Candice Hern by Once a Gentleman Read Free Book Online Page A

said.
    “My my my.” Her gaze stayed on Nick, and her eyes twinkled. “Who would have dreamed such a thing? Well, you are welcome to the family, young man. I am giving a small rout next Thursday, the day after Arabella’s come-out ball. You must promise to attend. You may bring along Prudence, of course.”
    “I’d be delighted,” he said, lying through his teeth. He had hoped not to be forced into any more ton events. But he could hardly refuse. Even if she did manage to ignore Pru.
    William took them around to several other grand personages—Lord and Lady Phillip Armitage, the Earl and Countess of Totteridge, Sir Thomas and Lady Vaughn, Lady Randolph Armitage—before he was called away and Prudence was left to the introductions on her own. Everyone they had met so far had reacted in much the same way when he was introduced as Pru’s husband. It was as though none of them imagined she would ever find a husband—if they imagined anything about her at all. It was almost as though because ofhim—because he had married Pru—they noticed her for the first time.
    What was wrong with these people? Pru was as well-bred, as highborn as the rest of them. She was intelligent and sweet-natured and attractive. How had she been so easily overlooked for so long? It was not as though she cowered in the shadows. Yes, she was shy, but she was not timid. She stood straight, looked everyone in the eye, and spoke clearly. Of course, she was not as loud as the others. It seemed that many of them had decided the best way to make their mark in this large company was to shout louder than anyone else. The noise was almost deafening.
    No wonder Pru had tried to find interests for herself outside this mob. He could never imagine her voice raised.
    He saw no women as tiny as Pru, and none with her unique reddish-blond coloring. And certainly none of them seemed shy. Not in this loud, gregarious, almost boisterous family. If not for similarities in the shape of her face and the hint of aquilinity in the nose—how had he failed to notice that aristocratic line?—he would never have guessed Pru belonged to this family.
    She led him to meet the others. So many cousins and aunts and uncles—it made his head spin.
    “Do not even try to keep us all straight,” one of them said. Nick was fairly certain it was Lionel Armitage, son of Lord Arthur Armitage. “It is a lost cause. Even those of us born to the family havetrouble remembering all the relationships. I have always thought we should all wear name badges at these events. Or colored armbands to identify us with one of the twelve children of the old duke.”
    “That would certainly help a newcomer,” Nick said.
    Pru was borne off by some of her female cousins. No doubt they wished to hear all the details of her sudden marriage. He wondered how much of the truth she would tell.
    Lionel Armitage tugged him along to meet more cousins. Within moments, a group of tall, fair-haired men surrounded him, punching him in the shoulder and laughing loudly.
    “Foot caught in the mousetrap, eh, old chap?”
    “Bit of a sticky situation, I hear.”
    “Compromised beyond hope, they say.”
    “A pity you could not have compromised a beauty.”
    “Prudence, of all people.”
    “Deuced bad luck, that’s what it is.”
    “She’s a quiet little thing, though.”
    “Biddable.”
    “Won’t complain if you lead your own life, I daresay.”
    “Still, it’s a damned shame.”
    “Frightful predicament.”
    “Not exactly the sort of woman a man dreams of.”
    “Ha! A nightmare, more like.”
    “Plain little Prudence.”
    “Sad bit of dowd.”
    A sudden chorus of throat clearing told Nick that Pru was near. She was, in fact, just behind him. Damnation. How much had she heard? She was turning to walk away when Nick took her by the elbow and brought her close to his side.
    “I am afraid you are under the wrong impression, gentlemen,” he said. “As it happens, she is precisely the woman I have