She rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t be saucy.”
He tamped down his agitation. “I’m quite anxious to see Prudence, and I’d rather do so after we have taken steps to defeat this rumor. Prudence is why we came here, remember?”
“Of course, I remember. It’s why Minnie and I insisted on coming. You clearly need our help, now more than ever.” She turned and went back into the study, crossing immediately to the desk. “What invitations have you received?”
“Hardly any.”
“We need a ball.”
Bennet recalled there was one invitation to a ball. He strode to the desk and rifled through the pile until he found the one that he sought. “It’s tonight.”
“Oh dear. I suppose Minnie and I will just have to make do with what we have.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, Great-Aunt Flora, but this isn’t about you. Why do we need to go to a ball?”
“Because you need to do something to quash those rumors. You need to give them something far more delicious to talk about.” She patted his arm. “We’ll come up with something.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he whispered, his mind racing. “I need to go.”
He spun about, seeing very clearly what needed to happen. He just had to make certain the right people were in attendance.
Prudence had barely slept last night beneath the weight of her worry for her mother and whether Peterborough was exacting some sort of awful vengeance. Thankfully, that morning she’d received word that the countess had spent the night safely at her brother’s house.
That had left Prudence to focus the majority of her worry on the rumors about her as well as her future. What would Bennet say about all this if he were here? Had he heard about it way out in Somerset? If not, he would soon since Flora kept a keen eye on London gossip.
“Well, that was dull.” Kat jumped up from her favorite reading chair and went to replace the book on the shelf.
Prudence turned from the window. “You’ve finished already?”
“I skimmed the last half.” Given how quickly she read, Prudence wondered what that looked like. “And now I’m bored. I think I’ll go for a walk. I’d invite you, but you’ll only refuse again.”
Because Prudence had declined to take walks since arriving in London. At first because she’d been wallowing in self-pity. Now, she didn’t wish to encounter anyone who would look at her with disgust.
Before she could respond, Bart entered. “Lady Glastonbury, Lady Peterborough is here to see you. She is waiting in the drawing room.”
“Thank you, Bart.” Prudence glanced toward Kat, who waved her off.
“It’s not as if you’re my companion any longer,” Kat said. “Though I daresay you wish you were. Seems it was more pleasant for you than marriage. I do think this has sealed my decision to remain unwed. I shall be the greatest bluestocking spinster London has ever known.” She fairly skipped from the library, and Prudence was grateful for the smile she couldn’t hold back.
Hurrying upstairs, Prudence went to the drawing room to meet her mother. The countess stood just inside and gave her a sad smile as Prudence walked in.
“My poor dear,” Christina said, holding her arms out.
Prudence hesitated. While she was eager to see that her mother was all right, she wasn’t certain she wanted to rush into her arms. Their relationship hadn’t progressed quite that far. Had it?
The countess frowned slightly. “I thought you might like to be comforted. Is that not your nature? It seemed as though it was when you came to see me that first time.”
“I was rather emotional that day.” She was rather emotional every day now. “This also seems…strange. You never behaved this way with Cassandra, and she was in need of mothering.”
Christina paused before responding. “I know. I admit I struggled to show her as much affection as she needed. She reminded me of losing you. It was too hard. I wish I’d been a better aunt, but I did my best.”
Prudence went to embrace her mother.
The countess wrapped her arms around Prudence and held her tightly. “What a mess this has become.”
They broke apart, and Prudence was surprised to realize she felt a bit better. “I’m glad to see you are well. What happened with Peterborough?” Prudence was almost afraid to ask.
“He was livid, but thankfully, my brother arrived just as he was telling me I would be going to live in a convent in Ireland. Evesham whisked me away and took me to his house. I should have told him about you sooner, but even he acknowledges that he likely would have told me to find an adoptive family for you.”
Prudence tensed. “Is he upset that I’m here now?”
“No, he’s far more upset at Pete’s reaction. He understands we must make the best of this situation.” Christina flinched, then smiled apologetically. “Not that having you here in our lives is something we need to make the best of. It’s just a change.”
That the duke seemed to accept Prudence was surprising.
Christina continued, “I’ll be staying with my brother while I determine what to do next. In the meantime, Evesham is trying to persuade Pete that anything he does will only compound the scandal. If he shrugs and does nothing, acts as if it’s old news that he cares nothing about, the sting will be gone.” She took Prudence’s arm and guided her to the settee. “People only like gossip if it humiliates someone.”
They sat down together, and Prudence found she could breathe easier.
“I’m glad your brother is advocating on your behalf.”
“It’s a little shocking, I must confess; however, he possesses a softer side than anyone would realize.” Christina put her finger to her lips and smiled. “Don’t tell.”
Prudence mimicked the action.
“More surprising than him helping me is the fact that he wishes to lend his support to you, his niece.”
“Me?” Accepting her was one thing, but helping her? “How?”
“Publicly. There’s a ball tonight, and he will stand at your side.”
It had been hard enough to accept that the truth of her parentage had somehow become known, but now she was to believe the mighty—and austere—Duke of Evesham was going to be her champion. She shook her head. “I can’t.”
“My dear, you must. And not just because you risk offending the duke. The fastest way to kill gossip is to give them something else to talk about.”
“The duke standing with me at a ball is going to put an end to the gossip about me?” She laughed without an ounce of humor. This was too absurd.
The countess exhaled. “Perhaps not, but it will help matters. There will be many who will see the duke’s approval and won’t dare to say anything against you. The gossip will die down abruptly.”
“You put an awful lot of faith in the power of your brother.”
“Of course I do. He’s the Duke of Evesham.” She gave Prudence a sly smile. “You should too. Now, what will you wear? It must be your finest gown.”
As a companion, Prudence had gowns that she wore to balls. However, they weren’t ball gowns, not like those Cassandra or Fiona wore. “I was a companion until very recently, and my wardrobe reflects that. Even if I’d had time to order new gowns, my husband can’t afford them.”