The chapter opens with Ravenclaw's point of view. Although, when it's his point of view, he goes by Sebastian. Remember that, there will be a test. Sebastian wonders why Prudence is staring at him “like a simpleton”. Then Prudence calls for Phoebe and somehow this means she makes sense. Sebastian thinks that Prudence is a strange abbess. “She doesn't run an abbey,” I think. “There only one nearby is his. Why would he think that?” If you're familiar with Shakespearean uses of words, you might get this one. If not, keep reading. I'll explain in a bit.
Anyway, Sebastian stares at Prudence and thinks that she's hot, in an “I need to peel her like an orange” sort of way. No, really. That's the phrase Mrs. Simmons uses. It makes a bit more sense in context, but it's more fun out of it.
Phoebe enters the room and Sebastian grills her about where his brother is. Prudence stands up to him and he's impressed. Apparently, he's practiced his intimidation for years. What a jerk. Oh, but it's totally reasonable because he had to fight to get his title. Anyway, then Sebastian hints that Penhurst has made use of Phoebe's services recently. There's an ellipses on either side of services. The girls don't understand this, so Sebastian says he's talking about his brother “paying for the privilege of climbing under [Prudence's]...sister's skirts.” Oh. Abbess like one who runs a nunnery which, in Shakespeare’s time, was slang for brothel. I don't know why Mrs. Simmons used “abbess” instead of “madame”, but whateves. She's the published author here.
The sisters are stunned and Sebastian thinks they're the best actresses in Cornwall. Then Prudence starts laughing...and it's the best-est most awesome laugh that's “clear and golden as a sultry summer afternoon.” Yeah, he's got it bad and he just met this girl. As she laughs, her hair and glasses slide out of place and Sebastian fights the urge to pull the glasses off of her face. Calm down, tiger! The best is yet to come. Prudence says she figured it'd be okay for the two sister to live alone since she's so old. Sebastian argues that she's not old. She stops laughing and looks at him with interest. Sebastian is surprised by this, so he gets a boner. No, really. Here's the quote: “...Sebastian saw her return his regard with a wary but definite interest, so unexpected that it stunned him. With surprising intensity, his body responded, and he turned toward the window to hide the effects.”
Sebastian apologizes for his assumptions and, when Prudence responds, he notices that he really likes the sound of her voice. He gets over his boner and faces her again. Looking at her makes him want to unburden himself and when Prudence goes to comfort her sister, Sebastian is jealous. He wants Prudence touching him. Well, I'm glad their hasty attraction is mutual.
Phoebe reveals that she and Penhurst went walking alone (the scandal!) and that he had said nothing about leaving. Phoebe, acting like someone younger than sixteen, wails out that she doesn't like Ravenclaw, he's scary, and he totes killed his own brother. Ravenclaw, used to this harsh sort of treatment, squares his shoulders and rides off into the sunset. More or less. The important part is that he ridicules himself for having feelings and leaves the cottage without looking back.
Five months later, Prudence is still/again at her writing desk. Woah. Five months? You're going to make that kind of jump in the midd- three and a half pages from the end of a chapter? Hang on, my head's spinning.
All right. Prudence thinks about writing a letter to Ravenclaw, assuring him that she doesn't think he's a bad man, but she talks herself out of it. After all, they only really met once. That's not enough time to form a real attraction... Sorry, I guess I was thinking I was in a different book.
Prudence's book, Bastian of Bloodmoor, sold really well and the check that she gets in the mail is huge. I mean, their mysterious grandma about whom we've heard practically nothing left them enough to live on, but not enough for frills. That's why Prudence started writing. With the sale of this book, they've got all kinds of money. Even enough to...take Phoebe for a season in London! Of course Prudence will not enjoy this, but she wants to do it for her sister. So, hooray off to London. Wolfinger will wait for Prudence to come back home. (giggle)
Also, it turns out Prudence's eyes are hazel, not blue. I apologize for the inaccuracy of my earlier pictures, but I don't care enough to go back and change them.
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