All I Want by Lynsay Sands

he returned to his club. He found dissatisfaction plucking at him as he peered around the gaming room. It was late enough that the place was filling up, and everywhere he looked were the desperate gazes of men risking more than they should, the slumped shoulders of losers. At times like this, it all seemed terribly tawdry and unpalatable, and he seriously considered alternative professions. It was also at times like this that he saw his father everywhere. Right that moment, he was even seeing his father in the face of Lord Prescott, and the man’s very presence seemed to mock him.
    Prudence rolled onto her back and sighed miserably. Sleep seemed to be beyond her. Her mind was too full to allow it.She kept thinking of Stephen, seeing his handsome face, remembering his kisses, his touch, his scent, his smile. He had such gentle eyes. She wished—
    She threw the bedcovers aside impatiently and sat up to swing her feet off of the bed. There was no use in wishing for things she couldn’t have. It was doubtful that Stephen’s interest in her went beyond the carnal, and even should he wish more, she could not, in good conscience, have any sort of marriage with a man who made his living off of the weaknesses of people like her father.
    Standing, she found her robe and pulled it on, then made her way cautiously through the dark to the door. It was Christmas Eve. She had gone to bed early. The whole household had, except for her father. He was no doubt out losing the last of their possessions. The creditors had stopped allowing Bentley, their butler, to brush them off. The day before, they had started to take things away in lieu of payment. Which was why Prudence had taken Charlotte skating—to keep her from having to witness those nasty encounters.
    She had intended to take her little sister somewhere else today, perhaps to visit Ellie, but other than two large bill collectors who had visited rather early, no one had come around. The day had turned out well, and she and her mother had decided to take advantage of their home while they still had it, stringing popcorn to finish decorating the tree. Prudence supposed even creditors had hearts if they were waiting until after Christmas to empty the Prescott home.
    She had made her way along the dark hall and down the stairs before spotting the light shining from beneath the kitchen door. Suspecting it was her mother, and knowing she would need cheering, Prudence forced a smile to her face and pushed into the room. Inside she froze. It wasn’t her mother; instead, her father sat at the table, looking dazed.
    “Father, whatever are you doing home?” she asked with surprise. “Why are you not out…”
    “I have been banned from everywhere, that is why. Where has all the liquor in this house gone?”
    “You
drank
it,” she answered distractedly. “Did you say you were banned from
everywhere?
”
    He nodded morosely. “Someone went around and paid all my debts, every last one. But in exchange, the owners were to bar me from entry.” He shook his head miserably. “I am not even allowed in to drink! Who the hell would do a thing like that?”
    “Papa, you are sober.”
    He glanced up with a startled expression. “Aye. Why does that surprise you?”
    “I have not seen you sober in a long time,” she said gently. Surprised realization crossed his face; then his gaze moved to the door as his wife entered.
    “What is this about?” she asked upon seeing her husband. Her face showed the same surprise at his presence that Prudence had felt.
    “Papa has been banned from the clubs. Someone has paid his debts, but he is no longer allowed in them—even to drink.” Prudence spoke quietly, then rushed to comfort her mother as she burst into sudden tears. “This is good news, Mam. Everything will be well now.”
    “I know!” the woman wailed. “It is just that I have been so frightened. When those creditors came and took…I feared we would be in the poorhouse by year’s end,