Sweet Rogue of Mine (The Survivors #9) - Shana Galen Page 0,79

be at an end.

She wouldn’t miss Eliza, Mary, George or their mother. But she had begun to think of Mrs. Northgate as a friend.

“There,” said Sterns, taking a step back. She nodded approvingly, and it was the first time she’d ever looked at Pru and not through her. “You look very well,” she said.

“Thank you,” Pru said in surprise, forgetting one wasn’t supposed to thank servants. Ridiculous rule at any rate.

“Well, step out then,” Mrs. Northgate ordered. “Let me see.”

Pru moved out from behind the screen and stood in front of Mrs. Northgate, who removed her spectacles so they dangled from her hand, the gold chain glinting in the midday sun. Her face gave nothing away. It was still the handsome, formidable face that had become so familiar to Pru. She should have known the woman would never allow so much as a smile to slip.

Mrs. Northgate made a twirling gesture with one hand, and Pru turned around, slowly and awkwardly.

“Stop,” Mrs. Northgate said when Pru’s back was to her. Then, “Go ahead.”

Pru finished her turn and looked at Mrs. Northgate expectantly.

“Don’t look at me. See for yourself,” she said, gesturing to the cheval mirror in one corner. Pru moved hesitantly toward it, filling her lungs with air. But when she caught sight of herself, she let the air out in a burst. She was still the same person she had been when she’d come this morning—hair a bit unkempt, freckles dotting her face, slight hollows under her eyes. But she looked...oh, she looked like a lady.

She looked like she had a bosom!

Pru turned from one side to the other, admiring the way the ruffles on the bodice gave the illusion of more and the tapering of the skirts highlighted her small waist.

“Well?” Mrs. Northgate asked, and Pru realized she had been waiting for Pru’s verdict. Pru turned to her.

“I love it!” And then even though she knew the older woman would hate it, she threw herself into her arms and hugged her. “Thank you! Thank you! I could never have done this myself.”

Mrs. Northgate patted her for a moment, and then to Pru’s surprise she put her arms around her and embraced her back. “It was my pleasure,” she said quietly. Then she stepped back and flicked her gaze at the maid. “What are you looking at? Don’t you have something to do?”

“Yes, ma’am.” But Sterns only smiled as she pretended to be busy straightening items on a dressing table.

Pru was looking at herself in the mirror again. “I must admit, I had my doubts about the color, but it does suit me.”

“Yes, it does. It even lessens those dark circles under your eyes.”

Pru supposed it was too much to hope that Mrs. Northgate hadn’t noticed those.

“I haven’t been sleeping very well lately.”

“Care to tell me why?” she asked.

“No reason,” Pru said, turning from side to side, admiring the dress and feeling very vain.

“And has Mr. Pope been sleeping well?” Mrs. Northgate asked.

Pru gave her a sharp look. “I’m sure I don’t know.”

Mrs. Northgate frowned. “If I were your age, I wouldn’t waste a moment of my time being unhappy. No doubt he’s as miserable as you. And don’t give me that look, Miss Howard. I know you’re in love with him, even if you don’t. I can’t imagine he doesn’t love you back. You have a way of making people love you.”

Pru stared at Mrs. Northgate. “That’s the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“Oh, bother. Do not start weeping. Sterns, give her a handkerchief.”

The maid brought a clean one from the drawer and handed it to Pru, who dabbed at her eyes. She had been trying very hard for the last few days not to think about Nash Pope. It seemed to take a great deal of effort to not think about him. And the more she told herself not to think about him, the more she was actually thinking about him.

And then she began to think about herself and wonder what was wrong with her that no one ever wanted her. Her parents hadn’t wanted her. They’d left her with a stranger with hardly a good-bye. It might be years before they returned. If they ever returned. Mr. Higginbotham didn’t want her. He’d only taken her in out of Christian charity.

Abubakar hadn’t wanted her. One thing she had not told Nash was that when her parents had discovered Pru had been ruined, they’d demanded Abubakar marry her. He’d refused and his father had blamed the