Underbrink title marrying the daughter of a country
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squire. Edward had merely been amusing himself that summer.
He had not changed much in three years, Prudence reflected. His hair was still as fair as she
remembered, his eyes still as open and guileless. His pleasant features were still quite appealing, although
she thought she detected some signs of plumpness developing around his jawline. He was dressed in a
well-cut coat that was the exact same shade of pearl gray as his expensive mount.
“This is astonishing,” Underbrink said. “I just got back into Town yesterday. I learned that you were
here for the Season last night, but I could hardly credit it.” He glanced uneasily at Sebastian. “There were
rumors of an engagement.”
Sebastian flicked a brief, dismissing glance over Underbrink. “The rumors are true.”
Edward’s gaze jerked quickly back to Prudence. “I don’t under-stand.”
“In that case, Underbrink,” Sebastian said softly, “I suggest you try reading the notices that will appear in
tomorrow’s morning papers. Perhaps that will make it clear to you.”
Edward frowned. “Now, see here, Angelstone, Prudence and I are old friends. I have every right to be
interested in her engagement. You cannot blame me for being surprised by this announcement.”
Prudence saw the cold fire pooling in Sebastian’s eyes. She did not know why he was acting as if he
were annoyed by Edward, but she decided it would be best to head off a confrontation.
“How is Lady Underbrink these days?” Prudence asked brightly. She had never met the woman
Edward had married, but it seemed safe enough to inquire after her.
A deep, angry flush stained Edward’s cheeks. “She’s well enough,” he said brusquely. “Listen, Prue, I
shall be at the Handleys’ soiree this evening. Will you be there?”
“She will not be attending the Handleys’ soiree,” Sebastian said. “And in future, Underbrink, you will
address my fiancee as Miss Mer-ryweather. Is that very clear?”
Edward straightened quickly in his saddle. His flush deepened. “Of course.”
“I’m glad to see you are capable of comprehending a few simple things. You will be the healthier for it.”
Sebastian urged his horses to a faster pace. “Now you must excuse us, Underbrink.”
The black phaeton sped down the wide path, leaving Edward be-hind.
Prudence took a deep breath. She knew she ought to reproach Sebastian for his rudeness, but she could
not bring herself to do so. She suddenly realized how tense she had been during the encounter.
She did not know what she had expected to feel upon seeing Lord Underbrink again, but the only
emotion she was truly aware of was a sense of relief.Relief that he had not married her after all. It was
diffi-cult to recall that she had once thought herself in love with him.
Sebastian said nothing for a few minutes. He appeared to be con-centrating entirely on his driving.
Eventually he eased the horses back to a walk.
“How do you come to be acquainted with Underbrink?” he asked without any inflection in his voice.
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Prudence adjusted her spectacles. “Three years ago he spent a great deal of the summer in Dorset. He
was staying with friends who were neighbors of ours. We met on several occasions. Assemblies, card
parties, that sort of thing.”
“What happened?”
Prudence flashed him a quick glance and then returned her atten-tion to the ears of his horses. “Not a
great deal. At the end of the summer he returned to London to become engaged to the woman his family
wished him to marry.”
“Lucinda Montclair.”
“Yes, I believe that was her name,” Prudence said quietly. “Her father is said to be very rich.”
“He is. Lucinda is also a very wealthy young woman in her own right.”
“So I was given to
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squire. Edward had merely been amusing himself that summer.
He had not changed much in three years, Prudence reflected. His hair was still as fair as she
remembered, his eyes still as open and guileless. His pleasant features were still quite appealing, although
she thought she detected some signs of plumpness developing around his jawline. He was dressed in a
well-cut coat that was the exact same shade of pearl gray as his expensive mount.
“This is astonishing,” Underbrink said. “I just got back into Town yesterday. I learned that you were
here for the Season last night, but I could hardly credit it.” He glanced uneasily at Sebastian. “There were
rumors of an engagement.”
Sebastian flicked a brief, dismissing glance over Underbrink. “The rumors are true.”
Edward’s gaze jerked quickly back to Prudence. “I don’t under-stand.”
“In that case, Underbrink,” Sebastian said softly, “I suggest you try reading the notices that will appear in
tomorrow’s morning papers. Perhaps that will make it clear to you.”
Edward frowned. “Now, see here, Angelstone, Prudence and I are old friends. I have every right to be
interested in her engagement. You cannot blame me for being surprised by this announcement.”
Prudence saw the cold fire pooling in Sebastian’s eyes. She did not know why he was acting as if he
were annoyed by Edward, but she decided it would be best to head off a confrontation.
“How is Lady Underbrink these days?” Prudence asked brightly. She had never met the woman
Edward had married, but it seemed safe enough to inquire after her.
A deep, angry flush stained Edward’s cheeks. “She’s well enough,” he said brusquely. “Listen, Prue, I
shall be at the Handleys’ soiree this evening. Will you be there?”
“She will not be attending the Handleys’ soiree,” Sebastian said. “And in future, Underbrink, you will
address my fiancee as Miss Mer-ryweather. Is that very clear?”
Edward straightened quickly in his saddle. His flush deepened. “Of course.”
“I’m glad to see you are capable of comprehending a few simple things. You will be the healthier for it.”
Sebastian urged his horses to a faster pace. “Now you must excuse us, Underbrink.”
The black phaeton sped down the wide path, leaving Edward be-hind.
Prudence took a deep breath. She knew she ought to reproach Sebastian for his rudeness, but she could
not bring herself to do so. She suddenly realized how tense she had been during the encounter.
She did not know what she had expected to feel upon seeing Lord Underbrink again, but the only
emotion she was truly aware of was a sense of relief.Relief that he had not married her after all. It was
diffi-cult to recall that she had once thought herself in love with him.
Sebastian said nothing for a few minutes. He appeared to be con-centrating entirely on his driving.
Eventually he eased the horses back to a walk.
“How do you come to be acquainted with Underbrink?” he asked without any inflection in his voice.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Prudence adjusted her spectacles. “Three years ago he spent a great deal of the summer in Dorset. He
was staying with friends who were neighbors of ours. We met on several occasions. Assemblies, card
parties, that sort of thing.”
“What happened?”
Prudence flashed him a quick glance and then returned her atten-tion to the ears of his horses. “Not a
great deal. At the end of the summer he returned to London to become engaged to the woman his family
wished him to marry.”
“Lucinda Montclair.”
“Yes, I believe that was her name,” Prudence said quietly. “Her father is said to be very rich.”
“He is. Lucinda is also a very wealthy young woman in her own right.”
“So I was given to
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