Chapter Eleven: But We're Not Married!

All right, marriage doesn't come up during this chapter, but it's the quickest explanation for what happens.

Remember Lord Raleigh? Turns out he's kind of important. Prudence is at a party of his, of mostly scholarly people, when she sees Ravenclaw across the room. It's been two whole weeks since they've seen each other. Prudence sent him a note that said 'Like me? Circle Y/N' and Ravenclaw had circled the “/”. Well, he really said he wouldn't be in town long enough to get to know her, but it's close to the same thing.

Anyway, Prudence is checking out some books in Raleigh's library when she looks up and sees Ravenclaw. Prudence still totally wants him. Ravenclaw finds out that Raleigh sent Prudence to the library alone and reveals that Raleigh knows he goes there to find solace. If by “find solace” he means “escape the party” then I accept his words. Anyway, Ravenclaw says he should oblige their host. Prudence asks what he means, just after putting a book away. Ravenclaw demonstrates.

Sorry, it doesn't go that far. No sex in a library with the doors open for them (we find out about the doors later), just some petting and such. Ravenclaw starts with Prudence's shoulder and his mouth. I'm not sure why he keeps trying to devour her. He's got to know that he's not actually getting any nutrition since nothing's going down to his stomach, but he still keeps biting her.

Ravenclaw admits that he totes wants her hot body. Prudence says she's not hot. Ravenclaw disputes this. Prudence starts listing off the ways in which she's not pretty and Ravenclaw counters them, every time. Too tall, you fit me perfectly. Too sallow, psh! really pale ladies are not hot, your skin makes me want to devour you. Hair not fashionably blonde (oops, my drawings are wrong again), screw fashion! Mouth, made for mine. Figure, sooo sexay, grrl! Then Ravenclaw talks about how she's sexy: she's skinny, has long legs, beguiling hips (how does that makes sense? I just want hips that are incapable of telling falsehoods), flat stomach, breasts...that fit into his hands. No, really Prudence, he doesn't prefer Phoebe over you. Why would you even ask that?

Anyway, his laugh is erotic... blah blah blah. Waves of sensation... Ravenclaw puts Prudence's hands behind his neck (remember, he's standing behind her), also he totally has a boner. So yeah, Prudence is enjoying this. At once point, the book lists everything he's doing to her. She's just standing there with her hands behind his neck. I know he's getting enjoyment out of this too, but I can't help feeling like he's doing all the work. Well, it is a romance novel, after all. Prudence hears him growling and realizes she's moaning. They're pressed together and his hands are quite busy. Prudence has an “exotic pressure” growing inside her.

Then Sebastian puts her back on the floor. Stupid party guests! Ravenclaw says if they don't stop, he'll flip her skirt over her head and take her right there and then. The size of the damn (or dam) Prudence doesn't give is enormous. She tells him to do it anyway. The words she uses are, “Sebastian, help me!” Well Prudence, I didn't get around to this in our other talk, but you take your hand...

Ravenclaw denies her aid and walks away. This reminds me so much of the argument “But we're not married” except he gives no reason here. (By the way, no judgement on that argument.  If it works for everyone involved, go for it.)  I mean, he wants to keep his newly acquired conscience, but I'm not sure how having sex with a lady who wants it and continuing the relationship will ruin his conscience.

Prudence straightens herself and watches him. She notices that he has a need to touch things and wishes he would touch her like he's touching that music box. Ravenclaw announces he's selling his townhouse and leaving London for the country. Prudence asks about Wolfinger and says that she'd really like to see it. Ravenclaw steps forward, grabs her shoulders, and tells her she can have Wolfinger, him, whatever she...desires. The ellipses is in the same place in the book. You know, in case it wasn't obvious enough that they want each other. Ravenclaw is leaving Friday and Prudence agrees to join him. Then he leaves the room and Prudence's head is still spinning.

Sebastian prowls through the party until he finds Raleigh flirting with some girl. Sebastian drives the girl away and flips a coin to Raleigh. Raleigh asks about why Sebastian is giving him money. Sebastian straight up calls his friend a pimp. No, really. He says procurer first, but he gets to pimp eventually. Raleigh asks if Sebastian had sex with Prudence right there in the library. After making his friend uncomfortable, Sebastian admits that he didn't, but he really wanted to. Why did Raleigh set them up like this? Sebastian likes Prudence.

Wait. What? He likes her? That's why he didn't have a one night stand with her and he kept his attraction to her for about five months where he didn't see her? No. I think you're mistaken Raleigh. There's no way. Anyway.

Raleigh says he's not a pimp, he's a matchmaker. I guess he's fixed up at least two other guys, although Sebastian denies that Raleigh helped one of them. Sebastian also denies that he likes Prudence. He says he's treated her like any other woman. Yup, you one night stand-ed her, just like every other lady. Sebastian does realize that his relationship with Prudence is different, thank God, he just doesn't want to admit it. Also, their union is dictated by fate. There's no way out of it. Also also, it won't be just “a simple sexual encounter”, Sebastian's “black soul will be redeemed at Wolfinger Abbey. Tee hee

Can he redeem it for a pony? I asked for one earlier, and I never got it. The carriage horses don't count.