Page 36 of Never Second Guess a Lord
25 December 1815
My Beloved Commander,
I hope you have since journeyed forth to your new kingdom and found the wonderful new beginning you have long sought. Oh, but to see you flourish in such a place, surrounded by those who would not think to oppress you.
To see you stand tall on your own battlements.
I wish you a lovely holiday and wish more than ever I was there to see you settle in and find your own way. Watch as you make a castle your own for the first time. Be by your side as you soften your stance but keep your weapons at the ready lest any enemy slip past your defenses.
Your Dearest Second-in-Command,
Jacob
He was quite sure she had not let anyone mar her new life. Would not. His speculation was confirmed when Emma and her husband visited. While he wanted to ask how Prudence fared the moment they arrived at his home, he knew better. First, they had to get through the pomp and fuss of a holiday that seemed duller than ever without Prudence in it.
Eventually, he and Emma strolled arm and arm alone, and he finally asked what he longed to know. Waited with bated breath for her answer.
“How is Prudence…truly?”
“She is well, my friend.” She smiled. “Really well.”
When she looked at him with reassurance, he felt like a weight lifted from his shoulders. It was one thing for Prudence to banter and claim such in a letter. Another thing altogether to hear proof of it.
“She has sold her late husband’s estate and moved into her new home in Dalness.” Heartfelt fondness lit her eyes. “You should have seen her. She was—”
“So you saw?” He interrupted her because he could not help himself. “You were there with her?”
“I was, given she purchased one of my manors, and I wanted to show her around.” Emma’s smile only warmed as she went on. “I feared she might be disappointed having purchased it sight unseen, but she seemed quite the opposite.”
“Tell me,” he said softly, again wishing he had been there. “Tell me everything. Spare no detail.”
So Emma did, and he could see it all because he had been there before. From the way Prudence’s jaw dropped at the sizeable house surrounded by trees to the mountains looming proudly behind it.
“It is hard to describe her response other than to say she was in awe from start to finish,” Emma said. “She touched everything tentatively as though she could hardly believe it was hers.” He heard the emotion in her voice. “Considering the outstanding house she came from, I am not sure I have ever seen anyone admire an estate, really more of an upscale country manor, like she did her new home. It might as well have been Buckingham Palace or Edinburgh Castle.”
“Without doubt,” he murmured, seeing Prudence there as though he stood beside her. As if he sensed the wonder and freedom she had surely felt. “What did she do first?”
“Funny you would ask.”
“Why?”
“Because I swore I heard her whisper, wonder, what you would have her do first.”
“Surely not.”
“Perhaps not, but I swore….”
When she trailed off, he frowned. “So what did she do?” he prompted. “How did she imagine I might respond?”
“Do you really want to know?” She narrowed an eye at him. “Because it was quite strange.”
“Of course I do.” His heart leapt. “I would not have asked otherwise.”
“Well, she was curious if there was any sort of look-out point, so to speak.” She considered him like he might know what that was about. “A battlement of sorts on a country house. Can you even imagine?”
“I can.” He cleared his throat. “I very much can.”
“Somehow, I suspected you might answer that way.” Emma cast him a sly look. “So, fortunately, I was able to answer that aye, indeed there was.”
