Fidelia’s eyes grew hard.“For how long, Pru?A week?A month?Do you know how much harder it would be to come then?”Distracted, she smoothed skirts.“No, thank you.I’ll stay here where I know what to expect.”
“But you could leave if you want to.”
“Leave him?”Fidelia scoffed again.“I’m his possession.I’ll never be free of him.Not until he’s dead and buried six feet under a heavy pile of dirt.”
“I’ll find a way—”
“Don’t.”
“Tempy and Verity—”
“Don’t you dare tell them,” she bit out, shocking Pru.
“What?How can I not?”
“My marriage is protecting Tempy.Providing for you and her.And if Verity has nowhere to go after the sale of her husband’s estate, she might be reliant upon the same house and provisions.So don’t you dare paint me as a martyr.I knew what Bart was like.I’m not naive.I didn’t enter this marriage with my eyes closed.”
“You knew?”
“And I’m hap—” she stopped herself, recollecting her thoughts.“I don’t regret my decision, Pru.Don’t make this into something it’s not.”
“How can you ask this of me?”Pru’s insides quaked at the thought of leaving her sister in such a volatile situation.Fidelia claimed it was predictable, but to Pru it was anything but that.
“If it’s the only request you ever honor from me, Pru.Keep this to yourself and let me be.”She stood up just as the door to the parlor opened and Soren marched in.“Now, I think it’s time for you to leave.”
“But—”
“Don’t argue with me.I have a headache and must lie down.Good bye, Pru.”And she quit the room, leaving Pru all alone.
Despite Soren standing right next to her.
Chapter 19
Soren
“We’lldowhateverwecan to help Fidelia.”Pru’s limp hand met his as he assisted her into the carriage.“Don’t worry, Pru.She won’t be there with him for much longer.”
His helpless eyes belonged to her, but she wouldn’t even fling him a look.It was like she was looking straight through him, and then she was looking straight through the curtain as if she could see the passing landscape behind it.
“Pru.Talk to me.”His fingers found hers.“What happened back at the house?”
Finally, her eyes inched toward his.“That’s just it, Soren.Nothing happened.”
“Something must have happened.You’re practically catatonic.”
“I’m fine.”
He wanted to throw his hands in the air.Wanted to reach over and tear open the curtains to at least give her something to look at.Wanted to drag her onto his lap and kiss some sense—some life—into her.
Seeing her act so despondent was tearing his heart right down the middle.
“At least take this time to ask me another question.You have two left.”
“I have no more questions for you.I know all I need to know.”Her words pierced right through his soul.
No more questions?No more curiosity.No more exploring pleasure.No more learning together.As if he could go back to other women after being with her.Surrounded by women seeking pleasure and bringing him none.This sounded like his own personal version of hell.
She was the one for him.He knew it now.Had known it for a while.But something had switched in her.It was as if Fidelia’s constitution had been contagious.
