Prudence gushed out, unable to keep from blurting out everything in her heart. “At first, I thought it must have been brought to me in error. Then I saw my name, and I thought perhaps Mr. Sherbourne had sent it in jest. But I knew your hand too well. I knew it was you who wanted me. I should not have come down, but Mary has retired and I could not sleep until I had answered your call.”“I need your help,” Walker said. “You are English, one of them. Hear my plea, and do what you can.”“Your plea?” Gazing up at him now, Prudence studied the face she had loved so well. The mouth, the nose, the dark eyes, the black hair threaded with silver. This man had kissed her and made her believe there might be some hope for their future.But he had gone away instead, vanishing into the night and leaving her in miserable solitude. She had been bereft, certain her life was at an end without him.Now, as she waited for his reply, she saw the man as others had described him so many times. “Nearly twice your age, Prudence.
