All I Want by Lynsay Sands Read Free Book Online Page A

forced to resort to bribery, doing her best not to wince as she had bartered away a necklace of some sentimental as well as monetary value. It had been a gift from her grandmother when she was still alive. But if the plan worked, it would be well worth the sacrifice, she assured herself. And she was determined that it would work. Ofcourse, Ellie was positive that it would not. She felt sure that Prudence would be recognized and escorted from the property. But Prudence was of the opinion that no one paid any attention to servants. Neither Stockton nor her father would give her a second glance—she hoped.
    There would be no negative thinking now, she remonstrated herself. So far everything had gone without a hitch. Lizzy had met her as promised, entered Eleanore’s borrowed carriage, switched clothes with Prudence, and told her,
Just walk in like ye belong. Grab an ale, so it looks like ye’re working, find your lover, give him the message, and get back out here so I can get back to work. And don’t get caught. I could lose me job if aught find out about this
.
    So Pru had walked in, doing her best to look as if she belonged there, grabbed an empty mug, then slipped back outside, where she had carefully administered a couple of drops of Bessy’s tonic to the empty mug from the bottle presently strapped to her thigh. She had worried over that part. The bottle Eleanore had given her had been rather large to cart around unnoticed, so she had had to find a smaller one to place the liquid in. Then she had suffered a quandary about where to keep it. It had to be somewhere within easy access. Tied tightly to her thigh, upside down with two pieces of cloth, had seemed the safest place, which appeared to be working. She had doctored the empty mug, replaced the bottle, and slipped back inside, walking boldly up to the open ale barrel to fill the mug with yeasty brew.
    “Well, now, what have we here?”
    Prudence had just spotted her father at one of the tables when her view was blocked by a rather large, leering man. Forcing a smile, she tried to step around him, only to find her path blocked and herself maneuvered up against a wall.
    “You must be new. I do not recognize you.”
    Prudence nearly groaned aloud, but caught herself. She truly did not need a half-drunk lout to pester her. “Excuse me, my lord, but I must deliver this drink.”
    “Ah, now, don’t be so unfriendly.” The man gave her a smile that Prudence forced herself to return, but then he moved in and reached around to grope her behind in far too familiar a fashion. A squeak of alarm slipping from her lips, Prudence immediately grabbed at his hand.
    “I just happen to be in need of a drink myself.”
    She glanced at him, her mouth open to demand he unhand her, when she realized he had taken the mug from her tray and was lifting it to his lips. “Oh, no! Do not—”
    Prudence paused, her mouth agape. The irritating patron had poured the drink down his throat with one gulp.
    “Mmmm.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and smiled at her. “That was refreshing. Thank you, luv.”
    Pru snapped her teeth closed with vexation, then snatched the empty mug from him. “You are not welcome. Now I shall have to fetch another.” She tried to step around him, but found him immediately in her path again.
    “Now, now, none of that, Lord Setterington,” a deep voice said quietly nearby. “You know patrons are not allowed to bother the girls.”
    Recognizing the voice, Prudence stiffened. Lord Stockton. Panic rising within her, she stiffly kept her face forward and moved around the man Stockton had addressed. This time the odious man did not try to prevent her, and Pru was able to rush back to the safety of the kitchens. Once there, she frowned at the sight of how busy the ale barrel was. There were three women awaiting their turns at it.
    Unwilling to risk one of the other servants recognizing that she didn’t belong, Prudence turned back and cracked the