บท 6: Talk of the town

Prudence had nervously left the place she was holding, with people who came around to pass her judgmental looks. She looked fairly rich right now, but they knew who she was. Her feet walked by the corner of the room and the intricate designs on the wall distracted her as she traced it with her fingers.

"Lady prudence," she snapped her head immediately, only to find the butler of Thatcher's family. A sigh of relief rolled onto her lips. The butler, on seeing her reaction, asked, "Everything alright milady?"

Prudence wasn't used to being addressed as Lady on a daily basis. It was an honorific used for people of importance or high in status. Where she came from, everyone called each other by names or last names. Gorge, who she was hiding from, used to address her as Lady because of the liking he took towards her and when the butler had addressed her Lady, she was worried about it being Gorge.

"Everything is alright," she assured the butler, "you were looking for me?"

The butler looked around, still confirming if something looked fishy, and nodded, "Yes, Mr Thatcher was looking for you. I regard you promised him a dance"

"Yes indeed, please lead the way," Prudence said. She was glad that she would get busy with the dance and she didn't want to not spend time with people she considered dear to her. They walked through the dance floor and she spotted the new governor dancing with his daughter. Somewhere she felt light after seeing Abiona.

Abiona was the first to see Prudence had arrived, "Prudence." Mr Thatcher stopped the dance and Prudence went closer now that they had halted. "Where did you disappear to?"

Mr Thatcher put his hand on Abiona's shoulder, "she must have been enjoying the gathering. Go now find yourself another partner." He dismissed her jokingly. Abiona had danced with her father for a long time, and he wanted to share the dance floor with Prudence. She was like his own child. Even though not related by blood, he couldn't come to differentiate.

"Alright, alright" Abiona went past Prudence, a whisper passed her lips "I hope you are being careful, don't wander around" Prudence did not miss the concern in her voice.

She smiled, placing her hand over the back of Abiona's palm, "Absolutely"

The girls parted their ways when Abiona spotted someone she knew and Mr Thatcher offered Prudence his hand, "Lady Prudence, would you do me the honour"

She chuckled at the gesture. He always made her feel like any father of a daughter would. Like a Princess. Because of Uncle Harris, she had a father figure and never noticed the absence of her father. Her mother never let her feel it, and neither she inquired about it. She was happy with what she had, a small happy family; there was nothing else she asked for.

Prudence bowed, holding the side of her dress, and placed her hand into Uncle Harris's. He was the first to talk. "How are you enjoying the night, darling? I suppose I am not your first dance partner," he laughed at the end.

She was quick to pick up the indirect question. He wished for her to find some nice man like everyone else in her life, but Prudence had been busy hiding that she missed out on finding herself a dance partner. There had been eyes on her. Many people recognised her from the farm as most rich people came around Mr Carswell's horse farm, it being the best in the town.

"I think I had promised you my first dance," Prudence said coyly. She hadn't. It was Abiona who had promised that to Mr Thatcher, but Prudence used it for herself to avoid another lecture.

Mr Thatcher laughed gently. He found her lies but did not say he was governor for a reason. If she would not find herself a partner, he would make sure she did.

Not a few seconds later, they saw some couples around them stop and the crowd bowed to a person, making way for the man to walk. His dark red eyes were fixated on his target, not bothering to bow back to the people around.

Prudence had her view blocked by Mr Thatcher, but she understood that someone influential was walking. From the look of it, she was sure the person headed their way. Maybe someone of superior status, looking to meet the new governor, thought Prudence. Mr Thatcher continued dancing for a while, till he noticed the halt and stopped to check why few of the people had bothered to stop dancing.

Mr Thatcher let go of Prudence and she stepped a little away, so whoever it was didn't spot her, a worker at a horse farm, dancing with the Governor. She was not used to bowing, but when everyone around did, she joined in respect. Without checking who it was.

Her Uncle Harris bowed to the man. There was a small circular clearing for the two men. She observed how the man did not bother to bow back to the new governor, must be someone in a prominent position.

Mr Thatcher greeted the man with a smile, "Lord Dominick, I very am grateful for your gracious presence"

Prudence saw the man smile back, an extremely charming smile, "Congratulations on your new position. I hope I didn't disturb your dance," his red eyes snapped toward Prudence, and it had her breath hitch. She was sure she had moved away in time, but he pointed her out perfectly.

More than that, she now saw his red eyes shine like gems on his face. Undoubtedly, he was a handsome man but a night creature. She was quick to steal her glance away and leave the place. Abiona had warned her to stay away from the red eyes. Even though half of the room was filled with them, Prudence did not want to take any chances. But not all plans go as wished.

Mr Thatcher replied to the man with a polite smile, "Not at all, Lord Dominick"

The man saw the girl trying to slip and asked Mr Thatcher, "Would you mind if I steal your dance partner?" He was loud and clear for Prudence to hear. She gulped, stopping in her tracks.

There was a look of discomfort on Mr Thatcher's face. He did not want his daughters to be associated with the man in front of him. As much as the man was influential, he was dark in nature. But Mr Thatcher couldn't say no and get on his wrong side. A smile plastered his face immediately, "If Lady Prudence doesn't mind," and extended his arm to call for her.

Prudence was not someone of high status, but he deliberately addressed her as Lady. She took a breath before stepping ahead, placing her hand into Mr Thatcher's, her safe place.

The urge to say no was on her lips but how could she let her Uncle's reputation taint, "how could I deny an important guest of yours, Uncle Harris"

Her eyes shifted back to the man with red eyes. He opened his palm for her to take with his other hand behind his back. Prudence hesitated before placing her hand gingerly into his.

His eyes, which were narrow, went to pull up the charming smile back on. The red eyes took in her slender fingers and the pale whitish colour of her skin that was more visible up close, and lifted the back of her hand to plant a kiss, "Shall we" His other hand came forward for her to step closer. "Let the ball proceed," He said for the people who had stopped to continue.

Her eyes met his, the man who had ordered around in someone else's party, but she was quick to look away.

Prudence saw her uncle walk further as the couples who had stopped started twirling around the floor. Oddly, there was a tiny circle that had formed around her and the man.

He snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her close enough for her to be comfortable. His red eyes were taking in every little detail of her expression, how her eyes avoided his, the little gasp when he pulled her. He was mistaken before. The girl was not scared, but her nervousness was all over the place. It was as if she was walking on some kind of eggshell.

Prudence did not dare to talk, she did not want him to say something insulting and her reacting unthoughtfully. She had guessed for him to be someone who wouldn't mind speaking his ill brains out.

The room was already filled with eyes that were fixated on her. The man took the lead as they went around inside their dancing space.

People continued their dance, but their words about her being the stable girl were floating everywhere. That wasn't the issue. Now the rumours were directed to the man she was dancing with, a man who held a significant influence. Many addressed him as "His grace". Voices of the Ladies and girls around her were deliberately loud for the man to listen and let her go.

Some of them talking of a stable girl who was dancing with the Lord, and how they were turned down by him previously for a dance. She wished he would let go of her, hearing the people speak.

Her attention couldn't come back to the man. He spoke nothing but trouble. With his red eyes and the attitude he carried.

His eyes brooded over her face, which looked away. She was so stiff and wanted to run away from here that it made him smile viciously and wish to pull her in. He twirled her away from him, just to pull her closer this time. "You seem to be a talk of the town Prudence"