He wanted to dispute that and take her in his arms to prove to her why ‘friend’ did not describe their relationship. But he nodded. “Of course you can.”
“Poor Gramma.” She clutched her hands together. “She must be frantic with worry. I hope it doesn’t make her ill.”
He took her small, soft hands in his. “She will be, but all will be well when I return you to her tomorrow. Do you know who is behind this?”
“No. But it must be Roland,” she said. “Why would anyone else wish to do this?”
If it was him, then the man is dangerous.“Mr. Stanton? Why would he do this?”
“My father’s will left Roland nothing but the estate and London house. Apart from the funds tied up with the estate, which are not extensive, the rest of the properties and investments he left to me. I don’t know why Papa should have been so harsh. It was totally out of character for him,” she added. “My father was a generous man. However, in truth, he was never overly fond of Roland. I suspected there was more of a reason for it than mere dislike. But he never told me why. Roland began acting oddly after Papa died; he was determined to marry me even before the will was read. Despite my firm refusal.”
Jack motioned to the chair. “Sit and tell me everything that happened since you were taken from Richmond.”
Pale but resigned, she chose to sit on the bed. Jack took the chair.
“I don’t remember how I arrived at the convent.” Stark fear in her eyes, she drew her lip between her teeth. “I was drugged.”
Jack clenched his jaw and promised himself to deal with Stanton personally, should he be behind this. “Go on.”
When she’d told him about her escape, Jack was proud of her and thankful she was safe, and so much more that he wished fervently toexpress. “You are very brave, Lady Prudence.”
She shook her head. “I was so frightened, I thought I would die, or what I considered even worse, to be trapped in a marriage that would be like a prison.” She swept her lustrous hair up in her hands, piling it on her head, revealing her swan-like neck and making her breasts jiggle beneath the thin silk.
Sitting uncomfortably with a raging erection, Jack wondered how he could orchestrate his departure with any dignity.
Lady Prudence toyed with the belt around her waist and the peignoir fell open to reveal a brief glimpse of a nipple before she straightened the clothing.Cream and rose, he thought abstractly.
“I hope that one day, should I survive this threat, which I don’t believe is over, you will ravish me, Jack,” she said, using his given name for startling effectiveness while her green eyes searched his.
He fought to get a steely grip on himself. “You’ve been through a lot and are not thinking clearly, sweetheart.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been as clear in my head as I am now. I only ask for one night, that’s all. I never intend to marry. I plan to run my own estate while employing all my father taught me.”
He shook his head, amused despite himself. “Oh, no, my lady. One night definitely wouldn’t be enough.”
Her eyes danced. “Is that a promise?”
She is so dashed appealing.A promise? And then think of the consequences afterward? He leaned forward to trace a finger over her velvety cheek. It was all he would allow himself. “You will change your mind when this danger is at an end.”
Lady Prudence shook her head. She was young and didn’t realize the risky outcome of such a rash act. It could only result in marriage. Something he’d always told himself would be unfair to any woman. Was it even possible he could be all that she wanted in a husband? Because despite her determination to remain unmarried, after ravishing her, he wouldn’t let her go.
He stood. “Try to sleep. We’ll leave for your great-grandmother’s home in the morning. Now I must speak to my groom and see to the horses.”
Chapter Seventeen
In the bedchamber,Prue lay staring into the darkness, wondering at her boldness. Although Jack hadn’t agreed, she was confident she could persuade him. A woman knew when a man desired her. It was obvious in the heated glance he gave her. She accepted that she could be badly hurt. Hadn’t Gramma warned her not to fall in love with a rake? Or did he encourage this reputation, as a cover for his work? As an agent, he would want to continue working for the government. Despite knowing he would never marry her, she still loved him: loved his strength and how brave and caring he was, but more because of the sadness she felt was hidden deep in his soul. She had sensed it in his quiet, reflective moments. Had he been born this way? Or might something have happened in his past to make him so? She wished he would confide in her and yearned to give him all of herself, to ease that sorrow.
Prue knew herself to be naïve, with little experience of theton. Except for that one brief Season, which hadn’t been a great success and had been later than most debutantes had their debuts. Once emerging from the schoolroom, she had spent most of her time helping her ailing mother, and then after she’d passed away, visiting the tenants and riding over the estate lands with her father. It was a life she enjoyed, and she didn’t want to give it up to become some man’s chattel. And because her beloved father had ensured her independence,she didn’t have to.
With a soft moan, she turned over and pummeled the lumpy pillow. Since meeting Jack, she wanted something more from the life she’d envisaged. A man to share it with. Someone she could respect and love. She hadn’t been completely honest with him about that when she’d said she didn’t with to marry.
Tomorrow, she would go back to Richmond. Would the intimacy they’d shared be over? Jack would want to find Roland, she was sure. Could her cousin be searching for her at this very moment?
She darted out of bed to ensure the door was securely locked. Shivering, she rubbed her arms. No matter where life took her, would she ever feel as content as she once had been?
Prue fell asleep in the early hours and woke to bright sunshine filtering in around the edge of the blinds. She left the bed and splashed cold water on her face at the washstand. Dressing in the soiled clothes again brought a mew of distaste. Someone knocked on the door while she grappled with her hair.
“It’s Millie, my lady. Are you awake? I have brought your chocolate.”
