Authors: Otherwise Engaged
'Is that surprising?' Prudence demanded hotly. 'The child is terrified of you, and no wonder after her papa left almost everything to you. She has lost her home, the only one she ever knew, and is now largely dependent on her frightful stepmother. Is it surprising she feels some resentment towards you, and fear?'
'Is that what she told you? I understood she had her mother's fortune secured on her.'
'But that is minute, and Lady Mottesford was left to administer it until she marries or is thirty! I ask you, thirty! It's positively gothic! She tells me the wretched woman is growing more insistent that she accepts that worm Clutterbuck, too. You really owe it to her to introduce her to your friends, to give her a better opportunity of attracting more suitable men, and I really do think that as you inherited all her papa's money you ought to provide her with a settlement, too,' Prudence continued, her annoyance carrying her beyond the bounds of civility.
Lord Mottesford had halted the phaeton and was regarding her with uplifted brows. Prudence blushed to the roots of her hair as she realised how her indiscreet tongue had betrayed her into such impoliteness.
'Oh, I do beg your pardon!' she gasped. 'I know it is none of my business, but I feel so sorry for her! Pray forgive me.'
He smiled, but distantly.
'Of course, Miss Lee. Your concern does you credit,' he said smoothly. 'Is that why you persist in burdening yourself with her company so often?'
'Yes, for if you won't – that is, someone must make a push to introduce her into proper society!'
'I cannot understand about this fellow Clutterbuck. If Lady Mottesford is so keen to marry Charlotte off to him, why does she permit the chit to spend so much time with you and your sister, in case what you hope and she must fear will happen?'
Prudence chuckled, forgetting the coolness that had arisen between them.
'She dare not offend Aunt Lavinia or Sarah, while there is the slightest chance that they will include her and Emma in their invitations. She is determined to find Emma a rich husband, she says, although even she must see the likelihood of that is exceedingly remote.' Suddenly she giggled. 'Sarah was magnificent. Without actually promising, she hinted that as she was acquainted with Mrs Burrell she might be able to obtain vouchers for Almack's. Of course Lady Mottesford immediately concluded that Sarah was promising to obtain them for her, and she will be as agreeable as she knows how to be while there is that hope.'
He laughed. 'Unprincipled! But there isn't the slightest chance of her receiving vouchers, nor Charlotte, of course, as she must know.'
'She is too puffed up to accept that. Did you know she actually wrote to Sally Jersey and asked for them?'
'No! What on earth did Sally say?'
'I don't know, but Charlotte said that when her letter was returned with a note enclosed, she went as red as a turkey cock and later the same day both the cook and her own maid gave in their notices and actually left without working out their months.'
He chuckled. 'That is a note I would dearly love to read. I wonder if Sally would tell me what she said? What a set down it must have been!'
'Oh, pray tell me if she confides in you!' Prudence urged impetuously, and he smiled down at her with a warm look in his eyes which caused her to blush rosily.
'On one condition,' he promised, and, suddenly wary, Prudence eyed him with suspicion.
'What is it?' she asked at last.
'That you will join a party I am organising to Vauxhall Gardens,' he replied. 'And to satisfy you I will even invite my cousin. Will your sister come, too?'
In the end a dozen young people went by barge to the famous pleasure ground, where they danced in the Pavilion, admired the various temples in different styles, ate a delicious supper in one of the booths, and walked through the dimly lighted paths where it was easy to lose one's way.
Prudence was gratified to note that Lord Mottesford paid a great deal of attention to his cousin, and he was clearly successful at putting her at ease, for she was soon chatting to him uninhibitedly. She preened herself on having brought him to realise his responsibilities, and therefore smiled on him with more than usual friendliness.
Edward Gregory was also paying Charlotte great attention, and Sarah took an opportunity, under cover of the strains of the orchestra, to whisper her hopes to Prudence.
'He is enchanted, you can see that,' she gloated. 'What a triumph if he offers for her.'
'Do you think he might? She has not confided much in me, but I suspect she is losing her heart to him,' Prudence replied slowly.
'He has a tolerable fortune, not as great as Lord Mottesford's, to be sure,' Sarah replied, 'but enough so that he does not need to dangle for a rich wife. Her lack of fortune will not deter him. She's a sweet child, even if she's not very clever, and after the dreadful childhood she has had I would like her to be happy.'
'And I cannot wait to put a spoke into that detestable Hubert's wheel!' Prudence added. 'He was paying me the most oily compliments yesterday when I was walking with Charlotte. We met him in the Park.'
'Is he often there?'
'Yes, several times during the past week. I have the horrid suspicion he knows we go regularly and follows us,' Prudence said despondently.
'Lady Mottesford has probably told him, so that he can spy on what you do.'
'What puzzles me is that he doesn't make any attempt to ingratiate himself with Charlotte. He's far more concerned about making an impression on me. If only he knew how different it is from what he would wish!'
'Perhaps he doesn't wish to marry her after all,' Sarah suggested.
'I cannot believe that, for Emma makes it plain she regards it as certain. Did you see her ogling old Lord Finchampton last night?' she asked with a sudden giggle.
'Wasn't she making a spectacle of herself! He must be almost sixty.'
'And how did that woman manage to obtain an invitation? She is beginning to force her way in everywhere.'
'People cannot always bring themselves to snub her effectively, and she is so determined to ignore hints.'
'I feel guilty,' Prudence confessed. 'If I hadn't met Charlotte and persuaded Aunt Lavinia to invite her to her dance she might not have gained so much acceptance.'
'It's too late to be concerned about that, and in any event we are trying to help Charlotte. If we can find her a good match that will outweigh the disadvantages of having to recognise Lady Mottesford,' Sarah consoled her. 'Oh, do look, there is Sir Tarquin Maltravers in that dreadful striped waistcoat. He is worse than any woman for gossip, so don't ever offend him!'
Prudence was even more comforted when she observed Charlotte and Mr Gregory vanishing along one of the less brightly illuminated walks and, her thoughts busy with them, did not realise that Lord Mottesford had drawn her aside into a dark, unfrequented path.
Lord Mottesford had also, it seemed, noticed their discreet disappearance.
'I suspect your worries about my cousin will soon be groundless,' he said softly, 'and then you will be able to pay more heed to me.'
Prudence glanced up at him in alarm. It was so dark she could barely distinguish his features.
'I am sorry if I have been inattentive,' she replied primly. 'Did you ask me a question I have not heard?'
He chuckled. 'Not yet, my sweet, and when I do ask it I shall make very sure you are paying me proper attention!'
Before she could answer he halted, turned her round so that she was facing him, and took her shoulders in his hands.
'You must have realised how much I have wanted to do this!' he said in a low, husky voice, and before she could move he had slipped his arms tightly about her and pulled her close to him, his lips, softer and warmer than she had imagined, closing on hers.
Chapter 5
A moment of sheer astonishment was succeeded by several more during which Prudence relaxed, blissfully content, as though this sensation which swept through her was something she had been waiting for all her life. Then she recalled the wager and was consumed by shame and anger, the one because she had for even a brief time submitted to his blandishments, the other because of his unscrupulous manner of winning his wager.
She struggled to free herself, wrenching her lips away from his, and beating her fists against his chest.
'Let me go!' she said furiously, but her voice contained a note of pleading which Lord Mottesford was quick to recognise.
'My dear, have I been too sudden?' he asked solicitously. 'I had no wish to frighten you.'
'You did not frighten me!' Prudence retorted angrily. 'How could you behave so despicably! Take me back to Sarah at once!'
Without waiting for his reply she walked swiftly past him, and back along the paths until she came to where Sarah and some of the others sat in a booth. She knew she was flushed, and try as she might she was unable to still the trembling which attacked her limbs, so she sat down as far back in the shadows as she could, busily fanning her burning cheeks.
Lord Mottesford had accompanied her, without attempting to speak, but as soon as she was settled he went to sit beside Sarah and began to talk easily to her.
How could he appear so unconcerned after what had happened, Prudence raged inwardly, and then rather bleakly told herself he was no doubt accustomed to such scenes.
She recalled with renewed shame the moments when she had forgotten everything apart from the bliss of being enfolded in his arms, and the rightness of his warm soft lips against hers. She took a deep breath, vowing that never again would she be taken in by his wiles.
It was with this resolution in mind that she refused his invitation to drive out with him the following day.
'I have too many engagements, my lord,' she replied when, having spoken no further word to her for the remainder of the evening, he sat beside her in the barge which carried them back across the river, and asked her if he might call on the following morning.
Somewhat to her chagrin he merely nodded, then turned to speak to his other neighbour, and they exchanged no more words apart from cool farewells.
For several days Prudence saw no more of Lord Mottesford than the occasional glimpse across the Park. He was never present at the routs and balls and receptions she attended, nor at Almack's when Lady Frome took her there for her first visit. Sarah persuaded her to walk in the Park one afternoon, and regarding her with ill-concealed curiosity, asked whether he had called in Grosvenor Square. On being told he had not she asked bluntly whether they had quarrelled.
'For he was paying you most decided attentions,' she said rather plaintively. 'What a triumph it would be if you were to catch him! He's the ideal age for you, as well as being rich and handsome!'
'Pooh, he's a flirt,' Prudence declared, 'and there is nothing whatsoever for us to quarrel about. Oh, there is Charlotte, shall we join her?'
'Not while that dreadful little man is with her!' Sarah replied with a shudder.
'Hubert Clutterbuck. At least we don't have to suffer him at all of the parties that her pushy stepmother manages to attend. Oh, Sarah, she looks dreadfully uncomfortable, as though she is hunted! Do let us join them.'
Before they could come up with Charlotte and her dandified escort, however, the pair had turned down a narrow side path, screened on both sides with dusty evergreen shrubs. Sarah hesitated, but Prudence was undaunted, convinced Charlotte had no desire to be alone with the deplorable Hubert, and in so secluded a spot. She plunged after them down the gloomy path.
A few yards along it there was a bend, and as she neared this Prudence heard the sound of a scuffle, a sharp slap, then a cry of protest.
As she rounded the bend, with Sarah a few steps behind her, she found Charlotte, closely pinioned by his arms, struggling to evade Mr Clutterbuck's kisses.
'Charlotte!' she exclaimed, and Hubert released her so quickly Charlotte almost fell.
'Prudence! Oh, how thankful I am to see you!' Charlotte gasped. 'I could not get away!'
'You're safe now,' Prudence said reassuringly, 'As for you, sir, you should be ashamed to treat a girl left in your care in so dastardly a fashion!'
'You're a pair of prudes!' Hubert blustered, losing his battle to remain calm. 'Teases, both of you, asking for attention, and when a fellow accepts the invitation, you get frightened and pretend innocence.'
'That is quite enough,' Sarah intervened angrily. 'I will thank you not to insult my sister or her friend. Come, Charlotte, we will escort you back home.'
With the sisters on either side of her Charlotte went willingly, biting her lip in order to control the trembling which had attacked her.
'Don't try to talk,' Sarah advised calmly. 'Pru, isn't that Lady Jersey in the barouche? Did you hear what she said last night about Sir Roland Mortimer?'
Chatting lightly, they linked arms with Charlotte, and after a while she was able to speak calmly.
'Thank you both,' she whispered. 'What will Mama say?'
'I should hope she will be angry with the sneaking little horror!' Prudence said sharply. 'Why were you alone with him anyway? Doesn't your maid accompany you?'
Charlotte sighed. 'Mama told me she need not. You see, he wants to marry me, and she says that I must.'
'Marry Hubert?' Prudence exclaimed. 'Oh, Charlotte, you cannot!'
'I don't want to,' Charlotte confessed with a sigh. 'I did hope that — well, that someone else might offer to marry me even though I have so little fortune, but Mama says I must not think of it. She says I must be grateful Hubert is willing to accept me without.'
'It's monstrous!' Prudence exclaimed, but bit back her query about Edward Gregory.
He had appeared to like Charlotte, and she was certain it was Edward the girl was thinking of. Without knowing anything of his intentions, however, there did not seem much point in discussing whatever hopes Charlotte might have in that direction, as there was no encouragement she could offer. Instead, she and Sarah attempted to distract Charlotte's thoughts as they walked home with her.