Compromising Prudence Read Online Free PDF Page B

might be more demanding than she’d thought. Frances was older than she was. How in the world would she guide an older girl? No wonder Mr. Hatterly was worried. If his sister failed to make a match quickly she’d been on the shelf. Yet if Miss Hatterly was half so comely as her brother, attracting a suitor would not prove difficult. All Miss Hatterly needed to do was keep her mouth closed and be beautiful and rich.
    And not get caught in a compromising position. Must not forget that one.
    It helped if one’s Papa were not so intimidating and overly censorious — and if one didn’t ruin oneself with unscrupulous men.
    “There.” Lizzy said with evident satisfaction. She stepped back, hands on hips and looked Prudence up and down. “You look right nice, miss.”
    Prudence needed to go shopping. Mr. Hatterly had said she could spend his money and she meant to hold him to it. She’d only brought a few modest gowns with her, all she could fit in the small portmanteau. She smoothed the front of her rose pink walking gown. The color was nice. The en coeur neckline was hardly what she would choose for her wedding eve, but she’d never thought she would be married in a little chapel instead of properly churched. Mr. Hatterly had a friend in the employ of a bishop who would help him get the necessary special license and then perform the ceremony.
    By this time tomorrow, Prudence would be a married woman, beyond the reach of her father and the scurrilous gossips.
    This wedding was hardly the fairy tale of her young girl’s fantasies, gliding down a petal strewn church aisle to her handsome prince who waited to sweep her away to his castle in the clouds. No, for her it would be a quick ceremony with an American-born bird-watcher who was taking her to Kent. Pru sighed.
    Mr. Hatterly was waiting for her by the door, checking his pocket watch and fretting. Her heart caught at the sight of his hawkish profile. No Prince Charming could look more handsome or more perturbed. Surely with a sister he was accustomed to waiting. He couldn’t expect miracles when she had only a few crumpled gowns and a kitchen maid for assistance. He had promised her a trip to her modiste today after applying for the license and goodness knows she would need it.
    When Hatterly spotted her standing at the top of the stairs he went very still except for blinking like an owl. The he smiled and his face lit from within, easing the tension around her heart. She almost tripped in her eagerness to take the hand he held out to her.
    Mrs. Forbes, the housekeeper, produced her bonnet which had been carefully cleaned and pressed until it was no longer a ruined brown lump. She squinted at her reflection in the Cheval looking glass — the bonnet was different.
    She took the bonnet off, turning it in her hands.
    “Whatever is the matter?” Hatterly checked his watch.
    “Patience.” She touched the small bird nestled among the cherries. “This is new.”
    “Yes, well.” He coughed into his glove. “The flower that graced your bonnet was ruined so I replaced it. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Mind? It’s beautiful.” She stroked the tiny bird with her finger. “And so soft. What is it?”
    “A wren. Common enough, but pretty, delicate.”
    “From your collection?” She looked up in wonderment.
    His complexion, already a healthy pink, darkened most agreeably. He hooked his elbow at her. “Are we ready now? We have an appointment to apply for a license.”
    Hatterly didn’t lead her out the door. No, first he drew her off to one side, his face so serious Pru feared he had changed his mind.
    Clearly he’s sobered up or come to his senses or…
    “I have decided that it would be best if we sent your father a message.”
    Her heart constricted until her fingertips were numb and possibly blue as well. “Have you?” She swallowed, which did nothing to alleviate the lump in her throat.
    “Come here.” He took her elbow, leading her to a sitting room with