Page 8 of Indecent
His features, which had softened, now stiffened, his jaw clenching. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“You said that last night. Because I’m not from your class?” Prudence kept herself from snorting in derision.
His eyes widened briefly. “Not at all. My father wasn’t nearly so lovely as yours. He left me a mess that I’ve been trying to tidy for the past year.”
“Why would you say that about my father?” she asked. “How could you know?”
“I can see you remember him fondly. I do not hold my father in the same regard.”
“Oh.” She regretted allowing Bennet to glimpse even the faintest of her thoughts or emotions—it soured her mood. Eager to turn the conversation away from herself, she asked, “You didn’t have a good relationship with your father?”
His jaw tightened. “It was difficult.Hewas difficult. His legacy includes insurmountable debt, an estate in disarray, and other…things.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. It doesn’t seem you’re having much success with your efforts at fixing whatever he did.”
“Yes, thank you for that,” he said with as much sarcasm as she’d done earlier.
They glowered at each other over the table, each sipping their drink. Prudence hadn’t meant to prick his ire. She was too caught up in her own irritation. This was why emotions were to be avoided.
“My goodness, but the love between you is evident to any observer,” Mrs. Logan, who’d somehow arrived at the table noiselessly, remarked. She beamed at them as she set down a basket of rolls as well as plates before each of them. “How lovely. I’ll be back with some ham.”
As she hurried off, Prudence arched a brow. “Evident,” she remarked softly.
“Evidently.” He smirked. “You are correct about everything. I am despicable, and it was a horrible plan.”
“Your dastardly kidnapping scheme aside, you should have been honest with Cassandra about your financial state.”
“That too,” he admitted. “In my defense, I assumed it would preclude me from courting her—and I was right. As soon as the duke learned of my shallow pockets, he ended our association.”
“Do you think he approved of Wexford?” Prudence shook her head with a humorous smile. “His Grace will be horrified when he learns his daughter wishes to wed an Irishman. Given the duke’s reaction to him, you’d think Wexford was one of hell’s minions.”
Glastonbury flinched. “I don’t envy him. He’s a nice fellow. I hope they’ll be very happy.” His gaze fixed behind her. “Mrs. Logan is returning,” he murmured.
Mrs. Logan set a crock of butter on the table along with a plate of ham. “I’ll check on you shortly. Enjoy!”
Prudence plucked a roll from the basket and slathered it in butter. “Do you really hope that? That they’ll be happy, I mean.”
“Of course I do. I’m notthatdespicable.”
She was glad to hear it. Not that it mattered. Once he returned her to London, she’d likely never see him again. And if she did, it would be in a busy London ballroom or someplace similar, and they wouldn’t acknowledge each other. Why should they?
They ate quietly for a few minutes. Prudence hadn’t realized how ravenous she was. Apparently, being tossed around a coach half the night made one rather hungry. And sore. Her back and backside were somewhat tender.
After finishing two slices of ham and a roll, Glastonbury leaned back and perused her a moment, making her feel slightly self-conscious.
“What?” she asked dubiously.
“What do you plan to tell Lady Cassandra?”
Prudence shrugged. “The truth. What else should I tell her? That I eloped? I’m afraid that would be a difficult lie to uphold. Not that I would want to.”
“Perhaps your husband died tragically just after the wedding. Imagine the freedom you could enjoy as a widow.”
“I am already a lady’s companion, a spinster. You’ll have to come up with a better reason than that for me to keep the truth from Cassandra. Perhaps you ought to bribe me.”
His brow furrowed for the briefest moment. Then he laughed. It was a rather jolly sound. “You possess a keen wit, Miss Lancaster.”
“Careful. If you’re committed to this ruse you concocted, you’d best call me Prudence. Or Pru, if you’d like to seem familiar.” She finished the last bite of her roll.
