Page 44 of The Wallflower's Choice
“I am betrothed tothisgentleman!” she declared, ignoring the narrowing of Lord Kingshill’s eyes, and the way that he took a step towards her, as though he wanted to silence her before she had even begun. “I am to marry Lord Childers, and I shall never be coerced into betrothing myself to the selfish, arrogant, cruel person of Lord Kingshill.”
With that, she made her way directly towards Lord Childers who, taking her hand, set it on his arm and, without so much as glancing towards Lord Kingshill or anyone else, led her directly away from them all.
Chapter Eighteen
“Thank you,” James murmured, having no other thought of what to say. He found himself rather overwhelmed by what he had just witnessed and now, realizing that he was walking with his betrothed on his arm filled him with nothing but wonder. He had seen the fear in Lady Prudence’s eyes and had been afraid that she would turn to Lord Kingshill again rather than lingering beside him as she had promised. Even now, he did not understand the threat that Lord Kingshill had held over her, but he was aware of it, nonetheless. The way that she had jerked back just a little when Lord Kingshill had spoken of her past, of their reputations, had told him there was some sort of weight still lingering on her shoulders, something yet unspoken, and certainly not shared with him. There was no time to speak of it now, however, for James’ only thought was to find Lord and Lady Lymington.
“You can trust me, Lady Prudence,” he murmured, glancing across at her as they walked together around the ballroom. “No matter what is said or what takes place, you can be certain of my commitment to you. I assure you that there is nothing that can take me from you. I feel like the gentleman who has won a greatprize, a prize that I am entirely unworthy of. When you said, in front of the rest of the society, that you would marry me rather than Lord Kingshill, my heart flung itself so far up in exultation as to reach the very heights of the sky.”
Lady Prudence looked back at him, her face a little pale.
“I am relieved that you were still willing to accept me,” she said, softly. “There is much that I need to explain, things that I should have said to you before now.” Her lips twisted for a moment. “Mayhap you will not be so willing to accept me then.”
James stopped immediately, turning so that he could look straight down into Lady Prudence’s face.
“I can assure you, Lady Prudence, that no matter what it is that is revealed to me, no matter what it is that is said, I shall never turn away from you.” The lady said nothing for some moments, gazing back into his face as though she desperately hoped that he meant what he said. “I am a scoundrel, remember,” he told her, a slight tone of irony in his voice. “There is nothing which you can have done that I cannot match, and likely a good deal worse. You have accepted me, you have given me your trust, and I can promise you that such a thing will not be thrown back at you. Instead, I will not only respect it, but value it, holding it close to my heart and reminding myself of just how fortunate I am to have you beside me.” He pressed her hand. “Can you trust me in that?”
Lady Prudence took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment, and then nodded.
“I think that I can.”
“Good.” Glancing behind him, James saw the other guests still following them, gathering more and more as they went. The whispers and the gossip would soon begin, and he did not want Lady Prudence to endure anything like that. “Come now, let me get you back to your mother.”
Lady Prudence fell back into step with him quickly enough, her mouth still pinched, however, as though she feared that a great disaster was going to befall them once she told him the truth. Resisting the urge to ask her what it was, so that they might discuss it and thereafter, set it aside, James let out a slow breath of relief as he came into sight of Lord and Lady Lymington.
“Good evening to you both.” He bowed and then looked at Lady Prudence. “I have been told by your daughter that we have an understanding?”
Lord Lymington nodded.
“Yes, we do.”
“Which is just as well, as I have had to take the circumstances and push them a little further ahead,” James continued, looking over his shoulder again. “I am sure that Lady Prudence can explain to you a little more but there are already a great many of the guests come in search of her, eager to question her a little.”
“Question?” Lady Lymington’s eyebrows shot up but, thankfully, Lady Prudence was the one to respond. “It is not something that you need to be concerned with, Mama. Lord Kingshill did not take his rejection particularly well and I was forced to speak publicly.”
“Goodness!” Lady Lymington looked behind James and, after a moment, caught her breath. “Then we should take our leave, I think!”
James nodded and released Lady Prudence’s arm.
“I think that might be best. The crowd is already growing, and they will soon want to speak to Lady Prudence again, given that we have now declared ourselves to be betrothed.”
There was a breath of silence for a moment as Lady Lymington’s gaze went first to her daughter and then, moved to James. He did not explain himself, did not see the need to do so,but instead, simply held the lady’s gaze and nodded as though this was all the explanation she needed.
“I am sure that Prudence can explain on the way home, my dear.” Lord Lymington put out one hand to his wife, urging her towards the door. “And you, Lord Childers, might you call upon me tomorrow?”
James nodded.
“Of course.”
Immediately, his stomach began to twist, his heart pounding as he feared what it was that Lord Lymington would say to him about what he had done but there was no time for questions or the like. Instead, Lord Lymington turned and led his daughter away, leaving James to stand alone, wondering just how tomorrow’s conversation would go… and just how much he would be able to explain.
Pacingup and down the hallway, James tried not to let his worries take hold of him. Last evening had been one of the most extraordinary evenings of his life, though he had not spoken a word to Lady Prudence since then. He had thought that they might have exchanged a note or two this morning, but he had not found anything to write and though the desire had been there, he had struggled to put pen to paper. Just what had she told her parents? Had she explained to them all that she had done, and all that Lord Kingshill had said? No doubt Lord Lymington would find himself angry with Lord Kingshill’s threats, but the deed was done. Whether Lord Kingshill would do as he had threatened, James did not know, but he prayed that he would not.
“I thank you.”
James turned, just as another gentleman stepped out into the hallway, one whom James did not recognize. He stepped aside and let the fellow pass, only for Lord Lymington to greet him.
“Thank you for being so prompt in your arrival, good sir. Forgive me for being a little tardy. There is much to do now that my daughter is betrothed!”
