Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
That’s what rakes do.How could she have been such a fool?Tears singed her eyes.She blinked hard to keep them at bay.Poor Fidelia.This was her life.A controlling, manipulative man.A man given to outbursts of anger and most likely violence, given Fidelia’s flinch earlier in the barn.And that man was supposed to be her husband.A husband was supposed to protect and provide for his wife.Not steal everything from her.
Yes, Bart had provided a house.
But certainly not a home.
He’s given her food.
But not any kind of sustenance.
He’d stolen her joy.Demeaned her to the point of scooping out everything that had made Fidelia who she was.And now there was nothing left.
And she wanted to stay with him.It made no sense to Pru.Except one truth rang loud and clear.Louder even than the clanging question bells from earlier.
Bart was a rake.That’s what rakes do.Soren was a rake.That was what he would do.
Not the violence part.Not the controlling part.
Just the pursuance of pleasure with whoever he wanted.
It didn’t matter what he said now.The bits and crumbs—even the full petit four—of hope he had offered her.A rake didn’t change his ways.
Now, more than ever, she needed that tea.
Seeing the distance that had grown when Fidelia hadn’t stopped with her, Pru raced to catch up.
After a fresh pot of tea had replaced the old one, Pru studied her sister.She knew it could be a while before seeing her again.
“Why will you stay with him?”she asked quietly.It was a mortifying question to have to ask her sister, but needed to know.If there was any chance of her being able to protect her sister or help her in any way, she needed to understand the situation more.It would be impossible to rescue someone who didn’t want to be saved.And Pru was dreadfully afraid that was the case here.
“He’s my husband, Pru.”
“Wouldn’t you feel…safer with me and Temperance?”
An unamused laugh tumbled out of Fidelia.“In the house that my husband has arranged for you?”
“At least we’d be together.”She knew it was futile to point it out, so she tried another tactic.“You could stay with Verity.She’s all alone right now.You two could be together.That would work.Bart doesn’t own her estate.”
“No, he does not.But neither does Verity.And her time there is soon coming to an end.”
Pru didn’t dwell on that part because she didn’t know what Verity was going to do when she inevitably had to leave her home.“Won’t you come to her last house party at least?”
“I will not.”
“She needs you.”
“Verity needs no one.She’ll make up her own mind and choose her own path.Just as she’s always done.”Pru studied her sister and almost saw a glimmer of jealousy there as Fidelia spoke of Verity, their recently widowed sister.Who would have thought someone could be envious of widowhood?
“Don’t you want to be with someone you can trust, Fidelia?”
“I’m with my husband.It’s better if I stay with him.”
“You could just come for a visit?”
