Page 60 of My Blind Duke
Clementina’s face turned red and she started to scream,
“How dare you? Who do you think you are to disrespect me so openly?”
“I know who I am, Lady Clementina. Doyouknow who you are? Because last I checked, you had nothing to your name but your childish attitude and insufferable noise. You are not welcome here. Go and be a bother elsewhere.”
The room was silent, watching Clementina’s face turn all kinds of colors in a short span of time. She stepped to Henrietta who had been lingering silently and nervously, behind her mistress, and grabbed her by the hair.
The young woman screamed as Clementina snapped, shoving her to her knees.
“You should have told me that wench was here! You must love to see me insulted!”
Her face was tinged with embarrassment as she whirled around, looking for something, pointedly ignoring Henrietta’s whimpering.
Prudence realized that Clementina was looking for her when she pointed at her and said, “You will pay for this. I swear it. I will make you rue the day you crossed me, you awful–”
“Do not threaten my sister. Or else I will put an end to you with my bare hands, you old shrew. Go and bark elsewhere. We have other things to do.”
Clementina turned and walked out of the room with burning ears. Marina sighed and settled back in her seat, remarking casually, “That was very fulfilling.”
“I cannot believe I was the one who used to stir up trouble when we were children. Now look at me, advocating for peace.”
“Whereas I advocate for chaos,” Marina grinned. “Not bad. We at least kept it within the family.”
Prudence felt immensely thankful for her sister’s presence, knowing that if she had to do any of this on her own without Marina’s help. Even without saying anything, Marina seemed to hear Prudence’s words of gratitude, because she looked up at her younger sister and smiled.
“I am glad I could help. Do not look as though you owe me some sort of magical relic. I would go above and beyond for you, sister.”
It took a lot from Prudence not to cry, because Marina’s words meant the world to her. In a bid to distract herself, she stared down at the notes Marina had embroidered so far, noting a problem.
Gingerly, she pointed at a spot on her cloth.
“This is wrong. You will have to do this again.”
Marina stared down at her work, then looked up to the board, losing her smile when she noticed that the note was indeed wrong.
“Oh, damn it–”
Time went by quicker than Prudence had expected. Without any further distractions – at least not counting the self-inflicted ones – the ladies were able to complete their tasks without incident.
They simply basked in each other’s company and the fine selection of refreshments they had been offered, and embroidered.
After the task was done, Prudence collected all the pieces and arranged them in the order they were meant to be read. Then she began to sew them up together into what was going to be a music sheet made of cloth, especially for the duke.
Unlike the others, Marina stayed behind for a little longer to help Prudence some more and she took some of the pieces and began to sew them together.
“Sister?” Marina called without taking her eyes off her work.
“Yes, dear?” Prudence answered, sparing Marina a singular glance.
“I have never seen you look so radiant and so in love before. I think it suits you.”
Prudence’s hands went still, as though they had been frozen. A moment passed, then two, and she tried to pretend she had no idea what she was talking about.
“I do not… it is not… I swear–”
“Prudence, calm down. It is not the end of the world. Do not allow your fear to make you think less of something wonderful. You owe it to yourself to enjoy it and relish in the goodness of the feelings,” Marina chided softly.
“Now you sound like Mother. Still, I do not think I am meant to harbor such feelings,” Prudence admitted. “I care for him. Deeply, more so than I thought. But we cannot be together. It simply would not work. There are too many complications that will not allow it.”
