“Well, one look at Prudence and I was sure she was going to run away again. But this time, it was your mother who drew the line in the sand.”
“My mother? What do you mean?”
“She’s the reason we’re here,” Bridget explained. “She told your father there would be no marriage between that man and Prudence. She said that it was time we listened to Prudence with regard to what she wants for her life, if only to guard against any future scandal. And when your father disagreed and said that he was the man of the house and that Prudence would have to follow whatever he had come up with for her, no matter how she felt about it, your mother put her foot down. She said she wouldn’t allow him to ruin her daughter’s life. She said Prudence would continue to run as long as she felt her hand was being forced, and that this time we would be the ones to leave. And she packed us up and we left.”
“And how does Arabella come to be with you?” Caroline asked in no small amount of wonder.
“She was visiting the house,” Bridget said. “She had heard that Prudence was home and had come to see her, and when we left,she came with us. It was her suggestion that we should come here first, that we should make you aware of what was going on.”
“I’m very glad you did.” Caroline had to admit, she was deeply impressed with her mother for having the courage and the strength to impose her will on her father the way Bridget had described. All her life, Caroline had felt as if her parents had no interest in protecting her or her sisters, but today it seemed as if her mother had finally stepped up and done what was necessary.
She gave Bridget’s hand a grateful squeeze. Then she turned and went over to Levi, who was still focused on Prudence and their mother. It was clear from the furrow in his brow and the way his gaze moved from one of them to the other and back again that he was trying to figure out the truth of what had happened between them.
“Levi,” she said quietly.
He turned to look at her, eyebrows raised.
“My mother and my sister and cousin need a place to stay for a few days,” she said. “They can stay here with us, can’t they?”
“All of them?”
“Well, I assume Arabella will return home. But Prudence and Bridget and my mother have left my father’s house, and they don’t have a roof over their heads.”
“And you want them to stay with us?”
“They need to stay with us. You’re not going to say no, are you?”
Levi’s eyes narrowed, and Caroline had the feeling he wanted to tell her no. Honestly, she wasn’t sure she could fault him for that. She knew what a handful her family could be. Prudence had just proven it, making them chase her down and bring her back home. And even though Caroline was thrilled to see her mother standing up for her sister for once, that wasn’t something she often did well. Caroline knew the truth was that her mother had deeply self-centered tendencies. It made sense that Levi wouldn’t want to be around such a person. Caroline didn’t want it herself. But what could she say? This was her family.
“Levi,” she said quietly. “Please. I need to look out for them. If my mother really has left my father, she’s going to need my support. I can’t let my family be on their own at a time like this.”
Levi sighed and nodded slowly. “Very well,” he said. “They may stay. But you’re to take responsibility for them while they are here. Instruct them in the rules of the household and make sure those rules are followed. I’ll give them shelter in my house, but I don’t want our lives being turned upside-down by this.”
“No. They won’t be,” Caroline pledged. “I promise.”
“I don’t know why your sister can’t be the one to take them in,” Levi grumbled quietly.
“Arabella has children. And besides, she spent her whole life caring for me and Prudence. She’s done enough. I feel as if it’s my turn to take on this responsibility. Do you know what I mean?”
“I don’t think I do,” Levi said. “But I did agree, so I’ll keep to my word. You’ll have them here with you, just as I promised. Why don’t you get them settled in?”
He turned away.
Caroline watched him go and wished he hadn’t. She would have liked his help with what needed to be done now. But at least he’d agreed to let her family stay here. She could accept that and make the most of it.
She turned back to her mother and sister and cousin. “Come,” she said. “Leave your things, they will be brought up for you. Let me show you to some of the spare rooms. I’m sure you’d like to get away for a while, lie down and relax after the ordeal you’ve all had.”
“Yes, I think we would,” her mother said rather faintly. “Thank you, Caroline.”
She fanned herself. Caroline could only imagine how difficult this must be for her mother, a woman who had always counted on being married to a husband who could provide for her. Now that security was gone and she was forced to throw herself upon the mercy of her daughter.
Caroline guided her mother to one door and her sister and Bridget to another. “This will be for the two of you,” she told Prudence. “Get settled in and I’ll send a maid to come and collect you both when it’s time to come down for dinner.”
Prudence nodded. “Thank you for having us to stay, Caroline,” she said. “I don’t know what we would have done. We didn’t have anywhere to go. If it weren’t for you, I would have had to agree to marry him. I couldn’t tell Mother to stay out on the street.”
“I wouldn’t have let that happen,” Caroline assured her sister. “You always have a home with us here, for as long as you need one.”
‘I’m not sure your husband is so fond of that idea. I saw the look on his face when you asked him.”
