Read Online The Bride Hunt by Jane Feather - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jane Feather
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don’t think that’s going to be difficult,” Constance said with a short laugh. “There’s got to be a more than ordinary challenge in taking on as clients three subversive women who insist on remaining anonymous.”
“That problem I leave in your more than capable hands, ladies.” He gave them a small bow.
“Was Sir Gideon knighted for services to the bar, or did he inherit the title?” Prudence asked quickly as Max reached to open the door.
“He was knighted after he defended a particularly difficult case that involved one of the king’s rather more dubious friends,” Max said, turning the knob. “Are you coming, Constance? We really should visit Letitia.”
“Yes,” she said reluctantly. “I suppose we should. Let’s all meet at Fortnum’s for tea this afternoon, Prue. We can talk strategy then.”
Prudence nodded. “Max, does this Sir Gideon always defend? Or does he prosecute too?”
“He specializes in defense.”
“Well, that’s something,” Chastity declared. “We just have to convince him that it would be a travesty of justice to find
The Mayfair Lady
guilty of libel.”
“One of you,” Max said. “I would most earnestly suggest that only one of you keeps the appointment.”
“Why?” Constance had gathered up her gloves and now stood before the mirror above the mantel inserting pins in the mink pillow atop her russet head.
Max hesitated, searching for the most diplomatic answer. “He’s a formidable man but you wouldn’t want him to feel ambushed,” he said finally. “I don’t know how he views women in general, but I’d lay odds he’s never come across any quite like you three.”
“And we might put him off?” Constance asked with a sweet smile, turning from the mirror. “A trio of viragos, perhaps?”
“We are not going to have this conversation, Constance,” Max said firmly, opening the door for her. “I merely gave my opinion. You may take it or leave it as you wish.”
“We’ll probably take it,” Prudence said. “Oh, and be warned, Con. Letitia is firmly convinced that you’ve been camping in the desert and have a skin pitted with sand and hair matted with dust.”
“Well, I daresay I shall be able to put her right on both those scores,” Constance said.
“Oh, did you eat sheeps’ eyes?” Chastity said, accompanying them to the stairs. “We were wondering.”
“Good God! Whatever gave you that idea?” Max exclaimed, revolted.
“We thought that was a chief delicacy among the nomads of the Sahara,” Chastity informed him.
“I don’t think we ate any,” Constance said, appearing to consider the question with appropriate solemnity. “Max actually refused to eat anything he couldn’t identify.”
“How unadventurous of you, Max,” Prudence said reproachfully. “I would have thought when you go to somewhere as exciting as Egypt you would want to experience the culture at its richest. Mother would certainly have encouraged it.”
Max knew from experience that the only way to put a stop to what could turn into a very convoluted discussion at his expense was to abandon it. “Come, Constance.” He took her hand and hastened down the stairs, Constance blowing a farewell kiss to her sisters over her shoulder.
“Con, we’ll see you at Fortnum’s at four,” Chastity called after them, laughter alight in her voice. It died fairly rapidly, however, when she saw Prue’s expression. She put a hand on her arm. “We’ll get out of this, Prue. We have to.”
Prudence sighed. “I know. But if Max, who’s formidable enough in his own right, considers Malvern to be intimidating, how on earth are
we
going to deal with him?”
“We’re considered quite formidable ourselves,” Chastity said. “Even Max said as much. You’ll be a match for him.”
“Me?”
Prudence took off her glasses and peered at her sister. “Since when did I draw the short straw?”
“It just seems obvious to me,” Chastity said. “I didn’t give it a
“That problem I leave in your more than capable hands, ladies.” He gave them a small bow.
“Was Sir Gideon knighted for services to the bar, or did he inherit the title?” Prudence asked quickly as Max reached to open the door.
“He was knighted after he defended a particularly difficult case that involved one of the king’s rather more dubious friends,” Max said, turning the knob. “Are you coming, Constance? We really should visit Letitia.”
“Yes,” she said reluctantly. “I suppose we should. Let’s all meet at Fortnum’s for tea this afternoon, Prue. We can talk strategy then.”
Prudence nodded. “Max, does this Sir Gideon always defend? Or does he prosecute too?”
“He specializes in defense.”
“Well, that’s something,” Chastity declared. “We just have to convince him that it would be a travesty of justice to find
The Mayfair Lady
guilty of libel.”
“One of you,” Max said. “I would most earnestly suggest that only one of you keeps the appointment.”
“Why?” Constance had gathered up her gloves and now stood before the mirror above the mantel inserting pins in the mink pillow atop her russet head.
Max hesitated, searching for the most diplomatic answer. “He’s a formidable man but you wouldn’t want him to feel ambushed,” he said finally. “I don’t know how he views women in general, but I’d lay odds he’s never come across any quite like you three.”
“And we might put him off?” Constance asked with a sweet smile, turning from the mirror. “A trio of viragos, perhaps?”
“We are not going to have this conversation, Constance,” Max said firmly, opening the door for her. “I merely gave my opinion. You may take it or leave it as you wish.”
“We’ll probably take it,” Prudence said. “Oh, and be warned, Con. Letitia is firmly convinced that you’ve been camping in the desert and have a skin pitted with sand and hair matted with dust.”
“Well, I daresay I shall be able to put her right on both those scores,” Constance said.
“Oh, did you eat sheeps’ eyes?” Chastity said, accompanying them to the stairs. “We were wondering.”
“Good God! Whatever gave you that idea?” Max exclaimed, revolted.
“We thought that was a chief delicacy among the nomads of the Sahara,” Chastity informed him.
“I don’t think we ate any,” Constance said, appearing to consider the question with appropriate solemnity. “Max actually refused to eat anything he couldn’t identify.”
“How unadventurous of you, Max,” Prudence said reproachfully. “I would have thought when you go to somewhere as exciting as Egypt you would want to experience the culture at its richest. Mother would certainly have encouraged it.”
Max knew from experience that the only way to put a stop to what could turn into a very convoluted discussion at his expense was to abandon it. “Come, Constance.” He took her hand and hastened down the stairs, Constance blowing a farewell kiss to her sisters over her shoulder.
“Con, we’ll see you at Fortnum’s at four,” Chastity called after them, laughter alight in her voice. It died fairly rapidly, however, when she saw Prue’s expression. She put a hand on her arm. “We’ll get out of this, Prue. We have to.”
Prudence sighed. “I know. But if Max, who’s formidable enough in his own right, considers Malvern to be intimidating, how on earth are
we
going to deal with him?”
“We’re considered quite formidable ourselves,” Chastity said. “Even Max said as much. You’ll be a match for him.”
“Me?”
Prudence took off her glasses and peered at her sister. “Since when did I draw the short straw?”
“It just seems obvious to me,” Chastity said. “I didn’t give it a
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