Chapter 1
Pru
1817England
“What are you looking at?”
Pru eyed her twin knowing she couldn’t escape the question, much to her chagrin.However, if there was any chance the inquiry had been made less out of curiosity and more to make conversation, a vague answer should suffice.So, on that hopeful assumption, she went with, “That man.”
“Which one?The one over there laughing?”Temperance tilted her head in the general vicinity of Pru’s assessing stare.
“More like, the one making all of them laugh.”The man to whom she referred was surrounded by—practically—a gaggle of men.She was unfamiliar with most of them, including the object of everyone’s attention.But my was he magnetizing to look at.
“Mmmmm,” her twin hummed appreciatively and raised teasing brows at her.“He’s quite handsome.”
“I hadn’t noticed.”His chiselled jaw.Sharp, attentive eyes.Shoulders to fill out his jacket.Dark carefree locks.Large hands.With one ring, glinting in the candlelight.Pru ignored her twin’s skeptical glance and verbalized her initial assessment of the man.“To intentionally amuse others is always a desirable trait to find in a man.”
Tempy snorted, “Knowing you, you have a list of all the traits you desire in a man.”
“Of course, I do.Don’t be ridiculous.How else would I find a husband?”
“Love?”Tempy cooed.“Your heart.”
With a scoff, Pru plowed on.“Just look at all the men watching him.Waiting for him to speak.Expecting him to make them laugh.”
“And he’ll do it, too.”
“I know.”Pru cast her sister a side look.“He’s like you.”
“Me?”
“Yes.Charming.You’re very charming, Tempy.When you want to be.”
“You have to say complimentary things like that to me.I’m your sister,” Temperance said, wrapping her arm around Pru’s waist in a short embrace.
“I wouldn’t say that about our other sisters Fidelia or Verity.”
“That’s because they’re not that charming.”Tempy winked.
“My point exactly.It’s a rare and admirable trait to have.”Pru scratched softly behind her ear and then tucked her hands into a folded clasp at her waist.“I’m not charming either.I can’t enthrall a group of people and make them laugh.”
“Perhaps not.But do you want to?”
Pru shrugged.“At most, I can give them a series of interesting facts.”
“You are quite knowledgeable when it comes to books.I’m sure you could enrapture the masses.”
“If by masses you mean,men, then I’d have to disagree.But if by enrapture you mean,pester, I could capitulate."
“Oh, Pru.You’re far too critical of yourself.”
“I’m realistic—oh my, do you see that?”Pru pointed to a piece of fabric dragging on the ground affixed to a woman’s slipper.Or perhaps it was the hem of her skirts.
Tempy giggled.“Leave it.Corisande deserves something embarrassing to happen to her.”
“Oh, but I can’t.That is quite ungainly.I would hate for that to be me and have no one do anything.”
“Well, I would never let you walk around like that.I’m your sister, and I’d always be looking out for you.”
