A Countess of Convenience (32 page)

She sighed as if he'd asked her to make a terrible sacrifice and then shrugged and headed for the sitting room.

He followed after her, treading softly, wondering how he could soothe her anger. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. When he joined her at the table, she'd already poured tea into the two cups on the tray. He sat down and stirred a spoonful of sugar into his cup. “Why don't you talk to Neil again, before going to the Culpeppers? He seems to have genuine feelings for Effie."

"You of all people should know what a talented liar Neil is."

"People do change and feelings can grow when and where we least expect them."

She grimaced at him. “Don't talk to me like I'm a witless child. Men prey on women's feelings to get what they want. That's been proven to me over and over again."

He was trying to remain calm but found that remark offensive. “Have I ever lied to you?"

She stopped spreading marmalade on a toast point and looked squarely at him. “You had no reason to lie to me, and I think that's one of the reasons we get along so well. Neither of us have unreasonable expectations."

Then she took a bite of the toast and stared across at him with a smug challenge. Sometimes he wished Prudence wasn't quite so clever.

"So how do you intend to tell a young woman, who is wildly in love, that her fiance doesn't return her feelings?"

That wiped the smugness from her face. She chewed the toast for a moment longer than he thought necessary, and then took a sip of tea. “Perhaps I'll tell her about our marriage, how it's possible for two people to develop a good relationship when they're not in love."

She warmed to her subject, waving the remainder of toast about to emphasize her words. “In fact, we probably have a better relationship because we aren't in love."

He felt his jaw sag. Had he turned a sweet country girl into a stony-hearted sophisticate? “I thought you believed in love?"

She shrugged. “I may have entertained some silly illusions when I was younger, but life has taught me to see things as they really are, and I'm better off for it."

"Would you feel any differently if I apologized for jumping to the conclusion that you were in collusion with Neil?"

She raised her eyebrows. “Are you saying that just to win an argument?"

"No, now that I know you better, I know you are too honest to have taken part in such a hoax."

She smiled at him, but it was a short, tight smile. “Thank you. I'm relieved that you no longer believe me to be a liar and a cheat, but that doesn't change my feelings about love. You aren't the first man who failed to love me. My brother and my father—” Her voice caught in her throat.

He reached across the table and caught her hand. “I'm sorry your father didn't leave you a dowry, Pru. I know that must have hurt."

"What hurt the most was what he did to my mother. Having to give up the kind of life she was used to, right after losing the man she loved, broke her heart and her health."

"Perhaps there were problems you weren't aware of."

"The only problem was that he loved Crump Manufactories more than he loved his family."

She pulled away from his touch so she could raise her napkin up to her eyes and hold it there for a moment. Then she threw it down on the table. “So you can see why I have to go to Effie. She doesn't have a mother and her sister is away from home. Someone has to warn her."

"About what?"

"The unreliability of men."

"All you'll do is hurt her. Leave it alone."

Her back stiffened. “Are you ordering me not to go?"

He was sorely tempted to say “yes” but how could he enforce such an edict if she refused to obey it? Locking her in her room would surely damage their already shaky relationship. “If you must go, please wait until this afternoon, the normal time for paying calls."

Her lips tightened for a moment and then relaxed. “You're right. I'll wait, but I still intend to tell Effie the truth."

"I won't try to stop you, but before you go ask yourself one question. Are you doing this only out of consideration for Effie, or are you seeking revenge against Neil, for using you to save himself from debtors’ prison?"

She glared at him indignantly, but then insecurity crept into her eyes, and she turned back to her breakfast. He followed her suit and finished his tea in silence as he mulled over the fact that his wife truly did not believe in love. It surprised him that this bothered him to the point of pain.

Prudence watched Effie move across the upstairs salon with uncommon speed. Apparently the joy that radiated from her face also lightened the wooden shoe. “It's so kind of you to come,” Effie said with none of her usual shyness.

"How could I not?” Prudence placed a light kiss on Effie's cheek. “At last, I have a sister."

A trilling little laugh escaped Effie as she gave Prudence a brief hug and gestured toward chairs near the fireplace.

When they were seated, Prudence sought to open what she expected to be a difficult conversation. “Have you made any wedding plans yet?"

"Not yet. I'm still amazed to find myself engaged to a wonderful man like Neil. As a girl I dreamed of a charming prince coming to claim me, but I never really believed it would happen.” She placed her hands over her heart and sighed. “But now my dream has come true."

Prudence was astounded that Effie saw Neil in such a positive light but was touched by her happiness.

Effie placed her hand over her mouth to smother a giggle. “But I'm being silly telling you of such. Your dream came true, too."

Prudence forced a smile to her lips. “Dreams don't always turn out as we imagine they will."

Effie looked startled for a moment, and then laughed. “Oh, I see. You never dreamed you'd marry a man as handsome and elevated as the earl."

"For a while, I thought I wouldn't marry at all. You see, I had no dowry."

Effie's hand flew up to her mouth as she obviously grasped the terrible implications of what Prudence had just revealed. “I thought your father was a wealthy man?"

"He was, but...” Prudence had to stop and consider how to proceed. Effie had shown so much concern for Prudence's pain that it seemed churlish of Prudence to have no concern about the pain she was about to inflict on Effie. And yet it would be for the girl's own good.

"Oftentimes men place greater importance on business than on personal considerations."

Effie's brow wrinkled as she thought about that statement. “I suppose so, but I'm fortunate that my father always placed his loved ones above his business."

Was she implying that Squire Culpepper loved his daughter more than Horace Crump had loved his? No, it wasn't about love, Prudence had to remember that. “I mean, men's lives revolve around external affairs. Women are more concerned with hearth and home. We can't expect men to feel as intensely as we do."

An impish smile brightened Effie's face. “If you had seen Neil's pained look when I refused his proposal, I don't think you'd say that. He was truly distressed."

"You—you refused him?"

"At first.” Effie's smile disappeared and her cheeks grew rosy. “I didn't think I was good enough for him."

Prudence shook her head. “If anything, you're too good."

"But my—my disability."

"Pshaw! You're as capable as any woman I know."

"But my ancestors have all been tradesmen."

"I'm prouder of the tradesman side of my family than the noble side."

Effie looked doubtful.

"Think about it, dear. Our fathers had to be clever and resourceful to earn their fortunes. Neil has been hamstrung all his life by the limitations his blood placed on him. Marrying you is the best thing that could possibly happen to him. You can give him a real life."

Prudence couldn't believe what she'd just said. But she suddenly knew it was true.

Sadness flickered across Effie's face. “My father's estate will do that,” she said in a small voice.

Dear God, does Effie understand Neil's greediness but love him so deeply that she does not care?
Although Prudence thought the girl foolish, she could not be the one who destroyed Effie's happiness. “Neil needs a
person
to belong to as well as a place,” she said softly. “Only you can give him that."

The twinkle returned to Effie's eyes. “Oh, Prudence, you are so understanding. But I knew you would be. After all, we're both women in love."

This time it was really hard to force a smile to her lips, for Prudence had never known and would never know the kind of love that now shimmered through Effie. That realization filled her with sadness.

She had to change the subject before tears overcame her. “So, what did Neil do when you told him, ‘No'?"

"He got down on his knees."

Prudence laughed. “He probably fell out of his chair and landed on his knees."

Effie giggled even as she shook her head. “He was very deliberate and very sweet."

"I didn't know Neil could be so convincing."

"He didn't have to be terribly convincing. Refusing him was the hardest thing I'd ever done. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I thought my heart would stop. If he had accepted my answer, I probably would have thrown myself at his feet. Can you imagine?"

Prudence reached over and patted Effie's hand and nodded. Could she imagine being so in love with a man that she'd sacrifice her own happiness for his? She had protected herself from love's pain by not allowing herself to know its joy.

The conversation turned toward wedding plans. The squire joined them, tea was served, and Prudence thought it would be nice to have these people as family.

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Prudence went home in late afternoon, with gray clouds hanging so heavily overhead that she wondered if they contained snow. The house, quiet and brooding, seemed to be affected by the weather.

No footman rushed to open the door for her, but the door was unlocked, so she didn't bother to sound the knocker. Still, that seemed rather inefficient of Mrs. Fossey.

As she stood in the front hall, removing her gloves, she noticed the twinkling light of a fire shining through the open doorway of the library. Was Malvern working at this desk? He'd need more than the light from the fireplace on such a gray day.

She stepped to the doorway. The chair behind the desk was empty. A flash of white caught her eye and she turned to see Neil sprawled in an armchair near the fireplace, an empty brandy sniffer in his hand.

"Isn't a bit early for you to be drinking?” She took a few more steps into the room.

"What did she say?"

"What?"

He sat his glass on a nearby table. “Effie. After you told her what a worthless scoundrel I am."

"I didn't tell her. I imagine you'll let her know soon enough."

He stood in a fluid motion. “Oh, Pru, thank you, thank you."

She removed her bonnet and dropped her gloves inside it. “I didn't do it for you. I just couldn't bear to ruin her happiness."

He walked over and gave her a hug with both arms. She couldn't remember the last time he'd done that. “Why ever you did it, I thank you, and I promise to do everything in my power to make Effie happy."

As he stepped back from her, she looked into his face, trying to judge his sincerity. Was it possible that he had more than a financial interest in Effie? Only time would tell.

"Where's Malvern?” she asked.

"I don't know. He left without saying where he was going."

"Perhaps he's at the stable checking on his new horses."

"When I say left, I mean he left Aysbeck, taking luggage and his valet with him."

The room began to spin. Prudence staggered and Neil reached out and steadied her.

"You're as white as a sheet, sister. What's the matter? Did you and Malvern have another argument this morning? Is that why he left?” With his arm around her shoulder, he helped her to a chair.

Was Neil right? Had Malvern become fed up with her belligerent attitude? “Di—didn't he say anything?"

"Oh, he said he'd left a letter for you in your sitting room."

A man wouldn't leave a letter for his wife, unless he had something important to say. Perhaps he'd told her he was tired of her always arguing with him and never doing what she was told. Tears began to run down her cheeks and she covered her face with her hands.

Neil must have pulled mightily on the bell cord, for Hazel ran into the room with Mrs. Fossey a few steps behind her, and both of them crowded around Prudence's chair, demanding to know what was wrong and what they could do to help.

"I don't know what's wrong,” Neil said in a higher-pitched voice than usual. “She just fell to pieces."

"Hazel, fetch my smelling-salts, it's in the—"

Prudence interrupted Mrs. Fossey. “No, no, I'm not going to faint.” She took a handkerchief someone thrust into her hand and wiped at her tears.

"My mam gets all emotional when she's carrying,” Hazel said.

"Carrying what?” Neil asked.

Prudence looked up at her maid, whose cheeks had turned a bright pink. A baby! Was that possible?
Dear God, did I chase my husband away just when I need him the most?
A new flood of tears came.

Prudence got to her feet and staggered blindly toward the doorway. “I have to go upstairs.” She had to see the letter.

Hazel and Mrs. Fossey grabbed her arms and led her toward the stairs.

Somehow, she made it up to her sitting room and wiped her tears away so that she could see the piece of folded paper, sitting like a white tent on the table where she and Malvern had dined the previous evening when everything between them had seemed so good.

Picking it up, she ran over to the window where the light was a little brighter.

Prudence,

I have business matters to attend to. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone, but I promise to be back before the Christmas party.

Malvern

That didn't tell her much, except that he would be back. But was he only coming back because of the Christmas party that was his idea in the first place?

She grabbed a handful of the drapery and held on while pressing the letter to her breasts, which, now that she thought about it, had been feeling a little tender the last week or so.