Charlotte’s brows drew together.“Surely he’s not restricting your activitiesthatmuch?”
Priscilla’s lips pulled tight with tension that always came when she considered Eugene.“The longer I resist a match with him, the worse it becomes.And with Viscount Ware visiting the house…”
All her friends nodded.
But it was Charlotte who stood, beginning to pace.“I begin to understand why you placed the ad.”
“I don’t want to make a foolish move and marry Lord Ware too hastily, but Idoneed to do something.”
“Brax and I can help you,” Mona offered.“If Lord Ware isn’t a viable option.”
She reached for Mona’s hand.“Thank you.”
But truly, if Eugene didn’t allow her to leave the house, not even Brax could help.
“Enough about me.Tell me about married life.How have all of you been?”
One by one, her friends began to share, and by share she actually meant gush, about their new marriages.Priscilla was so happy for them and some deep part of her felt a touch envious.To have the chance at a love match…
But that envy quickly subsided when she considered Wyatt.If he was the man she hoped he was…she’d be more than content.
An energy crackled between them.Between that and his steady nature, he’d make a fine husband.
She looked over at Clara, her head bowed and her mouth pinched as she picked up the paper on the table between the settees.
Poor Clara.Was she lamenting her own fate that left her unwed?
“And what of you, Clara?”Charlotte asked.“What, besides Priscilla, has kept you busy?”
Clara looked down at the pages of the paper.“Same as ever.”Her fingers trailed down the page.“Though I have been following the story of the Bushy Hero.Did you all know that he’s successfully captured several criminals this week?”
Clara held up the page, pointing to the drawn illustration that accompanied the article.
It wasn’t the first time Clara had discussed the hero who seemed mostly fictional to Priscilla.
“And now,” she lowered her voice.“The paper says he has a second man helping him.”She gave a romantic sigh.
Clara’s father, a baronet, ran a successful coal business in Pembrokeshire.Clara had a large dowry and her parents held great aspirations for her match.
But Clara’s heart had always been for another.Was that why she seemed so infatuated with men in the paper?
“Clara,” Priscilla started, attempting to choose her words very carefully.“What has you so interested in this hero?”
“Likely, they’re criminals themselves.”Charlotte pointed out.“Probably thieves who just rob criminals.”
“Like Robin Hood?”Clara asked, her eyes lighting up.
“Clara?”Priscilla made a note to check on Clara the next day.
Clara’s face fell.“Don’t mind me.I’m allowing romantic fancy to sweep me away.It’s not as though I would or could do a thing about it.I’m as helpless in this fancy as I was in my last.”
Priscilla cringed, scooting closer to her friend and taking her hand in hers again.“When the time is right, you’ll meet your special someone.I promise it will be so.”
Clara nodded, her eyes seeming to mist before she waved her hand as though banishing her feelings or the conversation away.“Enough about that.How are we going to get Priscilla out of Eugene’s clutches long enough to get everyone together?”
“Leave it to me,” Mona said with a smile.“I’ve got a plan.”
* * *
