Pru turned her head away and hugged her knees to her chest. She looked down at the coverlet a moment before she replied. “I am sure you believe what you say now, but what of months or years from now? No, you don’t understand, Kolton.” She raised her head, meeting his eyes with a sad, knowing look as she rushed to continue when he would have interrupted. “Feelings can change. They did with my parents.”
She never talked about her parents. He assumed, being so young when they died, she didn’t remember much of them. “Your parents’ feelings for each other changed? In what way?”
“I don’t really know for sure how they felt about one another when they first married. Though I know my mother loved my father very much, my father . . .”
“Yes?” He took her hand and squeezed it encouragingly.
“My father didn’t feel the same.” She lowered her head and studied their clasped hands. “They used to have terrible rows. My mother would cry and beg him to try to make their marriage more than one on paper.”
“And your father?”
She hesitated a moment before answering. “My father...my father would tell her quite directly it would never happen. He didn’t love her because she . . .”
“Because she what, sweetheart?” he urged softly.
Pru swallowed and went on in a wavering voice, “Because she was so repellant to him, because her figure was so...full—like mine—there was no way he could be attracted to her. He told her without attraction there was no hope for them. Ever.”
Suddenly he understood Pru’s low opinion of her body. If she resembled her mother, her father must have been either a lunatic or, he speculated grimly, a man who preferred an entirely different
type
of intimate partner. But that was neither here nor there. Only time and patience would convince her, he was sure.
“Pru, I suspect your father’s opinion of your mother was...unusual—especially if you resemble her, as you say you do. You saw the way the men looked at you tonight. I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that they found you far from unattractive.”
She looked up and met his eyes, hope shining in their aqua depths. “They did seem taken with me, didn’t they?” she agreed tentatively. “I thought perhaps it was because I looked so different. Do you think it was because they thought I was pretty?”
Kolton chuckled knowingly. “They thought you were more than pretty, I can guarantee it, my love.” He gave her a mock frown. “But don’t let it turn your pretty little head. You said you love
me
, remember. You are mine and I will not share your...attention.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Pru smiled. “As if any man could hold a candle to you, as you well know.”
“Because you love me?” he said giving her an exaggerated, hopeful look.
“Yes, because I love you. And, because you are considered one of London’s most handsome men.”
“I
am
rather good-looking, I must agree.”
“Oh, you wicked man!” She laughed and swatted him on the arm, the blankets slipping, revealing her lusciously full breasts on which he let his eyes linger appreciatively.
“Mmm, wicked.” He eased her back down on the mattress. “Let’s see how wicked I can be tonight,” he suggested, settling himself atop her while he took her breast in his hand and captured its rosy peak between his lips.
Pru sighed. “Yes, let’s.”
Kolton wondered if he would ever get enough of Pru. Her mind, her body, everything about her aroused him to a state he had never before reached. He caressed her body, glorying in her passionate response, drinking in her moans and sighs of escalating pleasure. His own excitement grew. His body writhed against her, the hard length of him greedy for the soft feel of her skin sliding against his.
She loved him. He yearned to hear those words fall from her lips once again. He pulled himself up on his forearms and gazed down at her lovely face, all he felt for her unguarded in his eyes. “Tell me, Pru.”
She didn’t need to ask him what he meant. “I love you, Kolton. I love you.”
Kolton’s heart swelled to all but bursting inside his chest. He closed his eyes against the overwhelming emotion that washed over him. He opened his eyes and smiled gently, caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers. Lowering his head, he kissed her. She ran her hands up his sides and around to his chest. His kiss grew more heated. Love-seared lust rose inside him, inflaming his need to possess her. He ground his hips against her, his straining arousal eager to plunge into her wet, velvet passage.
“Mmm. Kolton, please,” she moaned, spreading her legs, opening herself to him, welcoming him.
He buried himself inside her, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to be buried deeper. He pulled himself out, shushing her protests and urged her to roll over. Once he had her positioned on her hands and knees, he entered her again in one swift stroke. She gasped as he penetrated her more deeply than he ever had before.
“Yes, love; take me deep,” he rasped as she met his slow rhythm, rocking back against him, meeting each of his thrusts.
Her moans of pleasure spurred him on to a higher level of excitement. He gripped her hips with both hands and he drove himself into her, pulling her back to meet him, the muscles of his buttocks clenching as he sped his pace, pummeling her with his rigid staff.
Soon, the desire to feel her body pressed against him became too great and he wrapped his arms around her, never once breaking his rhythm as he snuggled her against him. He grasped her hips, urging her to ride him, then cupped her bouncing breasts as she complied.
He took one of her hands and directed it down between her legs, showing her how to add to her pleasure by stroking the erect nub between her nether lips. She didn’t recoil, but eagerly followed his instruction. He released her hand and brought his own to her breasts, lightly pinching and rolling her nipples between thumb and forefingers. Pru began to buck her hips against him, rising and lowering herself until their bodies met in a hard, wet, pounding beat.
Kolton sank his teeth lightly into the skin at the crook of her neck, sucking and licking her flesh. She cried out, her hips pumping a wild rhythm as she reached her peak and flew over the edge.
Her inner muscles contracted tightly around him, milking him, forcing him closer to release. His hands flew to her hips, holding them still while he thrust frantically in and out of her. “Yes, Pru. Oh, God, I love you!”
His climax ripped from his soul, the muscles in his abdomen clenching, his entire body wracked by spasms of pleasure as his seed jetted into her in an endless stream.
They collapsed, hearts pounding, their breathing coming in heaving pants. When his racing pulse began to slow, he slid off her and pulled her to him, giving her a long languid kiss.
He pulled back and cupped the back of her head. Making love with a woman had never been like this. So passionate. So deeply satisfying.
“I love you, Pru.” He said it without even thinking.
Tears gathered in her eyes, a soft smile gracing her lips. “That is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Kolton smiled. Her love made him feel like the most important man on earth. He knew, no matter what the future held in store for him, he would never be whole without the woman he held in his arms, and he vowed he would die before he would ever let her go.
Chapter Eighteen
“Lady Hope, what a pleasure it is to see you again so soon,” Prudence greeted Lady Hope with a smile as the young woman was shown in to the morning room two days later.
Lady Hope was a striking young woman, Prudence noted now that she saw her in the bright morning sun. She was a little taller than Prudence, and deceptively fragile looking. She had platinum locks, artfully arranged atop her head with a few stray tendrils framing her heart-shaped face with its pert nose and Cupid’s bow lips. Prudence sighed inwardly. What she wouldn’t give to have Lady Hope’s petite frame with her slim hips and breasts that weren’t overly large like her own.
“I apologize for calling at such an early hour,” Lady Hope replied, taking a seat. “I trust I have not caught you at a bad time. I had hoped to convince you to accompany me to Hatchards for some reading material and perhaps to Gunter’s for an ice? If you are not otherwise engaged, that is.”
“As it happens, I am free this morning.” Prudence was delighted at the prospect of an outing that didn’t involve choosing invitations or being poked by pins and discussing wedding matters. She hadn’t been to Gunter’s for an ice in ages, it would be a good respite from all the wedding plans, and she suspected Lady Hope would prove to be a refreshing companion. “I would be happy to accompany you.”
“How lovely,” Lady Hope exclaimed, a bright smile lighting up her entire face. “I was hoping you would agree.”
“Would you like me to ring for tea first?” Prudence offered, curious to get to know this interesting young woman better. Something about her drew Prudence; something which easily put her at ease when normally she would be more reserved.
“Oh, yes,” she replied removing her gloves and placing them in her lap. “Tea would be nice. And, please, call me Hope. Formality can be so tedious at times. I am hoping that we will become good friends. If I don’t miss my guess, we will get on well together. If you can tolerate my tendency to be brutally straight forward at times, that is.”
Prudence laughed. Lady Hope was certainly cheeky, but not in an off-putting manner, Prudence decided. “Brutally honest are you? Well, as long as your honesty is tempered with good sense, I believe I could tolerate it reasonably well. And do call me Pru. I agree. If we are to be friends, formality does seem a bit awkward, does it not?”
***
Over the next two weeks, Lady Hope was a frequent visitor, offering Prudence a much needed respite from Victoria and Amanda’s constant need to make Prudence’s eyes cross with all decisions to be made and things that still needed to be done before the wedding.
“Lady Hope Kingsley, my lady,” Arbuckle announced as Hope entered the room.
“Hope,” Prudence greeted her, happily setting aside the guest list she had been looking over and stood taking Hope’s hands. “What a pleasant surprise!”
“I apologize for arriving early yet again without notice, I hope you don’t mind.” Hope smiled and squeezed her hands.
Prudence sensed something was off. Hope’s smile seemed strained and the usual twinkle in her eye was absent.
“Nonsense,” Prudence dismissed Hope’s apology with a wave of her hand. “I am always happy to see you. Would you care for some tea, or are you here to whisk me away on another excursion?”
“Yes, tea would be nice,” Hope replied settling herself across from Prudence as the two took a seat.
Prudence rang for the maid and they chattered about trivial things until the refreshments arrived.
“Was there something in particular you wished to discuss?” Prudence inquired as she poured for both of them.
“Actually, there is,” Hope replied with a seriousness that caught Prudence off guard.
Prudence’s curiosity was piqued. “Something specific, I gather.”
“Yes.” Hope’s troubled gaze met Prudence’s. “I do not know where to begin. I...well, I have not been completely up front with you, Pru. You see I have wanted to speak with you on an important matter since shortly after my mother died a year ago.”
“I see,” Prudence replied keeping her tone light. “I am not sure I understand. You’ve wanted to speak with me for over a year? I have to admit, you have me curious now. What is it you wish to tell me? “
Hope set down her tea with shaking hands before clasping them in her lap. “I wish to discuss my father, and yours.”
“Our fathers?” Prudence asked, completely puzzled as to why Hope would want to discuss her father with her, much less Prudence’s father as well.
“Well, yes,” she said, absently wringing her hands in her lap. “But it is rather involved you see.”
“Yes, go on. You have me on tenterhooks,” Prudence replied leaning forward in her seat and setting her tea on the table as well.
“Well, you see, when I said my father and your father; I meant
our
father.”
***
Prudence paced her room, stopping periodically to stare at the two diaries and letter Hope had given her where she had dropped them on the bed. Did she want to read them? Did she want to see the truth in writing? What reason would the daughter of a powerful duke have to make such a claim other than what motives she suggested?
“I’m not looking for anything from you but friendship and the chance to get to know you,”
Hope had said.
Prudence had often wished she could have had a sister. Some blood relation she could call her own. Oh, Amanda was like a sister to her, but it wasn’t quite the same as knowing she shared the same blood. Well...partially the same blood. Now, what was she to do with all this information?
Prudence sat down on the bed and reached over and retrieved the letter first. She was afraid to open it, afraid of what she would read, and how it would affect her. She stared at the yellowed parchment a few moments before she worked up the courage to open and read its contents.
My dearest Melinda,
Words cannot express how much I miss you. It has been hell seeing you with your husband and knowing that you will never be truly mine. But if I must resign myself to snatching only brief moments of bliss in your arms, I can be content with that if the only other option open to me is to never hold you again…
***
It was from Baron Montlief, Prudence’s father. It was obviously a love letter to Hope’s mother, her father’s lover. The one Prudence’s parents fought over that dreadful night. The night her mother died.
Prudence scanned the rest of the letter.
I do not cherish the thought of returning to Evelyn’s constant pleas for us to try to make our marriage work. I simply cannot love her the way she needs me to. Evelyn knows I have a lover, I am afraid I have not hidden that fact well, and it is getting harder and harder to take her constant tears and jealousy. Sometimes I am afraid that she will push me into saying something that I shall regret...