Page 42 of The Wallflower's Choice
“Many people are speaking of you!” her friend exclaimed, her eyes wide. “I believe that there has been an argument between Lord Kingshill and Lord Childers and now they are both coming in search of you so that you might put an end to it.”
“An argument?” Prudence’s heart began to beat hard. “What sort of argument?”
“I do not know, but half thetonare coming with them!” Miss Rockwell grasped Prudence’s hand. “Has something happened? Is Lord Childers–”
“Oh!” Gasping aloud, Prudence stared back into her friend’s eyes. “I am not to be betrothed to Lord Kingshill any longer. I am going to wed Lord Childers, just as you suggested.”
Despite the worry in her eyes, Miss Rockwell smiled brightly.
“How wonderful! I am delighted to hear it! How did such a thing come about?”
Prudence hesitated, her eyes now searching the ballroom.
“I – I shall explain all, but mayhap I should go and find Lord Childers? I do not want to garner the attention of every single person in theton.”
Miss Rockwell nodded.
“I think you should. Come, I will go with you.” Looping her arm through Prudence’s, they walked a little further forward, outof the shadows and back into the crowd of guests. Prudence felt as though every step was heavy, her legs weighted and desperate to hold her back from the scrutiny that was going to follow. She had not been a part of thetonfor a long time and, no doubt, some of them would know what it was she had done as regarded Lord Newling and might now begin to speak of it again. Would they tell Lord Childers of it? What would he think if they did? “There.”
Miss Rockwell turned her head and nodded in the direction of a small group of people who appeared to be walking as one, following two figures. One was Lord Kingshill and the other, Lord Childers. Prudence’s heart twisted and she caught her breath, trying to fight the desire to step back, to step away from the many looks, the many whispers and the many remarks which were soon to be directed towards her.
“I see them.”
Swallowing her fear, Prudence lifted her chin and, with Miss Rockwell beside her, she made her way towards the gentlemen. The moment one of those within the group caught sight of her, it seemed as though a ripple ran right around the room. The whispers grew into a torrent and then a great and heavy wave that felt, to Prudence, as though it crashed over her. Her breath hitched, her chest was tight, and her hands were suddenly very cold as she continued to walk towards them.
Then, Lord Childers looked at her and, with a broad smile on his face, began to come towards her. Lord Kingshill followed, though he appeared to be a good deal more ill-tempered given the scowl which pulled at his face.
“Whatever could their argument have been about?” Miss Rockwell whispered as Prudence forced a smile to her lips. “Do you think that they argued about you?”
“I do not know,” Prudence returned, as Lord Childers came close to her, bowing low. “Good evening, Lord Childers.” Shelooked at Lord Kingshill as he came closer. “And to you also, Lord Kingshill.”
Glancing around, she caught sight of the gathered crowd who were all now looking toward her. Her face grew hot, but she returned her gaze quickly to Lord Childers, who was still smiling. That expression brought her a little relief, and she took a deep breath and then lifted an eyebrow.
“Lady Prudence, as you know, you and I are courting,” Lord Kingshill stated, stepping forward so that he was the nearest one to her. “I do not know why Lord Childers now believes thathehas taken my place, but I want you now to tell both him and the other guests gathered here that it is not as he says. “
“And if you are wrong?” Lord Childers asked, his eyebrow lifting. “Then, will you step back? Will you step away without any further protestations?”
Lord Kingshill lifted his chin.
“I shall.”
“Oh?”
Lord Childers’ voice was filled with doubt.
“I shall!” Lord Kingshill exclaimed, speaking a little more loudly now. “If Lady Prudence states, here and now, that we are not courting, then I shall step back without further hesitation.” Prudence frowned, seeing the sudden glint in Lord Kingshill’s eyes. Clearly, Lord Childers had already spoken to him, so why now was he speaking with such confidence? Did he truly believe that she would agree with his statement, simply because he demanded it? They had barely spoken, and he had not given her more than a glance here and there when theyhadbeen in company, so what was it that he thought would pull her towards him? “We have an agreement, Lady Prudence,” Lord Kingshill stated, looking down at her, his eyes sharpening. “We are to court, then we are to become betrothed and marry. You shallbear the heirs to my line, and we shall live as husband and wife. Is that not so?”
“Or is it thatweare betrothed?”
Prudence’s eyebrows lifted as Lord Childers’ eyes searched her face, widening a little at the edges. No, they were not yet betrothed, she wanted to say, though it seemed that was what he had spoken to the crowd, given the way that they were murmuring. It did not matter to her, however, for though that question had not yet come from his lips, though he had not formally asked her to wed, she was not about to refuse him. Having spoken to both her mother and father and received their consent for the match, it did not matter to her one bit if they were now betrothed rather than courting! That had always been what she had hoped for, what she had intended, and this was now being offered to her, it seemed.
“I–”
“Lady Prudence,” Lord Kingshill interrupted, before Prudence could continue speaking. “I should like to remind you that, though we all have something of a reputation here, there are…reasonsfor our reputation to be so. I will fully admit to being a rake and find myself a little proud of it, I admit.” He snorted as he gestured to Lord Childers. “This gentleman has decided that he shall reform himself a little, though I think that in itself is foolishness, I confess.”
“It is not foolishness!” Prudence exclaimed, only for Lord Kingshill to hold up one finger to her, silencing her.
“As I was saying, we each have a reputation,” he said, a little more slowly and a good deal more quietly now. “I do wonder if you have told Lord Childers the reason foryourstanding as a wallflower, Lady Prudence?” Prudence blinked, a sudden fear clutching her heart. “I confess that I was a little intrigued as to why you were a wallflower, and I shall also state that Lord Childers’ explanation of it was a little lacking in detail. While Iwas sure that you were certainly not ruined, there was still more I wanted to discover. And Ihavediscovered it, though I did not think it of any benefit to share with Lord Childers at the time. Mayhap now I should?” He smiled and tilted his head as though she were a child and he simply teasing her. “It was somewhat difficult to find out the truth, I must admit. I shall suppose that you are rather glad that thetondoes not know all of it, does not know of your manipulation and your coercion. And Lord Childers certainly does not know of it either, else he would not have described you in such sweet terms to me!”
