afraid I would have to retire after the dance to wipe the drool off the front of my dress,” she whispered back.
Kolton bit back a bark of laughter. Her sense of humor was one of the many things he admired about her. “I believed we have made a proper showing of ourselves if you would like to return home.”