Hey, remember when Mrs. Broadgirdle was trying to get their attention? Neither do I.
Prudence was excited about her secret meeting with Ravenclaw. It makes her feel young again. You know, because twenty four is so old. Anyway, she chose today because Phoebe is going out with some guy, so that'll take care of Mrs. Broadgridle. Prudence can barely pay attention at breakfast.
I mean, until people start talking. Phoebe makes words. Hugh gives Phoebe a look with warm regard and he looks at Prudence and stiffens. Then Hugh says that Ravenclaw is toying with Prudence. Prudence defends him, Phoebe gets mad that people aren't talking about her, you know the drill. Prudence leaves the room to go after Phoebe.
Phoebe apologizes for her behavior and says she's just jealous that Prudence is getting Ravenclaw and Hugh. Prudence, understandably, questions Phoebe's judgment. Phoebe asserts that this is why she flirts with Hugh, because he's attracted to Prudence. Is he now? I hadn't noticed. ...and by “hadn't noticed”, I mean I had no idea that Hugh would annoy the girl he digs. Anyway, clearly Hugh is so pissed about Ravenclaw because he's jealous. Sigh.
Then Phoebe's caller shows up. Mr. Darlington isn't darling to Prudence. She's worried that he stayed too long over Phoebe's hand and he looks like a dandy and...basically, she doesn't like him. Phoebe, Mrs. Broadgirdle, and Mr. Darlington leave and Hugh tries to strike up a conversation with Prudence.
He calls her old, critiques the people she's hanging out with coughRavenclawcough, implies that she's ugly, and then asks if she wants to hang out. Wow. How suave. Prudence says that no, really, she doesn't trust Mr. Darlington. Hugh calls her old again and demeans her opinion, then asks where she wants to go. Prudence, pissed, says she's going shopping. Hugh is mad, he wanted to spend time with just the two of them. Prudence insists that she's got to go buy things alone. Hugh, defeated, tells her to take her maid.
Huh. I guess, for this chapter anyway, Hugh does have a thing for her. He's really bad at wooing her though. I guess that's why he's a bachelor. Also, I said this before as a joke, but I really don't like Hugh as Ravenclaw's rival. Can't she have someone who's not a jerk that wants her? Also, someone who's not related to her?
Sebastian narrates now. He checks Prudence out in front of the milliner. He also admires her timeliness. He has dirty thoughts of his past, which he tries to banish for Prudence's sake, but then he stops caring. He's been dead inside for a long time now, why would he suddenly start caring about others now? Also, he totes wants her body. Just a reminder. He's making these games (secret meeting...and that other one?) just to appeal to her Gothic sensibilities, but I guess he's liking them too. ...too much.
They get in the carriage together and Prudence's maid rides with the driver up front. Blah blah lost brother blah. Also, the thought of her bare, ink stained hands gets Sebastian hot. All righty then. Sebastian pulls the curtains closed and drags her onto his lap. She responds like no other woman, of course. They kiss, she goes for a bit of tongue and he goes wild. Then he loosens his hold, not wanting to hurt her. He whispers in her ear that she should forgive him, so he's got to play with that now. With his mouth. If you need to go take a cold shower, I'll wait.
She cries out “Oh, my lord!” and he corrects her with Sebastian. Say my name! What if she wasn't talking about him, but was basically saying, “Oh, my God!”? Just a thought. Anyway, she says his name and they make out for a bit longer. Then there's a knock at the carriage door.
Dang it, driver. Oh wait, he's only interrupting them because of the maid? Dang it, maid. Then we get another shot of Sebastian telling us how Prudence is not like other girls. Also, picnic.
The maid and driver wander away and Sebastian serves up a nice basket of aphrodisiacs. They talk about their shared interests and...giggle Wolfinger. Sebastian wonders if Wolfinger would be a better place for seduction. He's never used it before. It could be fun, but no. “If she were any other woman, he would take her right here, right now.” But she isn't, as we've read a couple of times. He thinks he'll be satisfied with a one night stand, but part of him (I'm assuming the “dead” part) thinks that she can give him something more. Something more? Is it a pony? I think it is.
Then she confesses that she's been writing, even though she told her sister she wouldn't. Sebastian stares at her ink-stained hands and wants to devour them. Well, I assume there's fixings right there. They're having a picnic, after all.
Then she tells him that he inspires her to write. Aw, he's her muse. Sebastian thinks about how he really could have her right here and now. Really. Then he gets disgusted with himself. He says he is the perfect villain after all. She doesn't look like she believes him and he gets mad. He'll just show her how evil he is, then! He tells her that he is the count. Then-!
The chapter ends. I predict that the next chapter starts with Prudence back at Hugh's apartment again, thinking about what had happened.
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