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Authors: Shirley Raye Redmond
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quite the hero. Harry says so,” she declared with a nod.
Prudence blushed. She could feel the heat in her cheeks creeping down her neck when Aunt Judith attempted to come to her rescue. “I believe Prudence is merely put off by his awkward limp and the dreadful eye patch,” she stammered. “One must admit, his complexion is sadly burned too.”
“I quite like him,” Harry said, coming to the man’s defense. “I admire him too. I have volunteered to go with him when he returns to Borneo—in any capacity he chooses.”
“When is this to be?” Prudence asked, glancing sidelong at Margaret, who had focused her attention once again on those most fascinating of dress patterns.
“I cannot say,” Harry told her. “He must first recover his health, and I believe he intends to put his country estate in order as well.”
“I understand he intends to take a wife too, or so Lady Eliza has told me,” Aunt Judith threw in, casting a poignant glance at her daughter.
A heavy silence followed this casual announcement. Prudence glanced first at Margaret and then at Clarissa. How much had her cousin confided in her closest friend, Prudence wondered?
Clearing her throat, Prudence asked, “And does Sir James intend to take his bride with him back to the jungles of Borneo?”
After a rather uncomfortable pause, Harry answered in a nonchalant manner, “I believe so. But I cannot say for sure. I am not in his confidence.”
Prudence looked down at her fingers, laced so tightly together in her lap the knuckles appeared white. She took a deep breath and unclasped her hands. If Margaret were to marry Sir James, she would presumably become the Rani of Sarawak. She tried to imagine Margaret living in a palace of bamboo, surrounded by a dense jungle with lurking crocodiles and dark-eyed headhunters. Her cousin would definitely need every ounce of steel she could muster.
Chapter Four
Aunt Judith had not exaggerated. Lady Eliza Brownell did indeed have an excellent cook, as Prudence happily discovered for herself the next evening when they dined at the lady’s luxurious apartments in the Royal Crescent. A delicate sorrel soup was followed by turbot with lobster sauce, a saddle of roast mutton, duckling with peas and asparagus, an aspic jelly, and various desserts, including two ices, a whipped syllabub, and a pineapple cream Prudence particularly relished.
It was a small party, as Lady Eliza had promised—just the three Greenwoods, the Leyes, and Prudence, who dressed with care for the evening, choosing a new blue gown of Imperial muslin with pleated ribbons across the bodice. Margaret had studied the gown with envious approval, while Aunt Judith declared it to be most becoming.
“The style looks quite well on you, Prudence,” she said. “You have the height and figure to carry it off. But is it not too fashionable for such a small, informal dinner party?”
“I would not want Lady Brownell to think me a rustic,” Prudence had replied. Besides, wearing the new frock gave her a staunch self-confidence she would need if she were to engage in another battle of wits with James. She was later pleased to observe her sparring partner dressed appropriately in the usual evening attire for gentlemen: knee breeches, a long tailed coat, silk stockings, all of which he wore with careless ease. He appeared less like a swashbuckling mariner in these garments, she decided and wondered when he would rid himself of the offending eye patch.
When he said grace before the meal was served, Prudence felt a warm surge of surprised pleasure. She had not expected such an observance from him, but she approved, and although she bowed her head as he prayed, she could not help watching him through lowered lashes, noting again what an agreeable speaking voice he possessed.
Observing Lady Brownell and Aunt Judith together, Prudence realized they were close friends indeed. Her aunt appeared more animated than usual, her imaginary but convenient
Prudence blushed. She could feel the heat in her cheeks creeping down her neck when Aunt Judith attempted to come to her rescue. “I believe Prudence is merely put off by his awkward limp and the dreadful eye patch,” she stammered. “One must admit, his complexion is sadly burned too.”
“I quite like him,” Harry said, coming to the man’s defense. “I admire him too. I have volunteered to go with him when he returns to Borneo—in any capacity he chooses.”
“When is this to be?” Prudence asked, glancing sidelong at Margaret, who had focused her attention once again on those most fascinating of dress patterns.
“I cannot say,” Harry told her. “He must first recover his health, and I believe he intends to put his country estate in order as well.”
“I understand he intends to take a wife too, or so Lady Eliza has told me,” Aunt Judith threw in, casting a poignant glance at her daughter.
A heavy silence followed this casual announcement. Prudence glanced first at Margaret and then at Clarissa. How much had her cousin confided in her closest friend, Prudence wondered?
Clearing her throat, Prudence asked, “And does Sir James intend to take his bride with him back to the jungles of Borneo?”
After a rather uncomfortable pause, Harry answered in a nonchalant manner, “I believe so. But I cannot say for sure. I am not in his confidence.”
Prudence looked down at her fingers, laced so tightly together in her lap the knuckles appeared white. She took a deep breath and unclasped her hands. If Margaret were to marry Sir James, she would presumably become the Rani of Sarawak. She tried to imagine Margaret living in a palace of bamboo, surrounded by a dense jungle with lurking crocodiles and dark-eyed headhunters. Her cousin would definitely need every ounce of steel she could muster.
Chapter Four
Aunt Judith had not exaggerated. Lady Eliza Brownell did indeed have an excellent cook, as Prudence happily discovered for herself the next evening when they dined at the lady’s luxurious apartments in the Royal Crescent. A delicate sorrel soup was followed by turbot with lobster sauce, a saddle of roast mutton, duckling with peas and asparagus, an aspic jelly, and various desserts, including two ices, a whipped syllabub, and a pineapple cream Prudence particularly relished.
It was a small party, as Lady Eliza had promised—just the three Greenwoods, the Leyes, and Prudence, who dressed with care for the evening, choosing a new blue gown of Imperial muslin with pleated ribbons across the bodice. Margaret had studied the gown with envious approval, while Aunt Judith declared it to be most becoming.
“The style looks quite well on you, Prudence,” she said. “You have the height and figure to carry it off. But is it not too fashionable for such a small, informal dinner party?”
“I would not want Lady Brownell to think me a rustic,” Prudence had replied. Besides, wearing the new frock gave her a staunch self-confidence she would need if she were to engage in another battle of wits with James. She was later pleased to observe her sparring partner dressed appropriately in the usual evening attire for gentlemen: knee breeches, a long tailed coat, silk stockings, all of which he wore with careless ease. He appeared less like a swashbuckling mariner in these garments, she decided and wondered when he would rid himself of the offending eye patch.
When he said grace before the meal was served, Prudence felt a warm surge of surprised pleasure. She had not expected such an observance from him, but she approved, and although she bowed her head as he prayed, she could not help watching him through lowered lashes, noting again what an agreeable speaking voice he possessed.
Observing Lady Brownell and Aunt Judith together, Prudence realized they were close friends indeed. Her aunt appeared more animated than usual, her imaginary but convenient
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