A Prudent Match by Laura Matthews Read Free Book Online Page B

rooms. Right now she must wish to refresh herself before we dine."
    A grand staircase rose from the opposite side of the hall, and Prudence followed Mrs. Collins and her husband up to the first floor. They made a turn to the right, heading for the East Wing. Ledbetter explained that she would have his mother's suite, as he had taken over his father's some years before.
    "You'll want to redecorate it, no doubt," he said, "for it's rather old-fashioned. But I'm much inclined to keep the intregrity of the rooms themselves as they are an original part of the building. The furnishings and hangings, carpets and draperies—all those can be replaced."
    "Perhaps in time," she said. "First I need to learn my way around and gain a sense of Salston."
    Mrs. Collins paused before a heavy oak door on the left of the hall. "This will be your suite, my lady. Lord Ledbetter's suite is directly across the hall."
    Prudence experienced a small spasm of nerves at this announcement, but she smiled bravely as the housekeeper pushed open the door. "Oh, how delightful."
    The room was enormous, and on three surfaces there were unseasonable flowers which must have come from the estate succession houses. Candles were already lit in the sconces and the canopied bed was draped with wine velvet hangings. The furniture was of a heavy dark wood, and the carpet a pattern of wine and rose shades.
    Prudence walked the length of the room to the windows and drew aside the cream-colored curtains. She could just see a vast rolling lawn in the last of the daylight.
    "If I might show your ladyship the rest of the suite," Mrs. Collins suggested.
    "Of course." Prudence followed her through two smaller, though no less elegant, chambers, one serving as a dressing room and the other as a private sitting room. Prudence made appropriate remarks on how lovely they were, aware that Ledbetter was watching her reactions with interest. And indeed they were sumptuous rooms, far and away more elegant than anything she had experienced at home.
    Ledbetter stepped forward then and said, "Thank you, Mrs. Collins. I'll show my wife the rest of the East Wing if you will arrange for us to dine in an hour."
    "Certainly, my lord." Mrs. Collins looked a little surprised at this dismissal, but she turned to leave, adding only that hot water would be brought to my lady's room directly. Prudence watched her go with some alarm. She was not best pleased to be left alone with Ledbetter.
    He tucked her hand in his arm and led her back into the corridor. "Mrs. Collins won't breech the inner sanctum of my suite, so I thought I'd best show it to you myself," he said. He reached down to open the door with his free hand, maintaining his link with her arm. There were candles lit in the sconces in his room as well, and the man who had been introduced as his valet, a small Frenchman called Balliot, was already unpacking Ledbetter's trunk.
    "If you will excuse us, Balliot," he drawled, "I'll ring for you when I need you."
    "Very good, my lord," the man said without glancing in Prudence's direction. He bowed slightly before disappearing through the far door.
    "One of the reasons I objected to your hiring the Granger girl," Ledbetter remarked, "was because of Balliot."
    Prudence raised her brows questioningly, and Ledbetter shrugged. "They'll be on equal footing in the household hierarchy, being our personal servants. And yet your Tessie doesn't know the first thing about serving as an abigail, let alone a dresser. Balliot will be offended, I can promise."
    "I'm sorry for it, but I don't believe that objection holds any more sway with me than Tessie's inexperience, Ledbetter. I would be most surprised if she weren't perfectly capable of doing an excellent job in any capacity she filled."
    "Perhaps." Though he looked unconvinced, Ledbetter was apparently willing to allow the subject to drop for the present. He motioned around him with a careless hand. "My bedroom, as you see. I haven't found any reason to