AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Will you cherish me forever, Zac?" she asked, needing to hear a promise that he would never stop loving her.
He reached down and drew her face up to look at him. He kissed her softly. "I'll cherish you through this lifetime and beyond."
Prudence began to cry and Zac held her tightly, allowing her tears free rein.
Prudence sat alone in the family parlor. Zac had been called down to the stables, and her father and mother had retired early. She had promised Zac she would wait for him to return. The tender kiss and intimate touch he had left her with suggested she wouldn't be disappointed if she did.
"Prudence."
The lace curtain she was hemming almost fell from her lap, so unexpected was Granger's voice.
"Tm sorry if I startled you," he apologized, entering further into the room and coming to stand in front of her.
"Nonsense," she assured him with a slight shake of her head. "I was lost in thoughts. Please join me." Her proper manners were the reason for her polite response, even though she would have preferred to ignore Granger and the last rude encounter she had had with him.
Granger took the chair to her right. "I was hoping to have some time alone to speak with you."
Prudence was prepared for another attempt on his part to see to the dissolving of her marriage. He was certainly tenacious; she'd give him that much. "Well, here I am, Granger. Speak your mind."
It was obvious her brashness irritated him. He preferred when she held her tongue and spoke when a lady should.
"It is difficult for me to approach this subject, for I have only recently come to understand how much you've been hurt by past actions and don't wish to see the past repeated."
Prudence looked at him strangely.
"I wish to apologize for my father's horrible actions. What he did is unforgivable and I have no right to ask your forgiveness. I can only hope you will not hold his past transgressions against me. I wish for us to remain friends."
Prudence was stunned by his sincere expression of sorrow. "I would never hold you to blame for your father's actions. What is done is done. We can't change the past. We can only build on the future."
Granger nodded sadly. "This is true, and I wish you much happiness in your marriage. I had hoped for such happiness for us, but now I see it will never be and I wish the best for you and Zac."
Prudence leaned over and patted his hand. "You will find a woman more suited to your needs, Granger, and have a most wonderful marriage. I wasn't right for you."
A slight stiffening of his posture was the only sign of visible irritation, and it wasn't lost to Prudence's acute attention.
"I suppose you're right. You do seem much more content out here, but then I imagine it has something to do with your heritage."
"Which is another part of me you would find difficult, if not impossible, to accept," she offered without any malice.
"I do find it difficult thinking of you as part Indian," he admitted. "Though I feel in time I would be able to deal with it. You must admit, it isn't easy to accept, even you must have reservations about it."
"Of course I do," she agreed. "One doesn't accept something like this lightly. It will take time. And I look forward to learning about that newly discovered part of me."
"I hope your discoveries are pleasant ones."
Thank you, Granger," she said, still surprised at and dubious about his sudden change of heart.
"I will be returning to Boston with James and Lenore. I will do my utmost to see that your mother's reemergence into Boston society is smooth and without incident."
“That would be much appreciated."
Granger stood. "Again, Prudence, I apologize most profusely for my father's past transgressions and wish you much happiness in your marriage."
“Thank you, Granger. My wife and I appreciate your sincere good wishes."
Granger and Prudence turned together at the sound of Zac's voice. He stood leaning casually against the door frame, as though he had been there for some time.
Granger was unnerved by his presence. Zac commanded authority and respect with such ease that it galled Granger. It took some men years to achieve such consideration, while others always hungered for it yet never tasted it. Granger was one of the hungry, and he eyed Zac with envy.
"I thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Stewart, and hope I can return it whenever you visit Boston," Granger said. He gave a slight nod to Prudence, and then left through the other doorway.
"He certainly has had a change of heart," Zac said, walking over to his wife. Though I wonder how sincere it actually is."
Prudence folded up her sewing and placed it in the basket beside the chair. "Perhaps he is feeling repentant."
