Page 19 of Never Second Guess a Lord
“And now that you are in the right frame of mind,” Grace would likely say. “Why not set aside your pride and tell him you are sorry? Why not start anew and enjoy the rest of your day with an amiable companion?”
If only it were that easy. Every time she glanced his way, Jacob was talking to one villager or another. By all appearances, he appeared to enjoy those who were less fortunate than him. By the way he laughed and chatted with them, he thought himself no better. An impression that aligned with how he had spoken about his countrymen the day before.
Unfortunately, the few times he was alone, she could not muster the courage to approach him, and before she knew it, it was time to head back to the castle. This go around, she rode with her sister and Lord MacLauchlin.
“I do hope you enjoyed your day, sister.” Maude smiled at her husband. “These Scots truly do know how to enjoy themselves.”
“Aye, lass.” He looked at Maude with unmistakable affection. “It is very much in our blood.”
“No doubt it is.” Maude turned her smile Prudence’s way. “And there is still so much more fun to be had. There will be dancing this evening and two more days of the festival, including church on Sunday, of course.” Her smile faded beneath a dainty pout. “Which I do so hope you will attend with us rather than fleeing back to Mayfair?”
Had the duke told her as much? He must have because only he and Agnus knew of her plans to leave tomorrow. Her heart gave a strange little flutter. Why had he shared such? Could it be because he did not want her to leave and hoped her sister might stop her? Or because he wanted to make sure Maude saw Prudence off, so he never had to see her again?
“As you might expect, I was quite sorry to hear you might be leaving so soon,” Maude said, answering her question as if she knew where Prudence’s thoughts had gone. “As was the duke when he shared the unfortunate news with Blake and me. He was quite crestfallen if I did not know better.” Her sister tilted her head at her husband in question. “Would you not agree, my love?”
Where she had been put off by Maude’s familiarity with Lord MacLauchlin before, she could care less now. Rather, she waited with bated breath. Or at least that was how it felt when her breathing grew uncomfortably shallow.
“I would very much agree.” Blake smiled kindly at Prudence. “It seems you have a new friend in the Duke of Argyll. He was hoping to enjoy more of your company before you departed.”
Was he really? After her behavior earlier? “Though I really should press on and not overstay my welcome, we shall see.”
“A welcome that was supposed to be indefinite,” Maude reminded her. “Until you decide where you will go next, which, the last I understood it, was not Mayfair ever again if you could help it.”
“I never said such.” Had she?
“Well, you should have.”
“Idolive there, sister.”
“You did,” Maude granted. “But I would highly recommend never doing so again.”
She could not agree more, but she had nowhere else to go. Thankfully, they arrived at the castle shortly thereafter, so Maude could not go on about it. Instead, Prudence was left to her own devices, which meant visiting with several gentlemen she could not slip by before returning to her chamber to get a good night’s rest.
Which, as Maude would have it, would be after a bath, compliments of maids who were every bit as efficient as Agnus claimed. They even went so far as to provide a flower-scented wash ball and a warm towel.
“How did your day go, my lady?” Agnus assisted her into the bath. “Despite your desire to leave this morning.”
“Better than I might have imagined.” The water felt pleasantly warm against her cool skin. “The festival was interesting. Quite lively.” She glanced at her maid. “You should try to find your way there tomorrow. I believe you might enjoy it.”
“Goodness, no.” Although Agnus seemed properly taken aback by that, Prudence swore she saw a glimmer of interest in her maid’s typically hard gaze. “Will we not be leaving then, my lady?”
“I remain undecided.” Though she was not. “It seems my sister very much wants me to attend church with her on Sunday, and I cannot see how I can deny her.”
“Thatisa hard thing to deny.”
“Even so.” Prudence gestured at the day’s clothing. “Might you see those cleaned below stairs and prepared for travel?”
“Of course, my lady.”
When Prudence perked an eyebrow at her maid, she seemed surprised.
“You mean now while you bathe?” Agnus said.
“I do,” she said. “If you would?”
“If that is what you wish, my lady.” Agnus gathered up her clothing. “I will return straight away.”
She thanked her and released a sigh of relief when she left. Relief that she could take a moment alone with her thoughts which, as seemed to be the ongoing case, were solely focused on Jacob. Did he truly want her to stay? If so, was it, as Maude and Blake implied, because he enjoyed her company in a purely platonic fashion? Or could it be more? She had absolutely no clue.
