“Your Grace?” The Baron closed the distance between the two of them. “Is something the matter?”
“I’m afraid…” the Duke paused as if choosing his words with care. “It seems that my brother has decided to run away.”
“Run away?” Prudence’s father repeated, as if the words were unfamiliar to him. “What on Earth do you mean?”
“He left a note indicating that he was not interested in this wedding and fled,” the Duke explained. “I understand you have some experience in these matters, Highgate—is this not the same thing your daughter did when you arranged a marriage on her behalf?”
The Baron puffed himself up. “We are not here to discuss the past,” he snapped. “We are meant to be discussing the future, Desford, and your brother was meant to marry my daughter today. Now, you mean to tell me that the marriage is not going to take place after you gave us your word that it would?”
“Oh, no,” Prudence’s mother moaned, a hand rising to her throat. “What are we to do now? Prudence will be ruined!”
Prudence knew that she ought to be fearful of the very same thing. She should have been thinking, too, about the implications this would have for her family. It would be very difficult for them to recover from this latest scandal—the third of which she had been the cause.
Instead, all she felt was relief and joy.
She wouldnothave to marry that odious man today. She would not have to marry any man at all. Her mother was right—nobody would want her after all this, and that was for the best. She would be able to go back home and live the life she preferred. She would be able to feel free and happy. And, really, the scandal would not be too bad. They would survive it. Her sisters had married well and would have no trouble moving on with their lives. They would not be tainted by Prudence’s actions, and that was what mattered most of all.
I will be ruined, but I don’t mind. And everyone else will be all right.
It did not seem to be a commonly held opinion. Both of her sisters’ husbands had gotten to their feet and joined in the conversation, and they seemed distressed.
“Had we not better go and try to find the man?” That was from Arabella’s husband William, the Duke of Redmayne.
“Yes, I think we should,” Levi agreed. “We cannot allow him to treat Prudence in this way. We should hunt him down and bring him back. Bring him to the altar by force if we must, but he must take responsibility for his actions.”
“That’s right,” William seconded. “Your Grace, with respect, Prudence was not the only one on the balcony that night. You have been right in your assertions that a gentleman may escape scandal, but a true gentleman stands to his responsibility. And your brother has a duty to Prudence. Do you mean to let him run from that?”
“I wouldn’t make accusations if I were you, Redmayne,” the Duke said. “I have no intention of allowing my brother to get away with what he’s done here. You may rest assured I will find him.”
Once again, things were being decided too quickly and without Prudence’s participation. She jumped to her feet and ran over to join the men. “Begging your pardon, Your Grace,” she said. “I respect your desire to make things right for me, but there is no need.”
The Duke turned to her, and his glare deepened. Prudence shivered, but she stood her ground.
“I do not offer this for your sake, Lady Prudence,” the Duke said. “Redmayne is correct. My brother has a responsibility here, and a failure to see it through will bring shame upon us both. I won’t allow that.”
“But I don’t think you’ll be able to avoid it,” Prudence said rather desperately. “We had a small wedding here, of course, but even so… people are going to hear about this. People are going to know that there was supposed to be a wedding today and that there wasn’t one. There’s no way to avoid the gossip that is sure to take place. We simply have to accept it and weather it as best we can.”
“She may be right, Your Grace,” Levi said quietly. “I like it no more than you do, believe me, but she has a valid point. Peoplearegoing to find out. The moment we leave this church with no marriage having been conducted, we run the risk of word starting to spread. I think the decision to have a small wedding, with no guests in attendance, was a wise and fortunate one, but that will not stop speculation from taking place.”
Prudence held her breath, hoping that he would let the matter go. It was almost too good to be believed that she might get away from all this unscathed. That she might be able to leave this church with her parents instead of with Peter Hall. That she might be able to resume her life as if nothing too dreadful had happened at all.
The Duke looked around the room slowly as if he might find the answer to their conundrum hiding in one of the corners.
Then he let out a sigh. “I suppose you’re right, Mowbray,” he said. “Little though I like it, my brother has left us in a bind. And bringing him back now simply might not mitigate the damage.”
“I’m sure we’ll find a way to control the rumors, Your Grace.” Baron Highgate sounded fearful. “I understand that what’s happened here doesn’t reflect well on anyone.”
“There aren’t going to be any rumors,” the Duke said. “We’re going to have a wedding.”
“We can’t have a wedding,” Prudence said. “We don’t have a groom. And Levi is right. By the time he could be brought here, people would know. This is going to get out.”
“I assure you, Lady Prudence, it will not.” The Duke looked at her. “Surely you are familiar with how this sort of thing is usually handled? You of all people must know.”
Prudence felt a chill run down her spine.
“We came here for a marriage, and there will be a marriage,” the Duke said. “I will be the one to marry Lady Prudence in my brother’s absence. It is the only appropriate thing to do under the circumstances.”
There was silence.
