Read Online Malia Martin by Prideand Prudence - Free Book Online Page B

her butler. “Oh, really, Clifton, don’t be rude. It was my idea entirely. Now,” she said quickly to keep Clifton from running off on the unhappy tangent of Leslie Redding.
    “I will act upon this, this … thing between the captain and me.” Pru smiled brightly and twirled about. “I will put myself up as a distraction! I do think it is a brilliant plan.”
    “It is beyond stupid.”
    “Oh, come, Clifton, distraction from the main activity always works.”
    Clifton’s cheeks were the color of ripe apples. “This is preposterous! I will not sacrifice your virtue for a distraction!”
    “Poppycock,” Cook said quietly.
    Pru and Clifton turned as one to stare at Delilah.
    The old, grizzled woman looked up from the dough she had been pounding. “Lady Pru’s a widow, last time I checked. And in my book widowhood means a woman’s hard-won freedom.” Delilah punctuated this statement with a vigorous nod of her head.
    “That is blasphemy,” yelled Clifton.
    “Blasphemy, Mr. Eurel Clifton Rhodes, is how young bucks can go about hopping into bed with anything that pleases their eye and women have to wait for some old doddering fool to marry them. There’s not a woman in this town that would begrudge Lady Pru’s indulgence with a man like that beautiful captain, and there’s not a man in this town that won’t be happy for her distractin’ him.”
    Bang! She thudded her fist into the floury dough on the counter and continued her work without looking up again.
    Clifton stood with his mouth gaping.
    “Of course, Lady Pru, there’s also not a person in this town that’ll admit to what they truly feel. So you keep it discreet, and you can go on and do anything you wish.”
    “Well, then, that’s settled.” Pru smiled. “And here comes Leslie now, such perfect timing.”
    Clifton turned to look through the glass panes of the back kitchen door. “’Tis a god-awful mess, is what it is,” he grumbled, and hurried for the hallway before he had to greet Leslie Redding. “Don’t you go doing anything foolish until we’ve talked this over!” And he slammed the door behind him.
    “I guess Eurel saw me coming?” Leslie said as she let herself in the back door.
    Pru just rolled her eyes. “A more stubborn creature does not inhabit the earth.”
    “Actually, I can think of someone.” She laughed and took over Clifton’s stool. “How is the captain this morning? Any signs of life?”
    “I’d say,” Delilah said with a chuckle.
    Pru felt her face heat.
    “What happened?” Leslie asked.
    “I am going to distract the captain from his hunt for the Wolf,” Pru said quickly before Delilah could answer.
    “Really?” Leslie looked from Pru to the cook and then back to Pru. “Would this distraction have anything to do with the thing we talked about the other day?”
    Prudence bit her lip.
    “Ah, well, that will distract him sure enough.” She tapped her finger lightly on the table a moment. “It could be dangerous, though, Pru.”
    She laughed. “Dangerous I can handle.”
    “No, Pru, I’m not just talking about physically dangerous, though there is that. I am worried for your heart.”
    “Well, then, I shall keep my heart out of the experience,” Pru said decisively.
    Delilah and Leslie gave each other the, “Oh, we know so much more than she does,” look. Pru sighed. “I really am not a child, though you two sometimes act as if I am. I can take care of myself. In fact, I can take care of this entire town. Have I not proven this?”
    “Of course, Prudence, it’s just that …” Leslie stopped and touched the back of Pru’s hand with her weathered fingers. “I know how it feels, that excitement and thrill of a man you find attractive, especially the first. But it is hard for a woman to keep her emotions out of the experience, and it can cause much pain.”
    Pru nodded and turned her palm up to clasp Leslie’s hand.
    “And this is a dangerous man, as much as you wish to make light of that