Page 32 of Her Cursed Duke
Agnes smirked. “You say ‘we’ as though he lives with us, Prudence.”
“Aggie.”
“Ah, the nickname. This must be desperate times, indeed.”
Prudence sighed, willing away the urge to whine and throw a tantrum like a child.
The issue here was not that Agnes did not want to let her have her way but rather that her elder sister was intent on dragging out this request, making it longer than it needed to be. Agnes believed that what was between Prudence and Aiden was real, and this request implied so much more than Prudence was willing to discuss, not even to assure her sister nothing would happen.
“Of course, you can go, Prudence. It is fine by me, as long as you do not stay out too late. I will tell Grandmother that you went to bed early if she asks for you.”
Prudence sighed in relief, rushing to her sister’s side to hug her in thanks.
Agnes giggled and patted her back fondly. “I do not need to tell you to be careful, do I? Summer nights can be hot, but they have a tendency to carry a chill, so you should wear a cloak.”
“I will, Agnes. Thank you.”
Agnes nodded. “Convey my regards to the Duke. Tell him to ensure that he is on his best behavior.”
“I will do no such thing,” Prudence huffed and then rose to her feet.
She was escorted out of the room by Agnes’s hearty laughter, feeling oddly eager about the evening to come. Quickly, she made her way to her dressing room to pick out a cloak, andon her way down, she stopped by the kitchen to pick up some treats for the puppy. Aiden was waiting for her when she made it outside.
“Aiden,” she said, a little winded from her running around.
The corners of his lips twitched at the use of his name, and he bowed slightly.“Prudence. Are you ready?”
She nodded, looking around. He noticed almost immediately and lightly tugged on the leash in his hands. “Come now, Snowflake, let the pretty lady see you.”
Prudence frowned. “Snowflake? Why did you give him such an odd name?”
“Because it suits him. Both appearance and character wise.”
The puppy trotted forward, and Prudence immediately understood the reason behind Aiden’s choice. The puppy had white fluffy fur, giving it a soft and cuddly appearance.
“Imagine my surprise when the dog with what I had assumed was brown fur was returned to me an hour later sporting a thick white coat of fur. It was certainly unexpected,” Aiden explained, smiling down at the animal.
Prudence stooped down and reached out to the puppy slowly, beaming when he came forward almost immediately and accepted her pats.
“Aren’t you just the most adorable thing? Would you like a treat?” She offered him a biscuit, laughing when he ate the whole thing in a single bite. “You have quite the appetite. Is Aiden feeding you well?”
“If you fib, I will put you back on the streets,” Aiden warned the puppy, earning a half-hearted glare from Prudence.
“Do not mind the mean man, Snowflake. If he ever attempts to get rid of you, I shall claim you as mine,” she mock whispered, feeding the puppy another biscuit.
“It is not right to steal someone’s property, Prudence.”
“He will not be yours if you give him up, Aiden.”
“That is fair,” Aiden conceded, nodding toward a path that led them away from the house. “Shall we?”
Prudence took his arm as he led them down the path, basking in the cool breeze she could feel on her cheeks. The weather was lovely, perfect for a stroll or even a longer walk if one wished. Prudence was glad she had accepted Aiden’s invitation.
“How is Lady Foresthill?” she inquired softly, her eyes trained on Snowflake as the puppy kept walking from side to side.
“She is well. Far more excited about our courtship than both of us combined. I have expressly stated that she should not get her hopes up, as it is likely that we might choose to go our separateways after a while. Still, she insists on speaking about marriage as though my future has already been determined. If she thought she would get away with it, I am sure she would have arranged to have me betrothed ages ago.”
“She is only looking out for you. I understand why she is… enthusiastic about our alleged courtship. I can’t imagine what it was like for her to raise you, unsure if she was doing well or if she was enough of a guardian, family, and friend for you. There were times I felt that way when I was caring for my grandmother. Sure, I was likely the most experienced out of her granddaughters when it came to caring for the ailing. Still, I worried that there were moments when I was insufficient. I am not fearless or decisive like Agnes or cheerful and bright like Imogen. And so, I could not help but wonder if I was doing all right.
