“I didn’ttakethe house from anyone. Grandfather chose me as his heir.”
“Grandfather was a fool.”
Isaac wanted to grab Percy by the collar and throw him backwards into the wall, but he managed to keep his arms crossed. “I won’t listen to a word you speak against him. He was like a father to me. He was a good man.”
Percy laughed. “There’s a great deal you don’t know about Grandfather. You may have lived with him for the last year of his life, but you never knew him as I did.”
The accusation sent a pang of grief through Isaac’s chest. “I knew him.”
“Not enough.” Percy tugged on his cravat, loosening it slightly. “And you obviously didn’t love him enough to look after his estate. But that’s quite all right. At least your steward is capable.”
Isaac hadn’t known Percy harbored so much bitterness. It was alarming. “Perhaps Grandfather could see that you were only pretending to love him in order to win his favor and inheritance,” Isaac said. “That does seem to be your way of navigating life.”
Percy laughed. “Pretending to love Miss Prudence was much easier, I will confess. At least she’s an attractive young woman.”
“Do you feel any attachment to her at all?”
Percy hesitated for a brief moment. “No. And the moment we move to Lanveneth, those dogs of hers will mysteriously disappear.” He laughed under his breath. “Fortunately, she seems to love me more, so I doubt she’ll mourn them for long.” He lifted his gaze with a triumphant smile. “I hope you don’t think that claiming two of her dances will keep me from proposing to her tonight. It was a valiant effort though; I do applaud you.” He stepped forward, clapping one hand over Isaac’s shoulder. “You ought to return to the ballroom for that dance.”
A faint shadow flickered across the wall, and Prudence’s tear-streaked face came into view from behind Percy. Sophia held her hand with both of hers, attempting to hold her back.
Percy turned, immediately falling back a step.
Prudence’s nostrils flared, her jaw tightening. Her eyes were wild with anger, a steady flow of tears cascading down her cheeks.
Percy’s shoulders stiffened, and for what might have been the first time in his life, he looked overwhelmed. “Prudence—what is the matter, my dear?”
“I never should have trusted you.” Her words shook with anger.
“Prudence, my love, you misunderstand.”
Her eyes flooded with tears, but her glare cut through them. “No. I understand you perfectly.”
Sophia wrapped her hands around Prudence’s arm, pulling her back down the corridor. She collapsed into tears as they retreated. Isaac followed them, but Percy was tight on his heels, apparently determined to catch them. When they neared the ballroom, his pace finally slowed. There was nothing Percy could do to explain away all the things he had just said.
He had been caught, and he knew it.
Outside the ballroom doors, Sophia stopped, tugging her sister into a tight hug as she sniffled. Isaac lingered nearby, digging into his jacket for his handkerchief. His heart ached for Prudence. He knew how it felt to have his heart left in pieces without any warning.
Well, Prudencehadbeen warned.
Many times.
She ignored Isaac’s handkerchief, wiping at her cheeks with her gloved fingers instead.
“Shall I fetch your aunt?” Isaac asked. “The three of you might return home early.”
“Yes, thank you.” Sophia’s eyes connected with his. They had succeeded. It was a difficult matter to celebrate considering how distraught Prudence was, but Isaac caught the gratitude in Sophia’s gaze. Prudence was safe. Sophia’s arms tightened around her, and she closed her eyes.
In the ballroom, Isaac had only taken a few steps before Lord Blackstone intercepted him. His exuberance faded into a stern look. “Ah, Mr. Ellington. What opportune timing. I should like a word with you.”
“Er—yes, of course.” He glanced behind him. “I was actually in search of Mrs. Liddle. Miss Prudence is…out of sorts and wishes to leave. She is waiting in the corridor.”
Lord Blackstone’s brows drew together. “Why, pray tell, were you in the corridor with Prudence?”
“Her sister is there as well,” Isaac blurted.
Lord Blackstone looked perplexed. “Mr. Ellington, if I did not make myself clear enough the first time, allow me to repeat: You are to keep your distance from my stepdaughters. You are not to call upon Sophia as you did yesterday, especially without her chaperone present. You are not to sneak around the corridors with them, and you are not to claim more than one of their dances.” With a huffed breath, he started toward the corridor.
