Page 3 of The Wallflower's Choice
“I amnotMiss Villiers!” The fright that began to tear through her forced Prudence to act. She pressed one hand flat against the gentleman’s chest as she spoke, seeing the grin on his face begin to fade as he looked down into her eyes. “You are mistaken. You are so much in your cups that you do not know where it is you are and who it is you are speaking to!”
“I believe that Miss Villiers is on the opposite side of the ballroom, Lord Childers.”
Another voice came from behind Lord Childers and Prudence felt herself sag back against the wall just a little as the gentleman lifted his hand, turning to look at the person speaking.
“Is she?” he asked, looking to Prudence and then back to the other young lady who had spoken. “I thought that she…” With a frown, he turned and looked back into Prudence’s face again before throwing up his hands and taking a step back. “Wait a moment! You are not Miss Villiers! Why are you pretending to be her?”
Prudence blinked furiously, her heart pounding with sudden frustration.
“I amnotpretending to be this Miss Villiers! It isyouwho has chosen to come and confront me in this manner, believing that I am she.”
The gentleman scowled.
“It is most unfair of you to pretend to be the lady I love,” he said, his words still slurred at the edges. “Excuse me.”
Before Prudence could protest, or even defend herself again, Lord Childers turned and walked away from them, though his steps were still a little wobbly. Letting out a harsh breath, Prudence pushed herself away from the wall just a little and then shook her head.
“I believe that Lord Childers has imbibed a great deal this evening,” the young lady said, reminding Prudence that she was there. “I do hope that you are all right?”
“I am.” Silently demanding that she pull her gaze away from the retreating figure of Lord Childers, Prudence eventually managed to look at the young lady who had saved her from his drunken advances. “I must thank you for what you did. If youhad not come, then I am quite certain that he would have done something foolish.”
“Yes,” came the reply, a small, wry smile on the lips of the fair-haired lady, “especially if he believed you to be Miss Villiers.” She winced, perhaps seeing the confusion in Prudence’s expression. “Miss Villiers is known for her… interest… in the gentlemen of London.”
Heat blossomed in Prudence’s chest.
“I see.”
“And he believed you to be her,” the young lady continued, with a shrug. “You are rather similar with your dark hair and green eyes but that is all. You are a little taller than she, I think.”
“And I certainly would not encourage him to come towards me in such an obvious and improper way.” Not wanting this young lady to believe that she had done anything to encourage the gentleman’s attentions, Prudence managed a faint smile. “That was rather shocking.”
“I am certain it was, though I am glad he has done as I suggested.” The young lady’s smile grew wry. “Being in his cups means that he is very open to suggestion, it seems.”
“Indeed.” Recalling that she was still a wallflower and was generally ignored by society, Prudence smiled at the young lady. “Might I ask your name?”
The lady smiled.
“Of course, I should have done that at the beginning of this conversation.” She bobbed her head. “I am Miss Anna Rockwell. My father is Viscount Drakewater.”
“How very good to meet you.” Prudence bobbed a curtsey. “I am Lady Prudence Twyford. My father is the Earl of Lymington.” This, much to her relief, did not bring any sort of interest from Miss Rockwell, for her eyes did not flash with a sudden understanding, nor did she nod as though she recognized the name. Instead, she simply smiled. “It is a little unusual to have alady such as yourself standing back here,” Prudence continued, not wanting Miss Rockwell to ask the question before she did. “Were you following Lord Childers for some reason?”
Miss Rockwell laughed and shook her head.
“No, indeed not. I am betrothed, you see – though not to Lord Childers – and my betrothed is currently absent from London. Given that I have no interest in any other gentleman aside from him, I find there to be very little point in attending occasions such as these. My mother insists, however, for we are to keep up our appearances here in London so that thetonknows all is well.”
Prudence smiled sympathetically.
“I can imagine that must be something of a trial for you. Might I ask where your betrothed is at present?”
Miss Rockwell sighed and shook her head.
“Business forced him to return to his estate - business which he simply could not put off. It seems that his sister and her husband have had some financial difficulties of late – not of their own doing. The crops have done very badly, and a lot of the interests that… well, that does not matter.” She shrugged. “Needless to say, Lord Yates decided to return to his estate to make certain that all was going as he expected, though he intends to be of aid to his brother-in-law, I believe.”
“That is very generous of him.”
Miss Rockwell smiled softly, her eyes holding a gentleness that spoke of a true affection for her betrothed.
“He is a very generous man.” For a moment, nothing more was said, only for Miss Rockwell to give herself a slight shake and then look back at Prudence with interest. “And you? Why are you hiding here, might I ask?”
