Page 56 of A Widow for the Earl
Especially not now.
“Did you argue again?” a quiet voice asked, startling him.
He glanced up, wild-eyed, to find Prudence standing on the threshold of the library, holding onto the door in an odd embrace. Half in and half out.
“I came to ensure she did not lose her way,” he said stiffly, his voice thick. “She did not appreciate my concern.”
Prudence smiled sadly. “I suppose you are accustomed to that. None of us sisters have ever really appreciated your concern.” She stepped further into the room. “I am sorry for that.”
“Yes, well, at least there was no harm done with your scandal,” he replied, wondering if his youngest sister could see the truth of the situation on his face. The truth he was eager to avoid.
Prudence paused at the nearest armchair, perching on the armrest. “You know, I think the two of you have been alone for too long.”
“We were alone for barely a couple of minutes,” he protested sharply, for the last thing he needed was for Prudence to have ammunition.
How could he scold her for being unchaperoned when he had done the same thing to Beatrice, against her wishes to be by herself? He could have stayed outside the door, unnoticed. But no, he had walked into the library, knowing full well that it went against his beliefs of chivalry and propriety.
Prudence hid a chuckle behind her hand. “That is not what I meant, Brother. I meant, the two of you, respectively, have been on your own for too long. She does not know how to rely on others, you do not know how to behave around others. Particularly those you are fond of.”
“I amnotfond of her,” he rasped, his heart beating a little faster. “She is infuriating.”
“And I am sure she thinks the same about you,” Prudence replied, “but I saw you staring at her during dinner. I saw you smile when she was talking to Isolde, gushing about the baby, and did not know you were looking. And I saw your face sink when Freddie went over to speak to her. You might think me a dolt, Brother, but I am more observant than you know.”
Vincent swallowed uncomfortably, his skin tingling with an unbearable heat. “I was making sure she was behaving herself.”
“Of course you were.” Prudence grinned. “You do not have to confess anything to me, Brother, but I think it would be a terrible shame if you were to let her hate you because you are uncomfortable with the alternative.”
Before he could respond, she had darted out of the library, leaving him in a worse state of despair than when she had appeared.
I cannot have feelings for her. If I do, it might very well kill me.
“Are you well? What is the matter?” Frederick asked, rushing to greet Beatrice as she stepped back into the Lesser Hall.
She had taken ten minutes in a curtained alcove to wipe her tears away and practice her nonchalance, but she should have known she would not be able to trick Frederick.
“Whatever do you mean? I am perfectly fine,” she lied, her cheeks hurting with the smile she forced onto her face.
Frederick frowned. “You look as if you have been crying, and I saw Wilds sneak out after you. He has not hurt you, has he?”
“Goodness, no.” She laughed tightly. “I have not seen Vincent at all. I lost my way in the castle, stumbled into a dusty storage room, and fear that some of it got into my eyes. You know me, Freddie; I never cry, but my nose and eyes always take umbrage with dust.”
He eyed her with suspicion but, if he suspected she was fibbing, he did not say so. Instead, he put an arm around her shoulders and steered her toward the array of beverages, pouring her a glass of port before she could think to refuse.
“Thank you,” she said, pretending to take a sip. The fumes alone made her stomach churn, reminding her of her joyously silly night with Prudence.
Frederick clinked his glass against hers. “Whether it is dust or something else, that will assuredly steady your nerves.” He paused. “But youwouldtell me if it was something else, would you not?”
“Of course I would,” she insisted.
“Because you know you can tell me anything, Trixie. I am always here for you, and I always will be. Keeping you safe.” He glanced at the door, as if he expected Vincent to come through. “Do not listen to anything that man has to say about our relationship.Youknow me, Trixie. And I value nothing more than your company… even if I do forget to write.”
A small, genuine laugh left her throat. “What would I do without you, hmm?”
“I pray that is a question you never learn the answer to,” he replied, smiling at her with such warmth, yet it did nothing to put the tiny shards of her heart back together.
I have fixed it through far worse than this,she told herself sternly, looking around the room to remind herself of all of the good things she had in her life. She might not have been lucky in marriage, but, my goodness, she was lucky in friendships.
As if they could hear her thoughts, Valeria and Teresa turned at that moment, looking up from the card table where they were playing. With beaming faces, they beckoned her over.
