Page 82 of The Scoundrel and the Debutante
Aurora took it all in without a word, listening intently. When he’d finished, she considered all he’d said for a very long while. “What of Miss Pratt?” she asked.
“I never proposed to her.”
“But everyone expects—”
“I will tell her as soon as we arrive in New York.”
Aurora pressed her lips together and nodded. “What will Father say?”
Roan gave her a squeeze of her shoulders. “I suspect he will be gravely unhappy with us both.”
Aurora turned her head and looked out the window. She said nothing more about it.
* * *
MERRYTONANDHISchildren joined the sisters before supper. Grace had obviously told her husband some of what had happened, because it seemed to Prudence that he could scarcely look at her.
“My lord?” she said.
He glanced at her briefly and said, “I am relieved you are safe, Pru. But I think it best if we speak of...this,” he said, as if he couldn’t think of a word to describe what she’d done, “at a more opportune time.” He turned away from her and went to the sideboard.
Merryton had always been a man of few words, but Prudence could feel his displeasure radiating from him.
“He’s here!” Mercy cried, bursting into the green salon.
“Mercy, you gave me a fright,” Honor said. “Who is here?”
“TheAmerican,” Mercy said, and hurried ahead of Prudence and Honor to have a look at the man who had prompted Prudence to take that fateful ride on the stagecoach.
Roan had removed his coat and hat by the time Prudence reached the top of the stairs. He looked up and smiled at her, his gaze warm. She could see the fatigue and relief in his face, and she smiled, too. But her heart was breaking.
It took Prudence a moment to notice his sister. She was handing her cloak to a footman. “Thank you,” she said, her voice sweet, her accent flat like Roan’s. She turned and looked up to where Honor, Mercy and Prudence, and now Grace, having decided against waiting patiently to meet them, had gathered at the top of the stairs.
Miss Aurora Matheson was quite pretty, with auburn hair and vivid brown eyes. She resembled Roan—they had the same nose, the same cheekbones. She looked both surprised and delighted as the four sisters made their way down the stairs, Prudence in front. When they reached the bottom of the stairs she sank into a curtsy. “Mrs. Easton, how do you do,” she said to Prudence. “I beg your pardon for the terribly late intrusion.”
“I beg your pardon, I’m not Mrs. Easton,” Prudence said, and held out her hand to Aurora. “I am Miss Prudence Cabot.”
“May I present my sister, Miss Aurora Matheson,” Roan said, his gaze on Prudence as he made the introductions.
When he was done, Honor poked Prudence in the back, prompting her to speak. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Matheson,” Prudence said. “I’ve...I’ve heard quite a lot about you.”
Aurora smiled. “I hope it hasn’t all been wretched! I beg you forgive us arriving so late and disheveled. I told my brother there is a lovely hotel right around the corner, but he insisted on coming here.”
“He was right to insist,” Honor said graciously.
“I would never dream of imposing,” Aurora continued. “I hope you haven’t heardthatabout me.” She smiled, seemingly not the least intimidated by the unusual situation that had brought her here.
Honor exchanged a look with Prudence. “It’s no imposition, Miss Matheson—”
“Oh, you must call me Aurora,” she said brightly.
Honor paused. “You must be famished,” she said, changing tracks. “Won’t you come up and have some wine? Supper will be served in a half hour.”
“Thank you. I amveryhungry. I suppose you’ve heard about my escapades,” she said, giving her brother another look. “We’ve scarcely had a bite all day.”
Mercy giggled with surprise, her bright blue eyes moving between her sisters, looking for the sign that they were as surprised by Aurora Matheson’s forthright manner as she was.
“Shall we go up?” Honor asked, and put her hand on Aurora’s elbow and guided her to the stairs. Mercy was right behind them, fascinated with the American bird, and Grace behind her.
