Sweet Rogue of Mine (The Survivors #9) - Shana Galen Page 0,46

with this last statement she had gone too far, but Mr. Higginbotham looked thoughtful.

“Yes, other members of the congregation have told me how much that sermon impacted them as well.”

“It was a very good sermon, sir. Truly the inspired word of God. I do hope if I continue to work with Mr. Pope, I might encourage him to attend services on Sunday.”

Mr. Higginbotham frowned. Pru realized her mistake, but it was too late to backtrack. “I cannot help but think how grateful Lord Beaufort will be at the change in his son. Mr. Payne says the earl is a generous man,” she said, wincing a bit at her own boldness.

Mr. Higginbotham stared at her for a long moment. At first Pru thought he might be assessing the veracity of her words, but then she realized he was probably listing all of the repairs to the church and vicarage he might undertake if the earl decided to repay the vicar for his kindness in allowing Pru to help his son. The vicar was silent for so long that Pru was about to suggest she retreat to the kitchen for the broom, but then the vicar’s eyes sharpened.

“This is all very well, but it does not address the problem of you being at Wentmore with two gentlemen and no one but Mrs. Brown to chaperone. I have known Mrs. Brown for two decades or more, and she is a fine, upstanding woman, but she is not a suitable chaperone. She is all by herself there and can hardly manage the house, much less keep an eye on you and those gentlemen.”

“But—”

“Your parents were quite clear when they gave you into my care that you do not have the best judgment in matters pertaining to men.”

Pru felt her cheeks heat. She was embarrassed that her parents should share such information with the vicar but not surprised. The heat in her cheeks was more likely due to anger that even at the age of three and twenty she was being treated like a child. It occurred to her that this would be her fate for the next fifteen or so years unless she married, which was unlikely, but even then she would be placed under the care and supervision of her husband.

It was times like this that she had the urge to run away and live free. She dreamed of a cottage in the clearing of a woods where she might sleep as late as she liked, read all day if she wished, and sing all the bawdy songs she knew at the top of her lungs.

But because she was three and twenty, she realized one could not live on books and songs alone. One needed coin to eat and keep cottage roofs from leaking, and so running away was not a very practical solution.

Better to fight for what little freedom she had here.

Pru thought of poor Mrs. Brown and the awful fare she served Mr. Pope. She had wanted to speak to Mrs. Blimkin this morning about recommending merchants to stock the kitchens at Wentmore. But what if Mrs. Blimkin were able to oversee the task herself? “What about Mrs. Blimkin as a chaperone?” Pru asked.

The door to the kitchen swung open. “Me? I am a housekeeper, not a chaperone,” Mrs. Blimkin said from the doorway where she had obviously been standing on the other side listening.

“You are also an excellent cook, Mrs. Blimkin. I had the opportunity to sample some of Mrs. Brown’s cooking last night, and it is barely edible. She could use your assistance.”

“No doubt she could, but Matilda Brown has never been one to take any sort of charity.”

“But your charity would be all for Mr. Pope. You would be chaperoning me so we could help him.” Pru looked at the vicar. “Think how pleased the earl will be.”

“He might be grateful,” the vicar said rubbing his chin, which Pru had learned meant he was considering something carefully. “What do you think, Mrs. Blimkin?”

“I think this one”—she pointed at Pru—“talks fast and says what she thinks we want to hear.”

Pru’s eyes widened in what she hoped was a look of innocence. “Mrs. Blimkin, I have not said anything untrue. Mrs. Brown is an awful cook, and Mr. Pope does need help. And you would be a suitable chaperone.” This was not as true as the other two statements. Mrs. Blimkin had never married or had children and probably did not know the first thing about chaperoning young ladies. But