The Perfect Rake Read Online Free PDF Page B

one day a man will come along and take one look at her and snap her up—but not if the rest of you are there dazzlin’ the poor fellow instead!”
    “I, for one, do not care if Prudence never gets a husband,” announced Grace loyally. “I doubt I shall ever marry. I shall be like Great-aunt Hermione—a sad and lonely spinster, jilted by my one true love. I shall keep cats and live off my memories.”
    Great-uncle Oswald snorted. “You’ll marry, my girl, and I’ll hear no more of such nonsense from you. Keepin’ cats indeed! Hermione was always peculiar!”
    There was a short silence while each of the girls contemplated a bleak future.
    “Does Prudence actually have to marry before Charity can make her coming-out?” asked Hope suddenly.
    Great-uncle Oswald plonked down his newspaper in an irritated gesture. “I told you, missy—”
    “I mean what if she were betrothed? ” Hope explained hurriedly. “And, and what if her betrothed wished to wait for some time until they were wed. If Prudence were betrothed, then could the rest of us, Charity and Faith and me, make our debuts?”
    Great-uncle Oswald shrugged. “If Prudence were betrothed, I see no reason why not, but Prudence ain’t betrothed, missy, so cease plaguing me until she is.”
    Hope shot a look of triumph at Prudence. “See! We could make our come out. Tell him, Prue,” Hope said fiercely.
    If looks could kill, Hope would have been fried where she sat, but Prudence said not a word. How could she when her betrothed’s reputation, livelihood, and future prospects depended on her silence? And besides, she had promised to keep it secret from all except her sisters.
    Great-uncle Oswald frowned in sudden suspicion. “Somethin’ you ought to be tellin’ me, girlie?”
    “No, Uncle, nothing at all.” Prudence threaded a length of scarlet silk with shaking hands.
    “If you do not tell him, I shall,” Hope said vehemently. “It is not fair that we should all be at risk simply because Phil—”
    “Be quiet, Hope!” Prudence jumped to her feet. “You have no right—”
    “Silence!” Great-uncle Oswald roared. He glared at his great-nieces, his face suffused with anger. “So, deceit and deception under my own roof, is there? You two—out!” He stabbed a finger at Faith and Grace. “Now!” he bellowed. They fled.
    Prudence tried to think. Any moment now Hope or Charity would be made to confess that Prudence had entered into a clandestine betrothal, and then he would demand to know the name of her betrothed. And Prudence, knowing the damage it could bring him, had sworn never to reveal it without Phillip’s permission. She had to do something. But what?
    “Well, gels?” Great-uncle Oswald stared at each of them in turn. They said nothing. He addressed Hope. “Come, Miss Hope, out with it! Has your sister secretly promised herself?”
    Hope nodded and burst into noisy tears. Charity joined her.
    “God deliver me! Must females always cry?” grumbled Great-uncle Oswald. “Stop that dratted caterwaulin’, will you?” He waited until the worst of the sobbing had died down, then turned to Prudence. “Now, missy, you have some explaining to do. Who is this blackguard who has cozened you into deceiving your legal guardian?”
    Prudence thought frantically. She could not tell him the truth. She had promised Phillip she would protect his position. “Er, he is a perfectly respectable gentleman, I promise you, sir.”
    Great-uncle Oswald sniffed. “Perfectly respectable gentlemen don’t enter into havey-cavey betrothals behind people’s backs.”
    “Oh, but he is a very private gentleman, er, and does not enjoy the fuss and botheration of a public celebration.”
    Great-uncle Oswald snorted. “There’s a big difference between a private arrangement and a clandestine one. Now stop beatin’ around the bush, gel; name the blackguard at once!”
    Prudence’s mind raced. “It is…it is…” She could not betray Phillip. She could