Journey to love (Runaway Regency Brides Special Edition) (5 Story Box Set) by Darcy Regina

Author:Darcy, Regina [Darcy, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Clean and Wholesome Romance
Published: 2019-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

NINE

Although Phoebe was aghast at the Earl’s conduct at the ball, she thought, and said to her sister, that perhaps he was being especially protective of Prudence’s reputation in case people should automatically assume that she and the Viscount were ready to make an announcement before any such arrangement had been agreed upon.

Prudence knew that it was her sister’s way to look for a solution to a dilemma that did not invoke confrontation or accusations. She said nothing about the kiss that the Earl had responded with when she confronted him the day after the ball, but not because she wished to shield him from blame. It was because she had returned his kiss with such abandon; had, in fact, expected the kiss if she had not sought it, and had allowed that hidden self within her to direct her actions as she kissed him back.

Instead, she took to avoiding the Earl, taking her meals in her room or, when the Earl was out, with Phoebe. She began to explore the neighbourhood on long, solitary strolls where she could be alone with her thoughts. In the mornings, she availed herself of the stables and rode through town before anyone was up and about, finding in busy, bustling London a peace that the city lacked when it was populated by the awakened servants, tradesmen, merchants, shopkeepers, and aristocrats. She knew how to saddle her own horse and Madame, that remarkable woman, had been of the opinion that riding sidesaddle was unhealthy for les femmes; therefore, their riding outfits were sewn as loose trousers that looked like skirts. Freed from the constriction of a female riding wardrobe, Prudence was able to straddle her horse and gallop without fear of falling from the saddle.

Benton often saw her returning to the manor after such a ride, but she knew instinctively that he would not give her away. He nodded at her return and asked her if she would like breakfast in her room. It was a week before she realised that the butler deliberately timed his presence to coincide with her return from her morning ride, so that he could be sure that she had not met with a mishap. He never, by word or deed, indicated that such a concern had entered his thoughts, but it became obvious to her that Benton and Mrs Truman between them looked out for all members of the household, from the Earl at the very top tier to the lowliest kitchen-maid. She wondered what inspired such loyalty, for she could see nothing in the Earl’s attitude to have nurtured it.

It seemed that they were accepted as part of the household now, she supposed. But she had not abandoned her plan that, should the situation become untenable, she would leave and find refuge in the convent. She realised, sadly, that if that were to happen, she would go alone, for Phoebe was finding a place in the household and in the social environment as well, happily accepting invitations to outings, picnics and visits to London sites where such occasions were permissible.

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