Emilia marched down the hallway toward the room that had been, but would no longer be, her bedchamber. Her arms were firm at her sides, her mind just as firm and resolute. She was ready for it. She was done avoiding it, this inevitable end. She stood in front of the door, staring at the knob, bracing herself.

Miss Prudence was in there. She'd stake her life on it. And she would be ready for her.

No matter what Prudence said, she would not be hoodwinked into more of these games. They had gone on long enough and she, for one, was finished. There would be no more...

"Aha!"

Emilia jumped, she was positive, two feet in the air.

Prudence had pulled open the door before she could even think to turn the knob, damn her!

Emilia clasped her chest, glaring. "I was just—"

"Just avoiding me further?" Prudence yanked her in, closing the door behind them. "Well, I know your game now and it was a very foolish one. You could never escape me forever."

"I was not escaping you. I knew you would be—"

"Which is why I finally stayed here." Prudence was pacing the room now, pointing at her. "After wasting hours chasing you about the house to no avail, I knew I needed a new scheme..."

Emilia sighed. They really didn't have time for one of Prudence's monologues.

"I'm actually convinced you kept that silly parlor game going longer just to thwart me. But I knew you would have to end up here eventually and I was correct." She stilled, nodding to herself. "I knew very well that Miss Emilia Finch would never allow Miss Prudence Crewe to be seen attending supper in a morning dress. No. You would have to come here to change."

"I actually think Miss Prudence Crewe should attend—"

"No, it must be a gown." She grinned. "So all I had to do was lie in wait for you to finally—"

"Can you please spare me the speech?" Emilia burst out. "Yes. I avoided you last night, also this morning, also all afternoon, but I am finished with that now. And you are correct. Miss Prudence Crewe needs to attend supper properly dressed. So come on. Let's get you dressed."

Prudence lost her very satisfied grin. "Me?"

"Don't you want your grand moment? You can toss on a gown — the deep green one, I think. It will bring out your eyes." Emilia threw open the closet, grateful to see the gowns and dresses, clean and pressed. This laundress of Mr. Byrne's must be a wonder — not that she was going to think of Mr. Byrne... ever again. Thank God this was over.

Prudence was staring at her as if she had gone mad. "My eyes? Why would we need to—"

"I know, I know. The gold would have been more striking, but I'd already worn that one and a lady does not repeat gowns at a house party if she can avoid it." She tossed the green gown on the bed, throwing some thankfully clean stockings on top of it. "But it will still be very fine. Perhaps with the gold beaded necklace and earrings. And we can do your hair up with matching ribbons and—"

"What the devil are you on about?" Prudence's hands went to the plait pinned at her neck. "My hair has no need to be—"

Emilia frowned as she approached her, trying to unpin her plait. "I wish I'd known this would happen last night. I would have insisted you sleep in curling papers or pillow rags. Why must your hair be so unfashionably straight?"

"What's happened?" Prudence snatched her hair away. "Have we been found out? I mean, by someone who matters? I wasn't counting Mary. I think we've got her handled. There's no one else that—"

Emilia had to laugh. "If you think we've got Mary Hartley handled, you're fooling yourself. I've known her longer than you have and even I don't know what that little viper is—"

"Has she done something, said something?" Prudence gripped her shoulders. "Who has she told? Who knows?"

"No one," Emilia said, shrugging Prudence off. "But I'm sure she will. It's only a matter of days, maybe hours. We need to end this."

Prudence stared at her for a long moment, then she laughed. "Good Lord! I thought someone had found us out for certain. If Mary hasn't blabbed, then—"

"I rejected Sir Anthony's proposal and there are no hard feelings. I dare say I let him down more gently than you would have. I've done enough and I am finished with your nonsense now."

"My nonsense?" Prudence scoffed. "Might I remind you that you are being paid handsomely for your part in this scheme. If it involves putting off the odd idiot suitor then—"

"He's not an idiot," Emilia hissed. "He's actually a very kind man. You could do much worse than Sir Anthony Pembroke."

"Oh, so you're in love with him now? Here I thought that was Mr. Byrne!"

"That's... that's not..." Emilia felt the blood drain from her face. "What... What do you think you know?"

"Not enough, since you've not told me anything. Didn't you think I had a right to know that I have a whole other suitor to contend with?"

"No. Because he's not been yours to contend with. None of this has. I'm the one who had to contend with your silly decision to go on with this farce. I'm the one who—"

"You didn't have to! You could have said no."

"To one hundred pounds? How was I ever in a position to say no to such a sum? It may be a paltry amount for you, but for me... It would change my life. It means I don't have to worry if I lost this job. It means I don't have to agonize about where my father sleeps. It means—"

"Emilia! You would never lose this job," Prudence said over her, looking stricken. "I... I truly didn't know you had such worries. Whatever your father needs, I can help if—"

"No. I don't want someone to just... just give me money for nothing. I work for what I have and I can manage my own affairs. Do you think I have no pride?"

"It's not about pride. I wouldn't allow any friend of mine to—"

"We are not friends," Emilia burst out.

There was silence then.

They stared at each other for what felt like far too long, neither attempting to speak.

Emilia was actually grateful when there was a knock, even knowing quite well who it must be. She'd probably been listening. "Come in, Mary," she called out stiffly.

"Well, you certainly got away handily," Mary said, swanning in with her dress. "I had so very much to tell you about my grand plan."

"You can tell the real Miss Crewe about it," Emilia said, striding to the bed and plucking up the green gown. "She will be attending supper tonight." She bore down on Prudence.

"What? No, I'm not." Prudence backed away.

Emilia kept after her, tossing her the gown. "We are ending this tonight!"

Prudence ran around the bed, tossing it back. "No. Not until you tell me why—"

"Ending this?" Mary sighed. "After all I've done? That is very unfair."

They both stopped their chase then. "All you've done?" Prudence echoed.

Mary grinned. "Did Emilia not tell you of my brilliant idea?"

"No. Emilia is more likely not to tell me things," Prudence said, crossing her arms.

"Well, I think it's rather clever," Mary went on, sitting at the vanity and fluffing her hair, as if completely unaware of the tension in the room. She was probably enjoying it. "Yes, I've set up our ending perfectly. What fun it will be to reveal all at the masquerade ball." She tittered. "Say, that rhymes."

Emilia finally met Prudence's eyes.

"Is this why?" Prudence mouthed.

Emilia just shook her head.

"Now, go on, let's get us dressed. You and me," Mary stood, drawing up to Emilia and taking her arm as if they were the best of friends. "Really, revealing all at a simple supper would not be nearly as grand as at a ball, you must agree."

She shared a suspicious, yet resigned, glance with Prudence. However the reveal happened, they didn't want Mary to have any say in it. But they certainly couldn't pull it off tonight.

Emilia dropped the gown back on the bed and started undoing the morning dress.

Prudence came up behind her to finish, whispering, "We will talk of this later. I know I'm not your friend," she said, her voice hitching slightly, "but I think there are a few things I deserve to know."

****************

That's all I can give for now. At least it's longer than the last one. I'll try my best to come back with more in the next few days. Quite a lot is about to happen in the next few chapters. 

I am sorry output has been low lately. I'm dealing with helping an elderly friend after a long hospital stay. There's a lot he can't do for himself and he needs constant care. I'm hoping he gets his strength back this week, so I don't have to be there so often.