Page 69

She hurried up the steps, drew in a long breath, and eyed the carriage with a scowl. “Was that…” She sucked in another breath. “Was that Lady De Courcy?”

He nodded.

“What did she want?” Her sour expression made him smile. He recognized a jealous woman when he saw one, and he’d never anticipated Pru might be victim to the emotion. He took it as a good sign, though.

“She offered me a way out.”

“A way out?” she echoed.

Seth stepped back and ushered her inside. She strode past him and into the drawing room, leaving her hat, pelisse, and gloves on. She clasped a piece of paper so tightly that it was almost crumpled into a ball.

“Pru?”

“You did not accept, did you?”

“No, and listen—”

“Oh good.” She exhaled and pressed a hand to her ribs. “I hurried here because I found this!” She waved the crumpled paper in front of him.

“Pru—”

“Look, it’s an old case. Decades old. I visited the solicitors and persuaded them to find their old paperwork for me. But look—” She unfurled it and thrust a finger at it. “It’s so similar to what you’re being forced to do, and the court found it to be unethical.” She beamed at him. “You could contest it on the same grounds, and if they granted a reprieve to this man, then they can hardly argue that you do not deserve the same treatment.”

“But, Pru—”

“All we need to do—”

He stepped forward and grabbed her arms, stilling her. Her gaze met his, and she finally fell quiet. “Pru, I am trying to tell you something.”

“What is it?” She peered at him, her gaze searching his. “Is it something terrible? It sounds terrible.”

He chuckled. “No, it’s not terrible. At least I hope you will not think it’s terrible.”

“Is it to do with Lady De Courcy? You’ve changed your mind and want to marry her anyway?” That hint of jealousy flared in her gaze again. She sagged against his hold. “I should have known I was wasting my time, I should have known…”

“For once in your life, just admit you do not know it all, and let me speak, woman.”

Lips pursed, she shot him a look but fell quiet again. “Fine, what do you wish to say?”

“I do not need this bit of paper.” He released her arms, plucked it from her fingers, and balled it up before flinging it into the empty fire.

“Seth!”

“I do not need a way out of marriage because for the first time in my life, I want to be married.”

“But if you’re not marrying—”

He pressed a finger over her lips. “I want to be married to you, Pru.”

She blinked at him several times then backed away. “But—” She ducked down to retrieve the bit of paper and unfurled it. “You do not need to marry. I already told you…” She jabbed at the document with a finger.

“I said Iwantto be married not that Ineedto be married.”

She shook her head slowly. “But—”

Seth closed the gap between them once more and brought a finger up to her cheek. “You drive me insane, Prudence Hastings. I have never met anyone so passionate, so intelligent, so wonderful. You have become my best friend these past weeks, and I cannot imagine living life without you.”

“I treasure your friendship very much,” she whispered.