not flirted back with any of them. Not that she knew of, at least. She wondered if he even realized the effect of his careless charm.
So, this was how it was to be. Married to a man she loved to distraction who did not love her, did not want her, and never would. Any woman still breathing would find him attractive, and so Pru would constantly have to endure the open interest of other women. And because just about any one of them would be more desirable than Pru, she would have to constantly wonder if he returned that interest. And keep silent about it if he did.
How was she to bear it?
Was she destined forever to compare herself to some unknown woman who might be his lover? And to wonder how miserably she measured up? Were there women already in his life to contend with?
Good heavens. It occurred to her that she knew very little of his personal life. What if he was in love with someone else? What if he had been courting someone in hopes of marriage?
“Aunt Prudence?”
Pru took a deep breath and forced aside all thoughts of how else she might have ruined Nicholas’s life. She composed herself, looked up at her niece, and smiled. “Arabella. Did I tell youhow pretty you look today? That shade of blue was a good choice after all. It is most becoming.”
The girl gave a wave of casual dismissal and took Pru by the arm. “I am glad we have a moment alone, Aunt Prudence. I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you. Mr. Parrish is exceedingly handsome, is he not?”
“He is indeed.”
Arabella sighed wistfully. “I hope I can find such a handsome husband. I do pray, though, I don’t have to wait as long as you.” She gave a little squeal and covered her mouth. “Oh, forgive me! That was badly stated. I just meant that I do not have your patience. I want to find my handsome hero now . All the cousins are frightfully jealous, you know. Have you really been in love forever? That’s what Cousin Hugh said. Mr. Parrish told him that even though the timing of the marriage was forced, it was not unwelcome. I am so glad to know that you have made a love match at long last. But why have you never mentioned him before?”
Pru shrugged. She was reluctant to play along with the yarn Nicholas had spun, but neither did she want to contradict him in public. “It was a private matter, Arabella.”
“And you have always been a very private person.” Arabella smiled and patted Pru’s arm. “Well, I, for one, am enormously pleased for you. I only wish you could have had a grand wedding and lots of parties. It does not seem right that there are no celebrations.” Her eyes lit up withsudden excitement. “I have it! You can share my come-out ball. It can be in honor of your wedding as well.”
An instant of sheer terror sent an involuntary shudder through Pru’s body. “No, no, my dear. The ball is for you alone. It will be your very own special night, after your presentation to the queen in the afternoon. Besides, I do not want to make a public fuss over this marriage. I am much too old for that. And considering the circumstances, it would not be appropriate.”
“Oh, pooh. What do the circumstances matter if it is a love match?”
“Please, Arabella, let me do this in my own way. Besides, even if I was willing—which I am not—your mother would never agree to sharing your ball with me.”
Her niece giggled. “She would not, would she? Well, at least you must come and dance with Mr. Parrish. You may pretend it is your ball, even if nothing is said of it.”
A pretend ball. A pretend love match. What other fictions lay ahead in this new make-believe world she’d entered this morning? And how long could she pretend that she was not miserable?
Nick followed Lord Henry into the house. He supposed they were about to have a man-to-man talk about Pru. There had been no time to do so before now. Lord Henry had spent the morning arranging for the special license and use of thechurch. But the moment for plain speaking
So, this was how it was to be. Married to a man she loved to distraction who did not love her, did not want her, and never would. Any woman still breathing would find him attractive, and so Pru would constantly have to endure the open interest of other women. And because just about any one of them would be more desirable than Pru, she would have to constantly wonder if he returned that interest. And keep silent about it if he did.
How was she to bear it?
Was she destined forever to compare herself to some unknown woman who might be his lover? And to wonder how miserably she measured up? Were there women already in his life to contend with?
Good heavens. It occurred to her that she knew very little of his personal life. What if he was in love with someone else? What if he had been courting someone in hopes of marriage?
“Aunt Prudence?”
Pru took a deep breath and forced aside all thoughts of how else she might have ruined Nicholas’s life. She composed herself, looked up at her niece, and smiled. “Arabella. Did I tell youhow pretty you look today? That shade of blue was a good choice after all. It is most becoming.”
The girl gave a wave of casual dismissal and took Pru by the arm. “I am glad we have a moment alone, Aunt Prudence. I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you. Mr. Parrish is exceedingly handsome, is he not?”
“He is indeed.”
Arabella sighed wistfully. “I hope I can find such a handsome husband. I do pray, though, I don’t have to wait as long as you.” She gave a little squeal and covered her mouth. “Oh, forgive me! That was badly stated. I just meant that I do not have your patience. I want to find my handsome hero now . All the cousins are frightfully jealous, you know. Have you really been in love forever? That’s what Cousin Hugh said. Mr. Parrish told him that even though the timing of the marriage was forced, it was not unwelcome. I am so glad to know that you have made a love match at long last. But why have you never mentioned him before?”
Pru shrugged. She was reluctant to play along with the yarn Nicholas had spun, but neither did she want to contradict him in public. “It was a private matter, Arabella.”
“And you have always been a very private person.” Arabella smiled and patted Pru’s arm. “Well, I, for one, am enormously pleased for you. I only wish you could have had a grand wedding and lots of parties. It does not seem right that there are no celebrations.” Her eyes lit up withsudden excitement. “I have it! You can share my come-out ball. It can be in honor of your wedding as well.”
An instant of sheer terror sent an involuntary shudder through Pru’s body. “No, no, my dear. The ball is for you alone. It will be your very own special night, after your presentation to the queen in the afternoon. Besides, I do not want to make a public fuss over this marriage. I am much too old for that. And considering the circumstances, it would not be appropriate.”
“Oh, pooh. What do the circumstances matter if it is a love match?”
“Please, Arabella, let me do this in my own way. Besides, even if I was willing—which I am not—your mother would never agree to sharing your ball with me.”
Her niece giggled. “She would not, would she? Well, at least you must come and dance with Mr. Parrish. You may pretend it is your ball, even if nothing is said of it.”
A pretend ball. A pretend love match. What other fictions lay ahead in this new make-believe world she’d entered this morning? And how long could she pretend that she was not miserable?
Nick followed Lord Henry into the house. He supposed they were about to have a man-to-man talk about Pru. There had been no time to do so before now. Lord Henry had spent the morning arranging for the special license and use of thechurch. But the moment for plain speaking
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