Page 86 of Suddenly a Bride
“Prudence is here,” she said, glancing back to the courtyard to make sure Will couldn’t hear her. “I followed her into an unused section of the castle.”
Edmund grasped her upper arms. “Gwyneth, I told you to be careful.”
“I was. I did not approach her. But I saw her meet Mr. Fitzjames.”
She watched the two men exchange glances over her head.
“Tell me where they are,” Edmund said.
“ ’Tis easier to show you. Follow me.” Before he could protest, she left the stables, not bothering to make sure they were behind her. She was beyond caring how they must look, all marching across the courtyard in a line. She just wanted this over with, so Edmund’s anger would fade. But how could things be the way they were, since she was lying to him?
Shoving the bleak thought aside, she concentrated on quieting her steps as they neared the room where Prudence and Martin were. At the last corner, she pointed to the chamber, and Edmund and Geoffrey moved into the lead. The three of them paused at the door, listening. When they heard a giggle, Gwyneth looked up at the men with wide eyes. Shrugging, Geoffrey slammed the door open.
As the two men moved in before her, she could see nothing but their broad shoulders. They came to a sudden stop, and she was able to squeeze between them in time to see Martin and Prudence in bed together, a single blanket clutched up to their chins. The room was bare of all else save cobwebs. In dead silence, they all gaped at one another.
At the same moment as Prudence began, “How dare ye—” Martin yelled, “ ’Tis not what you think!”
Biting her lip to keep from laughing, Gwyneth touched Edmund’s arm and already felt some of his tension fading.
He raised a hand, and Martin and Prudence stuttered into silence. “Dress yourselves quickly, or in my impatience, I will toss you out into the courtyard however you’re dressed. We will be waiting in the corridor.”
The three of them trooped back out of the room. Gwyneth tried not to smile hearing frantic whispers and scrambling feet. Edmund and Geoffrey said nothing as they exchanged glances.
When the door flew open, Martin was standing there, the collar of his doublet half bent, his feet bare. Prudence sat on the edge of the bed fully dressed, her hands clutched together in her lap.
Edmund shouldered his way into the room, followed by Gwyneth and Geoffrey, and Martin hastily backed away to stand at Prudence’s side.
“There was great secrecy to this meeting, Fitzjames.”
Prudence’s chin came up. “There be nothin’ wrong with what we’re doin’.”
Martin shot her a pleading look. “Allow me to speak, Pru.”
“Aye, please, do,” Edmund said. “Many other things have been done in secret at Castle Wintering. Are the two of you conspiring against me?”
Martin’s bewhiskered jaw sagged open. “Conspiring—surely you—” His voice trailed off as he looked between Prudence and Edmund. “My lord, we just want to be together and could find no privacy to do so. If you’re talking about the crimes that have been committed lately against the castle, I can assure you that neither of us was involved in such things.”
“And why should I believe you? You have made your feelings against me known.”
“But my feelings were because of Pru!” he cried.
When the woman in question stared suspiciously at him, he addressed his words to her.
“Pru, I knew how you used to feel about him. I thought after his wife died, he’d stay away, and you would be mine. But then he returned. Naturally I was angry! I didn’t want to lose you.”
Prudence sighed. “Ye haven’t lost me, Marty. All I want is a man to love me and take care of me. And that’ll never be him.”
Martin reached for her hand, and she smiled at him and rose to stand at his side.
Gwyneth stepped forward and looked at the widow. “Then why did I see you ask my husband to dance only weeks ago?”
Prudence blushed. “Just tryin’ to make Marty jealous.”
Martin leaned toward her, devotion shining from his eyes. “That wasn’t necessary, my dove.”
“That is enough,” Edmund said, shaking his head. “Fitzjames, you were angry that I replaced you as steward.”
The man shrugged. “I knew I’d miss the money, but that paled in comparison to the relief of not being hated any more.”
