Page 38 of Never Second Guess a Lord
Dear Second-in-Command,
I demand you come pay respects to your liege.
Awaiting Your Arrival,
Prudence
Chapter Thirteen
Prudence peered outover the snowy Scottish woodland and flinched. Should she have sent that last message to Jacob? It was one thing to banter flirtatiously. Another thing altogether to make such a demand of the Duke of Argyll.
Because when all was said and done, he was an important man with a lot of responsibilities, and she but a widow. Prudence lowered her hood despite the heavy snowfall and breathed in the icy air. Relished the cool wind and smiled at Agnus before she closed her eyes and tilted her face up to catch the plump, dancing snowflakes.
She might be a widow, but she was happy.
Most days, she was so happy she thought she might burst from the feel of it. Moving to Dalness had been the best decision of her life. From the moment she spied her new home through the sweeping trees, she had been in love. If ever a spot could be considered magical, she had found it. From the thick, lush forests she could not wait to see bloom in springtime to the towering mountains and sweeping glens she simply stared at for hours.
Her trip back to Mayfair had been more freeing than anticipated, and surprisingly enough, the remaining staff had wanted to stay with her, including her butler, Mr. Fenwick. She could not fathom why until Agnus made it clear they had always liked her more than her late husband. And employment was employment. Even if it meant leaving behind proper society and trudging into the wilds of Scotland to work alongside those hired locally.
Since then, those who braved this new life with her had settled in well. Which she was thankful for, given what Emma referred to as a “quaint country manor” was indeed sizeable and needed a staff. Not an overly large one, but enough to see to the kitchen, study, library, drawing room, dining room, twenty or so bedrooms, a carriage house, stables, and gardens.
Emma and Maude had visited several times since she moved in, recommending one vendor or another to see to new curtains and furnishings if she wished them. Emma had sold her the estate “as is,” which turned out to be quite the bargain, given the furnishings that had been left behind. It was something Prudence had commented on, but her new friend had waved off.
“This is a fresh start, my dear,” Emma had said. “Keep things or not. It is all yours.”
Where she had thought Emma did it for Jacob, and she still very well might have, over time, Prudence began to believe it had more to do with her than him. Better still, that she truly liked Prudence and wanted this new start for her.
So here she stood on her battlement as she and Jacob had called it in their letters and wondered yet again if she should have demanded he come. Had she pushed their lively banter one step too far? Because somehow it felt less like banter over time and more like thinly veiled love letters.
At least all the ones she had not sent.
“You are writing him again, my lady?” Agnus had asked just the other night. “Might I send this one?”
“Yes,” she said impulsively, staring down at her curt message. “No.” She had glanced at Agnus and frowned. “I do not know.”
“Then this one must make the cut.” Agnus held out her hand, leaving no room for argument. “I will see it sent first thing in the morning.”
Like all before it, Prudence sealed it with wax and her crest, so it was ready to go. Was she ready to send it, though?
“My lady.” Agnus’ brows shot up, and she held her hand out more firmly. “Your letter?”
Not about to get on her maid’s bad side when her good side was proving so very enjoyable, she handed the letter over and prayed for a miracle. She hoped Jacob would not take one look at it after all this time and toss it into the flames of the nearest fire.
Granted, it had not been overly long between letters but longer than usual, and it was all her fault. Not because she was busy or distracted but because every letter she wrote suddenly seemed too intimate. Felt too desperate. How could they not when she missed him so much? When, despite her wonderful new life, she still thought about him daily? Wished she could share every little bit of her adventure with him without feeling like it was over the top? Feeling like he probably had more important things in which to attend?
“My lady?”
“Yes, Miss Agnus?” Her eyes were still closed, and her face upturned to the sky.
“You must attend your company.”
“Must I?” she said absently, so lost in thought it did not occur to her no one should be visiting given the snowy weather.
“My lady.” Agnus sounded quite insistent. “You must attend who comes.”
She opened her eyes to the elegant carriage pulling down the drive. One as obsidian and sharp as its owner’s eyes.
“Miss Agnus.” She clutched her friend’s arm. “Is that what I think it is?WhoI think it is?”
