Read Online Prude & Prejudice by Francene Carroll - Free Book Online
Authors: Francene Carroll
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time alone together. I’m a bit surprised I was invited to lunch at all .”
“I asked Charles to invite you because I want to get to know you better. I think we got off on the wrong foot and I just want to find out why.” They had reached the trees now and he leaned up against a trunk and looked up into the branches above his head while Prue stood in front of him.
“Yes, I agree we did get off on the wrong foot. ”
His eyes returned to her face. “F rom the moment we met you seem to have taken an instant dislik e to me, and I’m not sure why. Have I done something to offend you?”
Prue took a deep breath. “Well, yes, actually. You were extremely rude to me at the first function we catered for your company . You made fun of my name and then you insulted my appearance by saying I wasn’t a delicate flower . I t really did not do much to end ear you to me.” To his credit William Darling looked very embarrassed . He pushed himself away from the tree so he was standing directly in front of her. He was quite a bit taller than her and she had to tilt her head to look up at him.
“Oh , man , I was just having a joke with Charles. I had no idea you heard me. I’m really sorry, that was horrible of me. I was in a foul mood that day bec ause I had spent the morning help ing the caretaker clear out the function room , and when Charles as ked me to help you I was fed up. T hat’s why I made that crack about the hired help, b ut that’s no excuse. As for your appearance, you looked so ridiculous in that oversized jacket that I just couldn’t resist trying to be funny . Please accept my sincere apology. ”
“There’s one other thing. On t hat same day I heard you talking about immigration, and how much you were opposed to foreigners coming into this country. You said they were taking jobs and destroying our way of life.” He looked puzzled.
“I don’t recall saying anything like that. Are you sure you haven’t got me confused with someone else?”
“It was definitely you. You s aid you wanted to start a grass r oots movement in this town because governments weren’t listening and people needed to take things into their own hands. ” Recognition dawned on his face and he began to laugh.
“What is it?”
“I was talking about corporate farms, not immigrants. These huge agribusinesses are moving in all over the country and driving o ut farmers. The y’re using methods that aren’t environmentally friendly and growing inferior produce because all they care about is short-term profit . T hey are destroying vibrant farming communities and forcing families from the land who have been there for generations . It’s something I feel very strongly about.”
“Oh,” said Prue as the extent of her misunderstanding san k in. “All this time I’ve b een thinking you were prejudiced against other races when in fact you were talking about something that I comple tely agree with. I believe that small scale organic farming is the way of the futu re and I’d love to join your movement. I c an’t believe I misinterpreted you so completely. This is so embarrassing.”
“ Maybe if I hadn’t insulted you first you would have kept an open mind, but as it was you were prepared to believe the worst of me be cause you wanted to. I have to take my share of the blame for your misunderstanding . Do you think we can be friends now? ”
“I can’t see why not .”
“ So w hen you said those things last night about dirty foreigners, you were being sarcastic. It all makes sense now, ” he said with a laugh .
“ Yes, but u nfortunately I can’ t say the same thing about my mother. S he really does believe what she said, but I don’t think it’s completely hopeless.”
“It’s not your mother I’m worried about. E ven when I thought you were an intolerant nut case I still couldn’t stop thinking about you. You really are a very interesting young lady , you know.”
“And you’re quite an intriguing
“I asked Charles to invite you because I want to get to know you better. I think we got off on the wrong foot and I just want to find out why.” They had reached the trees now and he leaned up against a trunk and looked up into the branches above his head while Prue stood in front of him.
“Yes, I agree we did get off on the wrong foot. ”
His eyes returned to her face. “F rom the moment we met you seem to have taken an instant dislik e to me, and I’m not sure why. Have I done something to offend you?”
Prue took a deep breath. “Well, yes, actually. You were extremely rude to me at the first function we catered for your company . You made fun of my name and then you insulted my appearance by saying I wasn’t a delicate flower . I t really did not do much to end ear you to me.” To his credit William Darling looked very embarrassed . He pushed himself away from the tree so he was standing directly in front of her. He was quite a bit taller than her and she had to tilt her head to look up at him.
“Oh , man , I was just having a joke with Charles. I had no idea you heard me. I’m really sorry, that was horrible of me. I was in a foul mood that day bec ause I had spent the morning help ing the caretaker clear out the function room , and when Charles as ked me to help you I was fed up. T hat’s why I made that crack about the hired help, b ut that’s no excuse. As for your appearance, you looked so ridiculous in that oversized jacket that I just couldn’t resist trying to be funny . Please accept my sincere apology. ”
“There’s one other thing. On t hat same day I heard you talking about immigration, and how much you were opposed to foreigners coming into this country. You said they were taking jobs and destroying our way of life.” He looked puzzled.
“I don’t recall saying anything like that. Are you sure you haven’t got me confused with someone else?”
“It was definitely you. You s aid you wanted to start a grass r oots movement in this town because governments weren’t listening and people needed to take things into their own hands. ” Recognition dawned on his face and he began to laugh.
“What is it?”
“I was talking about corporate farms, not immigrants. These huge agribusinesses are moving in all over the country and driving o ut farmers. The y’re using methods that aren’t environmentally friendly and growing inferior produce because all they care about is short-term profit . T hey are destroying vibrant farming communities and forcing families from the land who have been there for generations . It’s something I feel very strongly about.”
“Oh,” said Prue as the extent of her misunderstanding san k in. “All this time I’ve b een thinking you were prejudiced against other races when in fact you were talking about something that I comple tely agree with. I believe that small scale organic farming is the way of the futu re and I’d love to join your movement. I c an’t believe I misinterpreted you so completely. This is so embarrassing.”
“ Maybe if I hadn’t insulted you first you would have kept an open mind, but as it was you were prepared to believe the worst of me be cause you wanted to. I have to take my share of the blame for your misunderstanding . Do you think we can be friends now? ”
“I can’t see why not .”
“ So w hen you said those things last night about dirty foreigners, you were being sarcastic. It all makes sense now, ” he said with a laugh .
“ Yes, but u nfortunately I can’ t say the same thing about my mother. S he really does believe what she said, but I don’t think it’s completely hopeless.”
“It’s not your mother I’m worried about. E ven when I thought you were an intolerant nut case I still couldn’t stop thinking about you. You really are a very interesting young lady , you know.”
“And you’re quite an intriguing
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