Page 22 of The Wallflower's Choice
At once, Lady Lymington’s face went white, her expression crumpling.
“Pray tell me that he has not sought to take advantage of you!”
“No, no, nothing like that. I am quite safe.” Offering her mother a reassuring smile, Prudence pushed down her nervousness and continued to explain. “He is attempting to reform himself but, given that no young lady will wed him due to his reputation, he seeks out an immediate match.”
“A rake?” Lady Lymington’s voice was hoarse now, her fingers gripping Prudence’s so tightly, it was a little painful. “You are being pursued by a rake?” Her eyes widened all the more. “Tell me it is not Lord Childers!”
“It is not. It is Lord Kingshill.”
Her mother closed her eyes tightly and dragged in a shaking breath. “Oh, my dear!”
“But he is going to reform himself, Mama,” Prudence protested, aware of the reluctance within her own heart. “At least, that is what he has said.”
“And you believe him?” Lady Lymington released Prudence’s hands, only to throw her own hands up in frustration. “How could you be so foolish? You cannot for amomentbelieve that there is any truth in that!”
Prudence swallowed hard, heat building behind her eyes.
“I have no other choices, Mama.”
This gave Lady Lymington pause. Her hands fell to her sides, and she grew very still.
“Lord Childers was the one who brought us together,” Prudence continued, quietly, “though I was not introduced to Lord Kingshill until recently. He wishes me to talk to my father about the arrangement. For the moment, we should like to court and–”
“There is nothing wrong with being a spinster.” Lady Lymington hurried forward again, catching Prudence’s hands. “I know it will be difficult but–”
“Both you and father believe it would be best for me to marry,” Prudence interrupted, albeit speaking as gently as she could. “This gentleman, though he is a rogue, is to reform himself. He wishes to have an heir and therefore, though I confess to being uncertain about it all, I can see the benefits of such a marriage.”
“But you cannot trust a rake’s word,” her mother said, fervently, her eyes searching Prudence’s. “There is no promise that he will do as he says, no promise that he trulywillreturn to gentlemanly ways.”
Prudence nodded.
“I understand that, Mama, and I appreciate it a great deal – more than you can know. I do not look forward to marrying Lord Kingshill, for I do not think that he is a particularly kindor considerate gentleman, but I would still be wed, would I not? I would still have my own home and the chance of having children.”
“I can see the pull of that, but your husband would be a scoundrel! That would bring you a great deal of pain. I should prefer to see evidence of it, such as I have seen in Lord Childers of late, before I permitted you to make any genuine, long-lasting commitment. I am sure that your father will feel the same.”
A little surprised, Prudence looked back at her mother.
“You have seen something in Lord Childers?”
“I have,” Lady Lymington answered, though she spoke slowly as though she was uncertain of why Prudence was asking such a thing. “Only of late, however. He has been taking a good deal of interest in you, has he not? He has been speaking with you, laughing with you, and has even danced with you on occasion. I have been concerned about his company as you know, but what I have seen of him, and even what society has been speaking of, seems to suggest that he has stepped back from that roguish way of living for a time – though I am not convinced by it.”
A gentle heat began to rise in Prudence’s chest, and she found her lips curving, though she tried her best to hide it from her mother. Why was it that hearing such things about Lord Childers made her heart sing in such a ridiculous way? Why was it that she found herself delighting in this news, thrilled to hear that her mother thought a little more highly of Lord Childers than she had done before? He was not the one she was to court, so why should she have any sort of interest in him?
“I will have to speak to your father about this, but I can assure you that he will not be in the least bit pleased,” Lady Lymington stated, firmly. “However, whether or not he will agree, I cannot say.” She shook her head and sighed. “How much I wish that this situation was different for you, my dear. If only you could be back in society just as you ought to be!”
A little surprised at the sympathy with which her mother spoke, Prudence shook her head.
“Mama, I deserve this. I was foolish, I was selfish, and I was unkind. I am glad that society does not know the true extent of my folly, but all the same, I am well aware that the consequences that I have brought upon myself are perfectly fair.”
Her mother pressed her lips together for a few moments.
“I have been very harsh with you in this matter, have I not?” she said, her voice holding more gentleness within it than Prudence had heard in a long time. “I am sorry for that. I will do all that I can to support you, my dear, and if this is what you wish and if it is what you truly desire, I will not refuse you. Only do be careful, I beg of you. I would not want to see you brokenhearted and sorrowful.”
Struggling against sudden tears, Prudence embraced her mother tightly, sensing a healing growing between them.
“Thank you, Mama,” she murmured, softly. “I promise you, I will take the greatest care.”
Chapter Ten
