“I don’t have time to discuss that now, tell me later. I’m heading over to the gorge to round up some of those wild quarter horses before someone else beats me to it. It’s almost a day’s ride. If I’m to get back by Sunday, I need to be heading out now. I just stopped by to give you this.” Austin dipped into his pants pocket and handed his brother the wedding ring. “I wanted to ask you to marry us on the fourth of July with the others. We’ll talk again soon.”
Austin got back on his horse and galloped away.
Chapter 15
Word was sent to Prudence by way of Mrs. Millard. The other mail order brides were coming to town. If Prudence so desired, she would be welcome on the town tour to meet with the other women, and familiarize herself with the town and its amenities. Ordinarily, this would have been a golden opportunity for Prudence to meet women in a similar situation, and maybe make a few friends.
Even though she’d been in town for a while, she hadn’t gone farther than the bakery on the corner between Schoolhouse Road and Main Street. Besides, it was too soon. She was afraid she might run into Steve Kelly. She hadn’t seen the look on his face when Austin snatched her away from him. However, she knew how she’d feel had their roles been reversed.
Shame ate away at her, and the guilt she felt wasn’t any better. Disgust and self-loathing had become her bedfellows. She prayed for the strength to face Mr. Kelly should he attend the community picnic on Sunday. There was no way she’d be able to get out of attending that particular function. Minna had told her anyone who was anyone would be there.
Austin would be back by then, and he’d expect her to be at his side. The wedding was still on and after her disgraceful behavior, it was time for her to see sense and act accordingly. She felt blessed to have been welcomed into a family such as this one, and she would do nothing to ruin her chances of a good life with Austin ever again.
She touched her cheek where the impression of his kiss still lingered for her. It had been her first kiss and she achieved it through ungracious means. The meaning of his kiss was still lost to her. She’d done nothing to warrant anything but Austin’s anger and displeasure. Instead he had shown affection. This puzzled her.
Was he saying he’d forgiven her and they could start anew? She wished he would let her know what he was thinking. The frustration of not knowing was torturous. He was obviously a complicated man and it would take time to get to know him. She had to be patient and follow his lead.
Jeffrey told her that afternoon over lunch, that Austin had stopped by to see him and informed him the wedding would take place with the other couples who wished to marry on the fourth of July. He suspected it would be quite a grand affair. Also, he’d left money with them for a wedding dress if she did not have her own. Minna would take her into town later in the day to procure one, in case the other would-be-brides had the same idea.
“It will also give us time to do any alterations needed. I would loan you mine, but I have a feeling you’d prefer your own. Something you can hand down to your own daughter one day, as my mother did.”
“Thank you, that’s very kind of you.”
Before Prudence could say more, a squeal came from outside the dining room door. It was Winnie, she came in looking excited.
“Come quick and see,” she said from the open doorway with Benji asleep in her arms.
Ever since Winnie arrived, she had appointed herself Benji’s nanny. Prudence had to practically pry him from her grasp if she wanted to hold him, with Winnie hovering close by to take him back.
They all rose from the dining table and left the room to see what Winnie was so excited about. Winnie placed Benji in Prudence’s arms and turned back to face the young man waiting at the main entrance. She pulled the delivery inside, pausing to release the item and clapped her hands.
“Ain’t it wonderful? It’s one of those new fancy baby carriages. The delivery boy says Mr. Austin paid for it yesterday afternoon. It was too late to have it delivered then. So, they sent it today. It’s very exciting. I can take Benji out for walks in the park while we’re here without worrying my arms will get tired,” Winnie said, pulling the carriage past them as they crowded around the doorway.
Walking along the side of it, Winnie pushed it forward, heading for the kitchen at the back of the house. Grinning, she ran a hand along the length of it as she went. “I’ll come back for little Benji once I’ve made this baby buggy nice and comfy for him.”
Jeffrey laughed and said when Winnie was out of earshot, “Well, that was nice of Austin to buy Winnie a baby carriage.”
Minna giggled and elbowed her husband in the ribs. Prudence rocked Benji in her arms as she stared openmouthed at Winnie openly admiring the buggy as she pushed it along practically purring.
Jeffrey chuckled some more. “Do you think she’ll remember to come back for Benji, before heading out to the park with her new, but empty carriage?”
“Jeffrey Alwin, be still. You’re incorrigible.” Minna tapped her husband on his upper arm, before grabbing him by his sleeve and pulling him back into the dining room. A wide smile filled her face as she went.
But Prudence wasn’t smiling. She was worried that the baby carriage was way too expensive a present. She’d have to get Austin to return it. Following behind Jeffrey and Minna, she gave voice to her concern.
“It’s too expensive a gift for us to accept, Austin must return it, I insist on it.” Color rose to her cheeks when Jeffrey stopped and turned toward her.
“I think you’d be wise not to have that discussion with my brother. He would not receive your rejection of his gift well.”
“But he has spent so much already. I refuse to encroach on his generosity further.”
“I urge you to try, considering the circumstances. It would be good if you could inject some of Mrs. Dunne’s enthusiasm when you see him next.”
“I understand.” Prudence felt deflated. “If you will excuse me, I’ll take Benji up to the room and put him down.”
Prudence climbed the stairs to her bedroom, suddenly wishing Maddy was here. She needed someone just for her to talk to. She didn’t want to admit Jeffrey was right, nor did she want to anger Austin further, not after what she had done the night before. The look in Jeffrey’s eyes held a stern warning which she’d be a fool to ignore.
First, she’d allowed her insecurities to get the better of her, and now her pride was getting in the way of her salvation. She gave a silent prayer, thanking God she had broached the subject with Jeffrey and Minna instead of Austin directly.
His calm acceptance of her behavior the other night was even more frightening than if he had screamed and shouted. She had no idea how to deal with a man like that. A negative open reaction was a clearer indication of someone’s mood, and easier to measure and react to.
She’d be the first to admit Austin was an enigma to her. Her inexperience with men was a disadvantage. She needed advice. The only thing Prudence was sure of was how the raw, magnetic manliness of Austin affected her physically, making her unsure of everything she thought she knew. The thought of being married to him in a few days scared and excited her at the same time.
She only hoped he’d be gentle and caring with her when the time came to consummate their union. Therefore, it would be in her best interest, as Jeffrey suggested, not to anger him. Once she was his wife she’d be his to do with as he wanted.
Her life may go a little smoother if she regarded herself as property for the time being, the same way she had after moving into the Langton’s home. She’d realized her status had plummeted dramatically, when shown the attic as her living quarters. A room she’d had to share with another domestic servant, who had become her best friend in the world.
Benjamin’s scent was still in the house when they had gone against everything they said to him. He’d left her thinking she was safe. Neither of them had noticed the cruel twist to Mr. Langton’s smile until it was too late for her. He ordered the butler to remove her to the attic almost as
soon as the door had closed on her brother’s back.
Unlike now, she hadn’t protested. She’d accepted her fate with dignity, secure in the knowledge that one day her brother would come back to save her. Until the days had turned into months without a word from Benjamin. Hope soon left her, and what little pride she had left had gone with it. However, she must have had a spark of pride left. Like a seed it grew with every passing day, Mr. Langton let her know he had designs on her—until it consumed her. She was a Fairchild and would die before she let him anywhere near her.
She’d vowed if she ever escaped her nightmarish life at the Langtons, she’d never be so accepting again. Yet here she was, ready to set her pride aside again. Although, somehow, it felt different this time. She accepted she was no longer part of the elite society her father was born into, and felt sure it was her mother’s humble beginnings and lack of breeding, that had made the Langtons behave so shamefully toward her.
However, being here with the Alwins, there was an element of choice involved in what happened to her future, and that was different enough for her to accept her fate as one of her own making.
“Miss Prudence, Mrs. Alwin is waiting for you downstairs. I’ve come to take Benji for a walk in his new carriage.”
Winnie’s voice snapped her back to reality. She glanced down at the pen in her hand and noticed she’d started a letter to Maddy. Grateful to see that although she’d put Maddy’s name on it, she’d addressed the letter to Maddy’s fiancé at the top righthand corner.
She slipped the unfinished letter into the top drawer of her writing desk and rose to leave, picking her shawl up off the bed.
Chapter 16
Austin pushed his men hard to round up and bring the wild horses back a day early, so he’d be home in time to escort Prudence and Benji to church on Sunday, and later to the social. They were back at Highbourne by sunset Saturday evening.
Dead on his feet, he didn’t have time to draw a bath, so he grabbed a towel and a bar of soap. Stripping off, he wrapped the towel around his waist and went to use the stream at the back of his property to bathe.
The water was cold and had the desired effect of shocking him awake. He swam for a while then began to soap away the strain of the day. He wanted to get to the livery to hire a buggy big enough to transport Prudence and the baby. Jeffrey’s two seater wasn’t adequate to carry them and the supplies the short distance to the church. This way, they would only need to make one trip.
Prudence’s scared eyes haunted his mind. He’d thought of nothing else the whole time, making him useless when trying to steer the horses into a closed off section of the ravine, to trap, round them up, and bring them in.
As his skin got used to the temperature of the stream, he wondered if the baby carriage he’d seen displayed in the mercantile window and bought for Benji had arrived. It made him chuckle to see the three-wheeled contraption. It was designed to look like a horse drawn buggy.
It had a small wheel at the back and two larger wheels at the front attached to the hand-bar running across the top. It was quaint to see the tiny base in black leather and steel frame fitted out for one, with a hood. Feeling sure Prudence would like it; without really thinking about it, he’d gone in to buy it.
Mrs. Brinks had raised her eyebrows when she saw what he was buying.
“Hello, Austin, and who would you be buying a baby carrier for? Pastor Jeffrey and Minna aren’t with child, are they? I saw Minna the other day, she didn’t say anything to me.”
“I dare say she didn’t. If you could just have your boy deliver it to my brother’s house, I’d be much obliged.” Austin had rubbed the back of his neck and tightened his lips to stop himself saying more. None of it polite.
“It won’t be until tomorrow. We’re done making deliveries for the day.”
“Tomorrow will be fine. Good evening to you, ma’am,”
“I hear tell the pastor has a number of visitors at the house. Are they here for the festivities?”
Austin fought down his agitation. “Maybe that’s a question for Jeffrey or Minna. I have to be going now.”
“Do you think they may need any more baby supplies? I can order some in.”
“I have no idea. Now I really must get going, ma’am. So long.” Austin tipped his hat and strode out the door, breathing a sigh of relief. Mrs. Brinks didn’t mean no harm, but she had a way of sticking her nose where it wasn’t wanted.
The last thing he needed was gossip going around about Prudence and him before his nuptials. Once they were married, it wouldn’t matter to anyone whether she was an unmarried mother or not, she’d be his wife and folks would have to treat her accordingly.
Austin dipped his head under the water to wash away the memory. He had to hurry if he wanted to spend time with Prudence before church in the morning. He wanted to talk with her, clear things up, and give her his mother’s locket.
Jeffrey had gotten their mother’s wedding ring to give to Minna and gave him the locket. He never thought he’d have occasion to use it. But after their poor start, he decided it would be a nice gesture to give it to Prudence as a way of making amends.
He was going to marry this woman, and so far, all he’d accomplished was alienating her and making her doubt his integrity. He had to change her perception of him and make things right. If he could get to Jeffrey’s place before they sat down to eat, he could take her for a walk and share his fears and reasons for acting crazy. There was no way he’d bring a bride home who was afraid of him.
One final look in the mirror made him grimace when he saw his unshaven face. Prudence must think him unkempt. The only occasion she’d had to see him smooth-faced was at dinner the other night, and her attention had been distracted by the rugged good looks of Steve Kelly. He must look like a baby, compared to the older, bigger man.
The thought irked Austin. Why did he continue to let his mind go there? It had been his own fault why she’d strayed. He could have lost her due to his own stupidity.
He hadn’t liked what Jeffrey had said to him, but he had to respect it. He hadn’t claimed her or made her feel as if he had any designs on her. She’d been within her rights to say she was unattached. When he’d finished with her tonight however, she’d know exactly who she belonged to. He smiled at his reflection and left.
They were finishing grace, when Austin stepped into the dining room. “Evening all,” he said, stepping over to the sideboard and helping himself to a clean plate. “Please, don’t mind me. You start, I’ll catch up.”
“I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow,” Jeffrey said.
“I know, I got back early. I wanted to spend some time with Prudence. If that’s all right with her?”
Color rose to her cheeks as she looked away and nodded once, a quick sharp movement he’d have missed, were he not concentrating on her so intensely. It made him swallow. She was so shy, innocent, and beautiful.
He was finding it hard to believe a woman like her would be an unmarried mother. It just didn’t sit right. Then her lack of rebuffing Kelly’s advances sprung to mind and his jaw stiffened. He looked away from her, sat opposite and began to pile food on his plate, then mumbled a quick prayer. He didn’t always remember to say grace, but he did when having a meal with his brother.
“Thank you for the baby carriage.” Prudence spoke, her head still dipping as she stared into her plate.
“You’re welcome. I noticed you didn’t have one, as I didn’t see one stored anywhere.”
“Ah, yes, and I’m sure Winnie thanks you too. I think she’s walked a thousand miles with that thing since it was delivered.” Jeffrey laughed. Minna gave her husband a stern look. “What? It’s true. She’s in love with that contraption. I think Benji enjoys it too.”
“What about you, Prudence, do you like it?” Austin asked, making his voice soft and caressing. He didn’t want her to continue to be afraid of him so he tried to sound as gentle as possible.
“It very nice and quite expensive.”
“That wasn’t what I asked. Do you like it?”
“Yes,” she said and flashed a glance at him. Their eyes locked for an instance and time seemed to stand still in those few moments. It was as if they were whisked away to someplace just for the two of them as he soaked in her gaze. Her eyelids fell in slow motion. Once they closed, and the link between them was broken, time sped up again.
“Good, I’m glad. I hoped you might,” he croaked out and coughed to clear his airway. He grabbed the pitcher of water, filled his glass and took a long gulp, not stopping until the glass was empty.
The rest of the meal was had without incident. Jeffrey guilted Austin into coming by the church early to help him finish off making the last of the benches needed for the activities in the park. When the meal was over, Austin asked Prudence to join him for a walk in the garden. He led her to a bench and sat her down.
“I brought this for you.” He placed a finger to her lips when her eyes widened, and guessed she would protest. “Before you say it. This didn’t cost me a thing. It was my mother’s, and I’d like you to have it. If I may.” He indicated her neck. She nodded, and he sat next to her. Prudence gave him her back so he could fasten the locket behind her neck.
After he’d fastened it, his fingers lingered there for a while. Mentally he traced his hand down the delicate lines of her neck and across her shoulders before replacing his finger with his lips.
Mesmerized, he dipped his head to give life to his thinking when she turned to face him. A smile lit her face under the moonlight. She gazed admiringly at the heart-shaped jewel, with emeralds and tiny beads of diamonds embedded in the gold outer casing, clasped between her fingers.
“It beautiful,” she breathed.
“As are you.”
Her head jerked upright to gaze into his eyes. He couldn’t help himself, his lips found hers, and she stiffened in his arms. His heart thumped against his chest. What had he done? He was about to pull away when she melted against him, giving herself over to the kiss. Were his lips not otherwise engaged, he would have smiled. Instead he stifled the moan which threatened, as his arms tightened around her, pulling her closer to him.
Minding Benji (Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs Book 5) Page 8
