“How did you know I was in need of a cool drink?”
“I have made it my mission in life to anticipate your every desire and do all in my power to assure you have all that you may ever need.” He leaned in closer so his words may not be overheard. “Is there anything
else
you desire? I am more than happy to take requests.”
Prudence took a sip of punch. She really had to speak to him about his nightly visits. Kolton was leaving her bed later and later. What if one of the staff saw him? They had already had one close call when her maid entered the room. Luckily, Kolton was able to grab his robe from the floor and slip under the bed before Harriet noticed him. He’d laughed when her maid had left the room, but Prudence had been mortified.
“Kolton, we must talk about your visits,” she whispered, not wanting to be overheard.
Kolton leaned back, a rakish smile spreading across his face. “Do you now? And what would you like to speak of?” he asked, his voice deep, soft, and suggestive.
“We cannot talk here,” she said. “There are too many ears about.”
Kolton held out his arm. “A simple matter to remedy.”
Prudence took his arm and walked with him as he nonchalantly exited the ballroom and led her into the gardens. The evening was cool, but not so much that she required a wrap. They made their way to a spot within sight of the terrace, but far enough away to afford them a bit of privacy.
Prudence noticed a bench conveniently located nearby and seated herself. Kolton lowered himself beside her and took her hand. “Now, my love, what part of our delightful nights together would you like to discuss?”
The sun had set hours ago, but the moon was bright enough that she could make out the smile on his face. He was in for a large disappointment, she feared.
“Actually,” she began, clearing her throat, “I don’t want to discuss what happens as much as how often it happens.”
Kolton raised a questioning brow. “Why do I get the distinct impression that I will not care for the topic of what I had anticipated to be titillating conversation?”
Prudence extracted her hand from his and busied herself rearranging her skirts. “I believe it is because you know better than to think I would discuss such things,” she replied primly.
Kolton chuckled. “I do hope to change that particularly prudish aspect of your personality. Partaking of verbal intercourse with you is a most arousing notion.”
The idea of bringing herself to speak with him concerning such a highly personal subject made her cheeks burn. Kolton had no difficulty with describing, in minute detail, how he wanted to make love to her, how her body inflamed him, and how to satisfy him. While making love to her with words as well as his body was extremely arousing, Prudence felt speaking of such things herself far too wicked.
She folded her hands in her lap and straightened her spine with resolve. “Be that as it may, you cannot continue to visit me every night. The risk is far too great that we will be discovered,” she stated firmly.
“What are you suggesting? Please don’t say you want me to stay away from you for the next three weeks. I would go mad! I don’t believe I could last that long without breaking down your door and ravishing you in your bed.”
The look on his face resembled a child who’d had his favorite treat snatched away before he’d had the chance to savor it. The thought made Prudence want to laugh out loud. She didn’t, however, and marshaled her resistance to her betrothed’s persuasive charm.
“Do stop being overly dramatic, Kolton.”
“I am deadly serious, my love. If you were an opiate, I could not crave you more.” He lifted his hand and brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Do you not want to spend time in my arms? Has our lovemaking become blasé?”
Prudence took his hand between hers. “You know you are talking nonsense. I do not want to spend a night away from you. I am just concerned that we may be found out. Perhaps we could limit your visits for now; say one or two nights?”
“You are going to be the death of me, woman!” he replied with a tortured groan. “But you do have a point. The other morning was much too close a call.” He gave a regretful sigh. “I suppose I could
survive
on two nights – just barely, mind you.”
“Thank you for understanding, Kolton,” she said gratefully, placing her hand against his cheek and tracing the outline of his jaw with her fingertips.
“Don’t thank me,” he replied in a martyred tone. “Your pity would be much more appropriate.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Prudence sat at her desk the next day staring down in disbelief at the letter she held in her hand. She dropped it on the desk as if it were a snake ready to bite her. She immediately checked the drawer in her desk. It slid open easily, the diaries and letter she’d thought safely locked away, gone.
She picked up the letter again and read over the flowing script.
Lady Prudence,
I have in my possession, three very informative bits of literature. Should you not want them to become the object of public scrutiny, it is my strong suggestion you end your engagement to Ravensbrook immediately.
Should you not comply within a timely manner, said literature will be delivered to the Times and their subject matter made available to the public.
Who had the diaries and her father’s letter? How had they gotten them? She always kept her desk locked and the key in the keepsake box on her desk. Until now, there had been no reason to secret it away. She opened the box, the key was there, and nothing else seemed out of place.
She looked over the threatening letter once more. The handwriting was not familiar, but it was obviously penned by a woman. How did this person get into the house, find her room, know where to find the key, and search through her desk? It was unlikely a stranger could have managed such a feat. One of the servants, perhaps? Harriet was the obvious person to suspect. Prudence waved away the thought. Harriet had been with her too long and she trusted her ladies maid implicitly.
Harriet knocked on the door and entered the room carrying her lunch tray. Prudence shoved the letter in the top drawer, locked it, and stuffed the key in the pocket of her skirt.
“Harriet, have we hired any new servants recently?”
Harriet set the tray down on the table in the cozy sitting area situated before the fireplace. “It is funny you should ask, my lady,” her maid answered. “We did hire a new upstairs maid a few weeks ago. Chatty thing she was. All starry-eyed about your wedding the earl. Couldn’t ask enough questions. Did her job well, from what I understand. Up ‘till she left without a by-your-leave the end of last week. Haven’t replaced her yet, as far as I know. Why? Is there a problem? Nothing’s come up missing has it?”
“Oh, no. I thought I saw someone new,” Prudence lied. “I should have inquired earlier; I didn’t know the girl’s name. But it seems the point is moot now.”
“Well, her name was Bessie, Bessie Watersham, in case you were wonderin’. Will there be anything else, my lady?”
“No, thank you Harriet,” Prudence dismissed her maid with a forced smile. “I will ring when I have finished.” Prudence waited for the door to close behind her maid before resting her elbows on her desk and dropping her head in her hands.
What was she going to do? She had more than herself to consider. There was the relationship with Hope and her father, the duke, not to mention Hope’s reputation and the scandal that would ensue if her sister’s paternity should become known. Then there was the scandal that would follow Prudence. What would it do to the family who had taken her in and raised her as one of them? Would they receive the cut direct? Prudence would never be able to live with herself if that happened.
But how would she bring herself to let Kolton go? How could she not? If she broke off their engagement, she couldn’t continue living with the family. She would have to leave.
Prudence conjured a picture in her mind of Kolton’s expression should she find the strength to tell him she was leaving him. Pain gripped her chest, squeezing so tightly she could barely breathe. Prudence wrapped her arms around herself, tears of anguish flowing freely down her cheeks.
She stood, moved to the bed, and lay down. Curling herself into a ball, she cried herself silently to sleep.
***
Prudence awoke an hour before dinner was to be served. She rang for Harriet and asked her maid to let Kolton and Victoria know she felt unwell and would be taking dinner in her room.
After picking half-heartedly at her plate, Prudence set it aside. She let Harriet help her out of her dress and prepared for bed.
Not long after her maid departed, there came a knock on Prudence’s door, and Kolton slipped in. He was sitting on the bed at her side and holding her hand before Prudence could blink.
“Your maid said you were not feeling well. Are you sick?”
His expression of tender concern tore at Prudence’s heart. She wanted to fall into his arms and cry all over again.
Prudence gave him a weak smile. “It is nothing serious, Kolton. I have a crushing headache and wished to go to bed early, that’s all.” It was no lie; her eyes ached and her temples throbbed.
Kolton ran the back of his fingers along her cheek, his worried eyes studying her face. “I can’t stand the thought of your suffering. What can I do to help, love? Would you like me to get you a cold compress?”
By sheer strength of will, Prudence held back the tears that threatened at his sweet attempt to soothe her pain. She took his hand in hers and placed a kiss on his knuckles. “Thank you, Kolton, you are so good to me, but I will be fine. I just need to sleep.”
A frown furrowed his brow. “Would you like me to sit with you until you fall asleep?” He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Yes!
“No, Kolton, Victoria may come to check on me and it wouldn’t do to have you in bed with me.”
He waived his hand dismissively. “I don’t care about Victoria; I only care about you and how you are feeling.”
“Well, I care. Victoria has been like a mother to me. I wouldn’t want her thinking badly of me. No, you can say she would understand,” she continued before he could voice any objection, “but I would not feel right about it, and worrying will not help my headache.”
Kolton’s shoulders dropped in defeat. “No, I suppose it wouldn’t,” he conceded regretfully, “but I insist you let me hold you for a moment or two before I go.”
Prudence couldn’t deny herself one last opportunity to feel his strong arms around her. She needed him now more than ever, but he was the one person she couldn’t share her burden with.
“Only a few moments,” she agreed.
She moved over and made room for him to sit beside her. He pulled her into his arms and Prudence felt the tension leave her body. But along with the comfort he provided came a sharp stab of pain. Never again would he hold her. She would never feel his embrace or the soft little kisses he placed at her temple. She would never make love with him again or become his wife. She would never know the joy of carrying Kolton’s baby, and watching it grow.
Prudence realized then how much she wanted to share her life with him; to argue and make up, to laugh, and to cry, to grow old with him. But it was nothing but an unattainable dream. He would be hurt when she left and be understandably angry with her. Perhaps one day they could both look back and agree they wouldn’t have suited after all.
She doubted she would ever be able to feel that way. She would love him until her dying breath. She had no doubt.
Prudence slipped her arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze. “You should probably get going.” Better now when she still had the strength to let him. “Victoria will be heading up any time now.”
Kolton gave a weary sigh. “I will leave; but I want it duly noted it is under protest.” His arms left her and he stood. He helped her settle herself under the covers and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
Prudence feigned a realistic yawn and let her lids drop as if she were already drifting off to sleep.
“I love you,” he said softly. Prudence gave him a sleepy smile in reply. She couldn’t say those words in return knowing she would be packing in a couple of hours and leaving before dawn.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“This is a ridiculous bunch of drivel.” Kolton threw Pru’s letter down on his desk.
“What is ‘a ridiculous bunch of drivel’?” Victor asked, sauntering into Kolton’s study and seating himself in an overstuffed chair where he lounged as if he’d not a care in the world, while Kolton’s world was crashing down around him.
Kolton spun and faced his brother. “Do you know anything about this?” He shoved Pru’s letter into his brother’s hands.
“Pru’s left? Why? Where did she go?” Victor’s bewildered expression only added to his frustration. Had Pru confided in
anyone
? Told anyone where to find her? He’d already questioned his stepmother. His only success there was worrying the sweet woman.
“If I knew that I wouldn’t be standing here asking you, now would I?”
“No need to growl, Kolton. If I had any idea she’d been having second thoughts or planned to run off, you can be sure I would have come straight to you. It could be something as simple as wedding jitters. Perhaps she’ll be back in a couple of days.”
“Sorry,” Kolton grumbled raking his fingers through his already tussled hair. “I know you would. I just cannot believe she has done something like this. She loves me; I know she does. There has to be something other than ‘not being sure of her feelings’ going on here.”
“She didn’t confide in me, Kolton. I’m sorry.”
“She had to have spoken to someone!” Kolton started to pace, his agitation to strong to allow him to sit still.