Gaze darting about as it was, Rosanna nearly missed a new and ever-important addition to the party.
“Prudence?” Hurrying around the others, Rosanna struggled not to run to where her sister and her brother-in-law were approaching. She longed to hitch up her skirts and sprint to her, but she contented herself by sweeping Prudence into an embrace the moment they were close enough.
“Good heavens, Rosanna. That is a greeting,” said Prudence.
“I didn’t think you were coming. How did you get away?”
Parker came up beside his wife, and once Rosanna released her sister, Prudence stepped back to take his arm. With a smile, he added, “It was an effort to get her to agree, but between Robert and myself, we managed. He has a nursemaid, after all, darling.”
“A young woman who seems more determined to catch Robert’s eye than care for his child,” replied Prudence with the cadence of an old argument. Turning to Rosanna, she asked, “What have we missed?”
Though her sister clearly meant the party, Rosanna couldn’t help the swell of emotions that followed her sister’s little question. Everything that had passed between her and Mr. Tate flooded her mind and heart. For all that she and Prudence had already discussed the gentleman at length after the masquerade, all those emotions were churned up, demanding they be examined again with a heaping portion of new turmoil to add to the chaos.
Rosanna held Prudence’s gaze for a long silent moment as she tried to organize her thoughts, but she couldn’t think where to begin or what to say.
With a look at her husband, Prudence released his arm and took Rosanna’s.
“Find me when you are ready to leave,” called Parker as the pair wandered along the edge of the party.
Once out of earshot, Prudence leaned closer and glanced at Rosanna. “Now, tell me what is going on.”
“You have so much on your plate, surely you do not want to add your sister’s troubles to it—”
“Stuff and nonsense,” came the reply, and Prudence held tighter to Rosanna’s arm. “No amount of burdens would keep me from wanting to know, especially when you come running towards me as though the hounds of hell were at your heels. Please, talk to me.”
Rosanna drew in a breath, attempting to gather her scattered thoughts, but it was like herding kittens; they skittered this way and that, not allowing her to lay hold of more than one at a time, and she certainly couldn’t put them in any coherent order. Her ribs tightened as though under some great strain, and though she took another deep breath to ease the pressure, it did no good, as the words bubbled beneath the surface.
“He refuses to apologize. It’s as though he’s incapable of acknowledging any wrongdoing. Oh, he feels terrible I am upset and discomforted by what he’s done, but heaven forfend that he should actually say the words, ‘I apologize for my behavior.’”
The words tumbled free in a whoosh, and in a rush, Rosanna told Prudence of their conversation before revisiting all the many things she’d already shared about the infuriating man. All the while Prudence remained at her side, steering them away from others as Rosanna fought to keep her voice from rising. Anyone with eyes would know she was agitated, but Rosanna was beyond caring what they did or did not suspect.
Let them know she was angry. What did it matter?
“I have tried and tried to explain it, Prudence, and he is either stubborn or incapable of doing so, and how in the world could I possibly entertain a courtship with anyone so immovable?”
Rosanna stumbled upon that thought, and her heart seized as lightning came from the heavens to strike her with that realization. Though her words slowed a touch, she didn’t consider a single one as they hurried on from her head to her lips.
“I have spent the last year attempting to better myself. I cannot say I have achieved any significant measure of success. How could I ever bind myself to a man who suffers from many of the same weaknesses? He’s frivolous and vain, and such a man is liable to undo all my hard work.”
Rosanna’s breath caught in her lungs. If not for Prudence guiding them along, she would’ve stopped in place, for her thoughts halted, leaving her unable to feel or think. Bless Prudence, she allowed her sister a moment of stunned silence as Rosanna attempted to get her mind working once more.
“I cannot be with a man who might encourage the traits I’m attempting to scrub from myself. I cannot battle my weak nature and that of my husband,” she whispered. “What sort of marriage would that be?”
That was the trouble, wasn’t it? It seemed so obvious once spoken.
Rosanna’s thoughts snapped back into place at that, and she glanced at Prudence. “Not that I am considering marriage at this early stage.”
“Of course not,” replied Prudence in that dry manner of hers.
Turning away from her sister’s teasing, Rosanna stared at the distant greenery. For all that the sunshine and color ought to lighten her soul, she felt so very tired at that moment.
“I am done with wicked men. Last year, Mr. Courtney was a temptation, with his fortune and flirtatious manners. The gentleman was so very appealing, but I put him behind me. I cannot believe I have found myself once more intrigued by a man of his ilk.”
“That is sensible,” said Prudence.
Rosanna’s gaze swung back to her sister, and her brows pulled low as those words sat heavy in her heart. “Not that Mr. Tate is truly wicked.”
Letting out a sharp huff, Rosanna shook her head. “I wish I could write him off as nothing but a wretched man, but the truth is that though he is an incorrigible flirt and adores making light of many things, Mr. Tate is merely a tease who’d rather laugh than cry.”
