All I Want by Lynsay Sands Page A

and—oh, Prudence, we are saved!” She threw her arms around her daughter and held her tightly, sobbing into her shoulder, and Prudence peered over the woman at her father, unable to keep the accusation out of her eyes. It was not softened by the stunned and slightly horrified look on his face.
    He looked away from her angry eyes for a moment, then stood and moved forward to pat awkwardly at his wife’s shoulder. “Ah, now, Meg. Don’t carry on so,” he said uncomfortably. “Things had not got that bad.”
    “Not got that bad?!” Lady Prescott shrieked, turning on him in the first show of temper Prudence had ever seen from her. “The creditors were here yesterday and this morning. They took my mother’s diamond necklace and—”
    “What?” Lord Prescott interrupted, looking thunderous. “Why did no one tell me?”
    “Because you were never here to tell!” she roared. “You have been avoiding us for weeks now. Dragging yourself back in the middle of the night, passing out in the guest chambers, sneaking out the moment the way was clear…”
    He flushed guiltily at the accusations, then wearily sank back into his seat.
    “I have been an ass, haven’t I? I’ve made you both so miserable.” Grasping his wife’s hand, he pressed it to his forehead and closed his eyes. “I do not know how it started. John died and I just didn’t want to think about it. At first the drink worked for that, but then it wasn’t enough. I started gambling. Before I knew it, I had gotten so far in debt that I could not stop. I kept hoping that the next hand would be enough to get me out, but instead I just kept getting in deeper and deeper and…” He shook his head, then opened his eyes and peered up at his wife. “I am sorry.”
    A sob breaking from her lips, Lady Prescott bent to hug her husband tightly around the neck. “I know it was hard losing Johnny like that. I still ache over it as well. But dear God, Edward, this last while I felt sure we had lost you, too.”
    “Nay.” He patted her back soothingly. “Well, mayhap for a while. But I am back now.” He blinked, as if looking at the world through new eyes. Sober eyes.
    “Thank you, God,” Lady Prescott whispered, then added with a smile, “Just in time for Christmas.”
    “Christmas?” Lord Prescott looked stunned, then vexed. “Damn me, I forgot all about Christmas. I have no gifts for you.”
    “It does not matter.” Prudence’s mother gave a watery laugh, joy spreading on her face. “I got all I wanted for Christmas.”
    Her husband’s confusion was plain to see. “What was that?”
    “I prayed that you would stop drinking and gambling, that we wouldn’t spend Christmas in debtor’s prison. And I have that now.”
    “Damn.” He sighed miserably. “I
have
been an ass. I am sorry, love. I will try to be a better husband. I will try very hard.”
    “That’s all a woman could ask,” Lady Prescott said quietly, and helped him to his feet.
    Prudence watched them head up the stairs, a soft smile on her face. She knew it wouldn’t be easy; there were still hard times ahead. There were days her father would be miserable and unhappy for want of the liquor, but there was finally hope…and her mother looked so happy. Almost as happy as Prudence felt.
    A thought coming to her, she headed for her own room, but not to go to bed. She needed to get dressed. She had someone to thank for this miracle. Someone unexpected.

Chapter Six
    “M y lord?”
    Stephen glanced up from the fire he had been morosely contemplating, and lifted an eyebrow at the sight of his butler.
    “You have a guest, my lord,” the man announced.
    Stephen started to say that he had no wish for company, to send whoever it was away, when he spotted Pru’s gamine face peeking around his butler’s ample girth. He lurched out of his seat.
    “Prudence! What are you doing here?” he cried in astonishment, waving the butler away as he hurried forward to greet her.
    “I had to talk to