I…I’m supposed to be in hiding, for lack of a better term. Besides, surely you agree I don’t belong in this society. I’ve no title nor prescience to bring. I’m the second-born daughter to a Baron, is all. I’m merely Chief Inspector Morley’s wife.”
For the first time, Farah’s mouth compressed with displeasure as her eyes gleamed. “My dear, no one is just Morley’s wife. He’s had a hand in everyone’s fate in that room. He’s saved more than lives, he’s saved souls. I mean, there isn’t time to regale you here, but I feel that you should come so we can all tell you the sort of husband you’re blessed with. Morley is and has always been a remarkable man. We’ve all speculated and even schemed to get him a wife. I’m unutterably glad he’s found you.”
Grief threatened to bubble over in her chest in the form of a sob. “If you know of our situation, then you know this is not a love match.”
Farah suddenly became very serious. “May I call you Prudence?”
“Pru, please.”
“Pru… you’ve done what I was certain no woman in the world could do.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ve distracted Carlton Morley from his unimpeachable principles. I think, in time, you’ll come to know what a Sisyphean feat that was.”
Pru shook her head, unable to understand.
Farah seemed to debate something internally, then said, “Morley and I had a working relationship for longer than five years, and a flirtatious companionship. It took him those five years to drum up the nerve to kiss me. You felled him in five minutes! You, my dear, are the temptation he needs. You will force some happiness upon him, I think, and it’s the only way, as he will fight you tooth and nail. But he is the best of men, he deserves every happiness.”
Prudence didn’t allow herself to close her eyes, because every time she did, she saw her husband’s lips on Farah Blackwell’s.
And she desperately wanted to like the woman.
“Why didn’t you marry him?” The question surprised Pru more than it did Farah, it seemed. “I mean, when he asked you. What made you refuse?”
Farah gave a nonchalant shrug, her expression rather wistful. “My heart always belonged to Dorian. It’s as simple as that. He never had a chance. I never once regretted my decision, but I won’t hide from you the fact that I will always be fond of Carlton. That I respect and admire him. Everyone does. Even my husband, who was once on the wrong side of the law. For all Carlton postures, he’s an exceedingly fair and understanding man. He’s not without his own past, you know.”
That intrigued her. “What past?”
Serious conversation preceded boots as the men climbed the stairs, announcing their inevitable invasion of the parlor.
“I will leave that for him to tell you,” Farah said mysteriously.
This time it was Prudence who reached out and clung to Farah’s hand as if it were a lifeline. “I don’t know that he will…I don’t know him at all. I’m so lost. Please, if you have any information. Any insight…I…”
Farah regarded her indecisively. “I promised I will, and I shall impart to you everything I can. Come to us next week. You’ll learn all that we know, I vow—”
It was Blackwell who barged in first. “What ho, wife? We’ve the unfortunate need to leave now to meet my brothers’ train. I’ve brought the second carriage to contain either Ravencroft’s shoulders or Gavin’s ego. I’ll allow them to fight over it.”
Pru gawked at the man. If Blackwell thought Ravencroft large, the man must be a giant.
He bowed to Pru. “It was an unmitigated pleasure to meet you, Lady Morley. Please call upon us for the smallest thing.”
“Thank you.”
Farah gave her another impulsive hug before releasing her with a blustery noise. “The smallest thing. I really mean it.”
They saw themselves out, and took a whirlwind with them.
Prudence watched her husband peer at the empty doorframe as though contemplating the emptiness he found there.
Did he also note the easy way Blackwell put his possessive hand on his wife’s waist? How he walked in deference to her. His every muscle seeming attuned to her movements, her protection, her needs.
Did it make him envious? Or melancholy, like her.
Eventually, he flicked a glance at her as if surprised to still find her there.
“It was very kind of the Countess to come,” she ventured. “She was…very solicitous. Gave me the name of a good doctor.”
He gave the illusion of a nod. “Farah is a good woman,” he said