Page 76 of Indecent
“You should know that I would always protect you—no matter what. We are friends, Pru.”
They were more than that, but Prudence wasn’t at that part yet. “I appreciate that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the truth when you got back?”
“I didn’t want anyone to know what Bennet had done. He was incredibly remorseful—almost irritatingly so, truth be told—and I wanted to see if I could return to my life without having to say what happened—for both our sakes.”
“There is something you aren’t saying,” Cassandra said slyly, looking at her intently. “You keep calling Glastonbury, Bennet. He kidnapped you, and you went to great effort to protect him from all manner of trouble. If people knew what he’d done…” Her eyes widened once more. “Ruark can never know.”
“Thank you for saying so,” Prudence said. “I was hoping you would agree to that. I wanted to tell you the truth, but this isn’t something anyone else needs to know.”
“Agreed.” Cassandra gave her head a shake. “Ruark might try to kill him. Or at least trounce him in a boxing match again. Yes, we’ll keep this between us.”
“Thank you. I’d also ask you not to let Bennet know that you’re aware of what transpired. Trust me when I say you do not want to be on the receiving end of his regret.” She rolled her eyes, and Cassandra laughed.
“You sound as if you know each other rather well.”
“We do, I think.” Prudence recognized there was much she didn’t know about the man she was to marry. “In some ways more than others,” she added with a meaningful look.
Cassandra stared at her a moment, then her nostrils flared, and she gave a single nod. “Ah. I understand.” Once again, her features registered surprise. “Oh! You’re marryinghim?”
“I am.”
“But… How?” Cassandra sputtered. “I mean, I thought he was desperate to wed an heiress.”
“He was. He is. His financial troubles have not magically improved. In fact, when we parted before I returned to London, I gave him the only thing I had of value so he could sell it.”
“What was that?”
“A ring my mother had given me. However, he couldn’t bring himself to sell it, apparently, and wore it instead.” She took a deep breath before relating the next part—perhaps the most important part of this confession. “Lucien recognized the crest on it and said it belonged to your family.”
Cassandra’s face scrunched briefly. “I remember my grandmother telling me about that ring. She was sorry there was no such tradition for me and was disappointed that my aunt hadn’t birthed any girls to give it to.” She focused on Prudence, drawing in a sharp breath. “Your mother gave it to you?”
“It was given to her by the woman who birthed me, and she passed it on to me before she died. Lady Peterborough is my true mother, and the former Viscount Warfield was my father.”
Cassandra gaped at her. Then she suddenly smiled. “This means we’re cousins.”
“It does.” Prudence smiled too.
This time when Cassandra lunged toward her, Prudence also rose from her chair. They embraced tightly, and Prudence felt wetness on her cheeks. To have a family was a gift she hadn’t dared to imagine.
After several moments, they broke apart, but Prudence joined Cassandra on the settee so they could sit close.
“This is the very best news,” Cassandra said, glowing with joy and…pride? “I’ve always wanted a sister, and I shall count a cousin as the same thing.”
“I’ve always wanted a sibling too. My adoptive parents weren’t able to have children—my mother didn’t tell me that until she was dying. They adopted me, and she said it was the happiest day of their lives.”
“How wonderful. I wish I’d known her,” Cassandra said warmly. “Does Aunt Christina know who you are? She certainly never gave the indication that she did.”
“She did not. Though, I had to go see her once Lucien recognized the crest. She admitted she’d never looked at me closely and that if she had, she would have realized how much I looked like the former Viscount Warfield.”
Cassandra snorted. “Typical Aunt Christina.” Then she grimaced. “My apologies. I don’t mean to disparage your mother.”
“I can hardly think of her as my mother, especially when we can’t have that kind of relationship. She made it clear that Peterborough would be furious if he finds out who I am.”
“He’s an ass,” Cassandra said vehemently. “I forgive Aunt Christina most of her idiosyncrasies because I know she resides in a very unhappy union. I wish they would just live apart.”
“Is that a possibility? She made it seem like she was completely under his control.”
