The Bride Hunt Read Online Free PDF Page B

be deceiving. We must live in hope.” He raised a hand in farewell, and left in a whirlwind of energy that Thadeus regarded with approval and a faint sigh of vicarious exhaustion.
             
    “I could wish we didn’t have to deal with an At Home this afternoon,” Chastity said as the sisters returned home. “It’s so much more tedious without Constance.”
    “Don’t forget, this is a fee-collecting occasion,” Prudence reminded her. “We’re working.” She put her key in the door. “Just imagine a hundred guineas in the bank account.”
    “Oh, that’ll keep me at the grindstone,” Chastity said. “Hello, Jenkins,” she greeted the butler cheerfully as he came into the hall from the library.
    “Miss Chas, Miss Prue.” The butler had a smile on his face.
    “What is it, Jenkins?” Chastity demanded. “You have a secret. Don’t deny it.”
    His smile broadened. “A telegram, Miss Chas.”
    “From Con?” the sisters asked in unison.
    “So I believe.” He walked with stately tread to the table that held the mail. “Postmarked Calais, unless I’m mistaken.”
    “
Calais?
They must be on their way home.” Prudence took the wire. “When did it arrive?”
    “About an hour ago. I’ve laid a cold luncheon in the small dining parlor for you. Lord Duncan is lunching at his club.”
    “Thank you.” Prudence tore open the wire.
    “So, when are they arriving?” Chastity tried not to hop with impatience.
    “She doesn’t say exactly . . . the boat is . . . was . . . supposed to leave yesterday morning, but the sea was rough, so they decided to wait . . . except she can’t wait. Oh, here, you read it.” Prudence thrust the wire at her sister, her eyes dancing with delight. “Any day now, I think.”
    “The sooner the better,” Chastity said jubilantly as they went into the dining parlor for luncheon.
    “We have to give them a day to get settled in,” Prudence said, surveying the table’s offering. Cold ham, a beetroot salad, bread, and cheese.
    “You know Con won’t wait a moment before she comes over,” Chastity said, slicing bread thickly and passing a hunk to her sister on the tip of the knife.
    “She might regret being in a hurry when she hears what we have to tell her,” Prudence observed, buttering her bread and taking several slices of ham from the platter. “I wonder how soon we shall hear from Sir Gideon. It can’t take him too long to read the article and get the picture.”
    “It might take him longer to make up his mind.” Chastity speared beetroot. “Shall I pour coffee?”
    Prudence nodded her thanks through a mouthful of bread and ham. Her mind turned now to the afternoon ahead. There was nothing that could be done to hurry the barrister’s decision, but the two hours a week when the Honorable Misses Duncan were At Home had proved fruitful ground for acquiring clients for the Go-Between. They were gathering quite a register now of eligible men and women, who were, of course, sublimely unaware that they had been chosen as possible partners for some future unknowns should the opportunity present itself.
    “I wonder if Susanna Deerfold will come this afternoon,” Chastity said, tuning in to her sister’s thoughts. “I thought she was getting along rather well with William Sharpe last week.”
    “We sowed a few seeds,” Prudence agreed. “If they do come, I thought I’d suggest they visit the Elgin Marbles together. Susanna was extolling the virtues of Greek sculpture the other night, and I’m sure I heard William lecturing someone on the glories of the Parthenon.”
    “And once we’ve set them on the merry course to matrimony, do we demand a charitable donation?” Chastity inquired with a grin.
    “Oh, definitely, but maybe not for indigent spinsters, maybe some fund to help preserve the treasures of Greece,” Prudence said airily.
    “Isn’t this illegal . . . something akin to fraud? Raising money under false pretenses?” Chastity asked.
    “I’m