Still the same but...different. Uncovered. Laid bare.
And all because a rakish young gentleman had decided to flirt with her and make her laugh. She picked up her embroidery just so she could have the satisfaction of stabbing something.
“So?” Louisa asked, all impatience and frenetic energy, as always. “Is he as handsome as they say or not?”
“He is very handsome.” Her lips felt numb. She didn’t wish to speak of Damian. She didn’t wish to think about him or hear about him or—
“Miss Grayson, there is a visitor.” The housekeeper looked flustered as she entered the room, and it was no wonder. It was far too late for visitors.
“I’ll be back in a moment,” Miss Grayson said before sweeping out of the room. So graceful, their Miss Grayson. So perfectly perfect.
Prudence stabbed at her embroidery again.
Aunt Eleanor would have loved to have a great niece like Miss Grayson.
“Come on, then,” Delilah said, pulling the embroidery out of her hands before she could destroy it. “It is just us girls. You can tell us.”
She feigned surprise. “Tell you what?”
All three of them exchanged looks that made her want to scream. Like an outsider looking in, as always, but this was worse than ever because they looked so sympathetic. So understanding.
“You have feelings for him, don’t you?” Addie asked gently.
And that was the worst of it. They did understand.
She shook her head but couldn't bring herself to voice the lie.
“Oh dear, you can talk to us.” Delilah gave her a sympathetic smile as she placed a hand over hers. “If anyone understands how confusing love can be, it’s us.”
She looked from one sweet, gentle smile to the next. Yes, they did understand...but they also had no idea.
Because their love was reciprocated. Hers was not. It could not be.
So she tugged her hand out from beneath Delilah’s. “This is not the same thing at all.”
Miss Grayson reentered the room as Louisa came to sit beside her on the settee. “Then try explaining it to us.”
Prudence shook her head, her throat growing tight with their kindness. “I cannot explain it to you, none of you would understand.”
Miss Grayson cleared her throat softly in the doorway. “Then perhaps you ought to explain it to Lord Damian.”
Prudence blinked in surprise. “Pardon me?”
Miss Grayson’s wince spoke of sympathy and regret...and perhaps just a twinge of amusement. She nodded toward the entryway. “He is here and he wishes to see you.”
Prudence’s hands were shaking as she left her friends in the warm comfort of the private sitting room and made her way toward the formal drawing room, with Miss Grayson by her side.
“Will you be all right, dear?” Miss Grayson asked quietly when Prudence’s steps grew slower with each passing second.
She nodded but her mouth was too dry to reply.
“I’ll keep the door open, but I’ll give you some privacy, shall I?” Miss Grayson asked. She didn’t seem to be waiting for an answer as she nudged her into the room and poked her head through the doorway behind her. “I’ll be just out here in the hall should you need me.”
Miss Grayson might have said more, but if she did, Prudence didn’t hear it. She was too busy gaping at the sight before her.
Damian had never been so handsome. Nor such a mess. He hadn’t bothered to wash the dirt of travel off of himself or even shave, it seemed.
He looked...well, he looked like a ruffian. But that somehow made him that much more handsome. Like some dastardly highwayman come straight off the pages of one of Louisa’s gothic romances.
“You’re well,” he said. He seemed to be speaking to himself as his gaze traveled over her, taking in every detail of her plain gown and her simple updo as she was scrutinizing him.
She was surprised to see his shoulders slump in relief.
He’d truly been worried about her welfare.
That knowledge jarred her out of her shock long enough to assure him. “I am fine. Thank you for your concern.”
He nodded, his expression inscrutable and his gaze fierce. “I am glad. I was worried when you left so quickly.”
Her gaze dropped to the ground as shame washed through her. He’d worried about her. Of course he had, he was kind like that. She hadn’t meant to alarm him, only protect herself.
“I suppose your aunt shipped you off too quickly for you to come and say goodbye,” he said, his tone holding a question and...something else. There was an edge there she’d never heard before.
Was he angry? Upset? She glanced up and swallowed thickly at the dark intensity of his gaze.
“Uh…” She meant to agree. It would be simple enough to blame her aunt for her hasty departure. But she’d never been good at lying, particularly not to him. “I did not wish to see you.”
Guilt slammed into her, making her drop her gaze again in shame. What a coward. So weak in the face of her emotions. She’d known that if she’d seen him, if he’d been kind and taken pity…
She wouldn’t have been able to walk away. She cleared her throat. “I did not want to say goodbye.”
“I know.” His voice was clipped.
Her head snapped up as she faced him. “You do?”
“Your aunt told me so, but I supposed I’d hoped that she was lying.” He shrugged, his smile rueful and sad. “I wouldn’t put it past her to lie to me if she thought it would inflict pain.”
She made a noncommittal sound of agreement.
He titled his head to the side as if to see her better. “From your aunt, I’d expect to be hurt. I did not see it coming from you, however.”
Prudence winced. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings—”
“Then why did you leave without a word?” He let out a huff of air and ran a hand through his hair. When he spoke
