Cousin Prudence by Sarah Waldock Read Free Book Online Page A

easiest thing!” said Prudence “When I have been showing her my paintings for some minutes, join us and I shall slip away and engage the gentlemen in conversation to give you time alone with her.”
    Emma kissed her cousin affectionately.
    “You are full of excellent schemes dear cousin!” she said.
     
     
    If Isabella was interested in the watercolours she was even more interested in her sister’s shy communications of her hopes.
    “But poor Emma!” she said “You cannot racket about in Town in such a condition!  You will wear yourself to a rag, blue-devilled in an instant!”
    “It will only be for two months, Isabella,” scoffed Emma, “you know that I am quite rudely healthy; I think that fretting over letting down Prudence, our poor Aunt Lizzie’s girl would be far worse for my constitution; for a whirl of gaiety does not fill me with the dismay I fear you feel over the prospect!”
    “ Poor Prudence,” said Isabella, “I fear that you are right….she has been trusted to our care and we have her wellbeing as our responsibility; and certainly I cannot manage to put myself about society.  My health would not stand it!”
    Emma smiled to herself; she was learning how to deal with Isabella’s megrims!
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
    The dinner party with the Westons went extremely well; Mrs Weston was such a sweet person, reflected Emma, that the evening could hardly proceed in any fashion but well.   And Mr Woodhouse had his game of Backgammon for his evening entertainment.  It was a splendidly comfortable evening; and the last time for a while that so quiet and convivial an evening should be spent at home!  Emma heaved half a sigh.
    “Regretting the decision to go to London, my dear?” asked George quietly.
    “Oh! No!” said Emma, “but storing up thoughts of those things I must surely miss, to refresh my spirits in dwelling on them when there are such things that are fraught with excess and fatigue.  And there is that too which I may have hoped to contemplate purely amongst the family…. My dear George, when we are alone tonight there is something I wish to communicate to you particularly.”
     
     
    George Knightley, being a man who knew how many beans made five, was not entirely surprised at the news Emma had to communicate to him in the private darkness of their bedroom; there had been certain clues after all, not least her long talk with her sister.  He managed however to sound as astounded as he was delighted; for delighted he was.
    “Poor little Henry will no longer inherit Donwell Abbey if we have children,” sighed Emma.
    “And as the child of a younger son nor should he be expecting to do so ,” said George.  “Now unless my heir is likely to object, Mrs Knightley, I have a great desire to celebrate this excellent news.”
    Emma giggled.
    “Well as there has been no objection so far, my dear Mr Knightley, I cannot think that your heir has yet the faculty to notice and be unduly resentful of your attentions to his mother,” she said.
    Since there was to be no more coherent conversation, it avails the gentle reader little to remain within to listen.
     
     
    The next morning saw Emma and George and Prudence removing to London in two coaches; they would only need to take a minimum of servants since John and Isabella did not bring their servants with them; so Emma’s and Prudence’s maids and the grooms who drove the carriages – one of which was of course the faithful Joseph with Prudence’s carriage – were all who would be required, since Isabella employed a rather superior sort of cook well able to cater to a delicate constitution and yet produce a meal that might be suitable for any dinner guests John might feel it necessary to entertain.  In addition there was a butler, a parlourmaid and such staff below stairs as the cook – who also did duty as housekeeper – deemed necessary. 
    The two hour journey was soon over with excited chatter between the two young women to