Page 74 of Impossible
“It’s complicated, but I felt I had to. I was in a…bad situation.”
“Can I help?”
She smiled at him. “You are giving me a dowry. That is all the help I need.”
Max didn’t particularly understand, but he wasn’t going to probe further. Ada would have asked more questions until she discovered the heart of the matter.
“You’re smiling,” Prudence said. “You don’t seem to do that very often.”
Only when he was with Ada. Or thought of her, apparently.
“I haven’t had much cause for happiness recently.” Until he’d met Ada. Could he stop thinking of her for one moment?
“Because you’re too busy being surly?” There was humor in her voice, and he appreciated that. There was definitely something sisterly about her tone.
“My housekeeper would say so. I didn’t think I was doing it on purpose, but I think I might have been.” He exhaled. “Like you, I prefer to avoid emotional entanglements.” Especially since… Well, since he’d hurt so deeply that he never wanted to feel anything again.
“I can’t help but notice you seem to have had a change of heart since Ada visited you. I know her rather well and can imagine the influence she might have had on you. Did she perchance talk you into this?”
“She took me to task for my treatment of you, but I decided to come here after she left. She did, in fact, have an impact on me. She made me see what I’d been missing, namely the people around me, people who depend on me. That includes you.”
She looked offended. “I do not depend on you.”
“No, but you could. If you wanted to.”
“Are you suggesting we behave like family?” She sounded as though she were stuck somewhere between disbelief and sarcasm. He couldn’t blame her.
“I’m saying wearefamily, whether we want to be or not.” He took a breath, his heart picking up speed. “And I think I might want to be.”
“You surprise me, Warfield.”
“I surprise myself.” Since Ada had lifted him from the abyss, he found he didn’t want to fall back in. Perhaps more anchors would prevent that from happening. “You should call me Max.”
“Then you must call me Prudence. I’ve never had a sibling. You had your brother, so I hope you don’t mind me relying on you to show me how to act.”
“You may not want to do that,” he said, shaking his head with a slight smile. “I’m not sure I remember how to be…close to people.” He couldn’t quite believe what he was revealing to her. It hadn’t been his intent, and yet he couldn’t seem to stop himself. But he would—there was no way he would expose his past or the horrible things he’d done.
“Then we’ll move slowly. How about we start as friends?” She sent him a tentative look.
“I’m so sorry for the way I treated you.” He paused and offered her his arm.
She took it, curling her hand around his sleeve. “I’ll be here for you. If you need me to be.”
“Thank you.” Somehow, he breathed more easily, as if a burden—at least a small one—had been lifted.
“How long will you be in London?”
“I’d thought to leave tomorrow, but Ada—Miss Treadway—convinced me to stay at least one more day. She’s dragging me to Vauxhall tomorrow night. You should come.” He glanced toward her, but she was looking straight ahead. “If you’d like.”
“That would be lovely. I’ll speak with Bennet. We’ll be returning to Somerset in the next week or so. A night at Vauxhall would be nice.”
“Then I’ll look forward to seeing you.” The words felt odd coming from his mouth, but he meant them. He hoped this indicated he was truly able to move on, to leave the past behind.
She didn’t want to be in love with him.
Ada turned to her side and scowled into the darkness. Worried Max might try to come to her apartment, she’d had dinner with Evie at her house in St. James’s. Indeed, she’d lingered as long as she dared, and upon returning to the Phoenix Club had hurried up to her rooms without stopping.
But Max hadn’t come. Much to her annoyance, she was disappointed as well as relieved. Last night had been so wonderful. She’d felt certain she’d have to turn him away tonight. Because she must, no matter how much her heart craved his companionship.
