Prude & Prejudice Read online

  “That’s very nice of you, especially in the circumstances. I’ll let Cate know.”

  “Thanks, I think you’ll enjoy yourselves.” As she walked back to the café, Prue wondered why on earth Charles Bradley bothered to associate with the likes of William Darling. He seemed so decent and he certainly admired her sister. Maybe he did not know about his business partner’s despicable views or two-timing ways, but Darling had expressed his opinions on immigration so openly at the function that they hardly seemed like a secret.

  “So, did you manage to salvage what’s left of our reputation in this town or did you drive our name even deeper into the mud?” said her mother when Prue returned to the café and donned an apron in the kitchen to start her shift waiting tables.

  “Everything is fine, Mum. Mr Darling seemed to think the whole thing was a joke, and Charles Bradley invited us to the party as guests, after we’ve finished with the catering.”

  Her mother clapped her hands together with excitement. “Really? That’s just lovely. He is a wonderful man, isn’t he? I hope Cate doesn’t let this one get away. There’s only one problem, I don’t have a thing to wear. Do you think it will be dressy or casual?”

  “Mum, I don’t think he meant…...Oh, never mind.” Despite the extreme aggravation her mother had caused her over the last few days, Prue did not have the heart to ruin her happy mood. She was also in a good humour so rarely that it was best to make the most of it while it lasted.

  “Did you hear that Cate? We’ve been invited to Charles Bradley’s party as guests after we finish work,” said Mrs Higginbottom when Cate came through the swinging doors from the café.

  “All of us? That’s nice,” said Cate, putting the tray she was carrying on the kitchen bench. “Table four want ice-water, and they’ll be ready to order soon.”

  “I think it was Cate he really wanted to invite but he couldn’t get out of inviting the rest of us without looking rude. He seems to like you a lot,” said Prue teasingly.” Oh, look, she’s actually blushing.”

  “Who likes who a lot?” said Alice, taking off her jacket and dropping her school bag as she stepped in the door.

  “Charles Bradley is in love with Cate,” said their mother.

  “He is not in love with me, Mother! Don’t you dare go around saying things like that. We just had a nice time together at the pub the other night, that’s all. I’m getting back to work now, and I suggest you all do the same before we have no customers left.” The door swung closed behind her and the three women all looked at each other and grinned. It was unlike Cate to be so sensitive about a man. She never took romance seriously and was the first one to make a joke when anyone showed interest in her. It seemed Mr Bradley’s feelings were not completely one-sided.

  “She loves him too,” said their mother and they burst into laughter.

  ****

  It was unseasonably warm on the night of Charles Bradley’s party. His house was a Georgian mansion which had been lovingly restored it to its former glory by the previous owner. Rumour had it Mr Bradley had fallen in love with the house on sight and this was behind his decision to relocate the business to Merryton. As they drove up the long, curving drive Prue took in the sweeping lawns and imposing house and she imagined what the parties must have been like here two hundred years ago.

  The ladies would have been more concerned with finding a suitable husband than having fun, while the men would have been on the lookout for a woman who could improve their social standing and produce an heir. Even though it was very cold and calculated, she could not help seeing the romantic side of it as she pictured the beautiful gowns and elegant settings of the era.

  Her daydream was rudely interrupted when her mother dumped a box of wine at her feet.

  “Make yourself useful and take this inside Prue instead of standing about with that daft look on your face.” Although the strict class divisions that governed society two hundred years ago were nowhere near as pronounced anymore, she could not help feeling a little like an envious kitchen maid as she picked up the box of wine and lugged it inside.

  They had just finished setting up the large drawing room an hour later when the guests began to arrive. Prue was circulating with a tray of canapés when she spotted William Darling across the room. He was staring at her intently and she quickly looked away. The last thing she needed was to become the butt of another of his cruel jokes, and she turned her back on him to show her disdain. She was careful to avoid his side of the room when she did the circuit with her tray, but to her intense annoyance he strode across the room towards her.

  “You seem to have forgotten my side of the room. I’d hate to think you were avoiding me.”

  “Why would I want to avoid you?” she said, continuing to offer canapés to the other guests while he spoke to her.

  “I thought you might still be embarrassed about the other night. I don’t blame you for getting a bit upset. It really must seem like we taken over the town. It’s only natural to feel a little put out.”

  She turned to face him. “I guess you would understand, wouldn’t you? It must be just dreadful in the city with all those dirty foreigners taking over. No wonder you came out here where the population is much more homogenous.” Her words dripped with sarcasm but she smiled pleasantly to distort her true meaning. He looked at her for a moment before clearing his throat.

  “Okay, well I guess I’d better leave you with it. Thanks for this.” He held up the canapé and backed away. She later saw him shoot her a couple of puzzled looks across the room and she smiled at him enigmatically. At ten o’clock they put out the last of the food and cleared up, and then Prue, Cate and their mother were finally free to get changed and join the guests while Alice took Mary home.

  As she and Cate applied their make-up in a guest bathroom upstairs, Prue could not resist teasing her sister about Charles Bradley and his obvious feelings for her.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the host of a party spend so much time hanging around the catering staff. He sure is conscientious when it comes to the food.”

  “I told him he was being rude to his other guests but he didn’t seem to care,” replied Cate as she outlined her lips carefully.

  “Seems he only has eyes for you.”

  “I know.” Cate stopped applying her make-up and turned to her sister, her own feelings written all over her face. “I really like him too, Prue, but I just don’t want to let myself get my hopes up in case it doesn’t work out. He seems too good to be true.”

  “I think he is a genuinely nice guy, and exactly what you deserve. Just enjoy it, Cate, and don’t question it too much. Sometimes things really are as good as they seem to be.”

  “I know I should just relax, but I’m a bit worried about Mum being here. I mean she’s okay when she’s working, but once she lets her hair down a bit she can get pretty embarrassing.”

  “Don’t worry about Mum, I’ll keep an eye on her, and I won’t let her anywhere near the dance floor.”

  “Thank goodness for that. What about you and Mr Darling? I saw him talking to you earlier and Charles told me he’s been asking about you. He wanted to know if you were single.”

  “Don’t make me laugh. You know how I feel about that man and his ugly opinions.” Prue applied one last coating of gloss to her lips and patted her hair, trying to ignore the fact that her pulse had quickened just a little at Cate’s words. “Now, let’s get out there and join this party.”

  The party was still in full-swing as they made their way downstairs, with several carloads of latecomers just arriving. Charles Bradley immediately whisked Cate away to introduce her to someone while Prue helped herself to a glass of wine. She could see a few people she knew, but for the moment she was content to just survey the crowd and soak up the atmosphere. Standing behind her were two women she recognized from Organic Feasts. One of them had shown her into William Darling’s office the day she had gone there to make her humiliating apology, and she assumed she was his P
A. She could not help overhearing their conversation

  “I’m heading back to London next weekend, and I’ve a good mind to stay. I don’t know why I ever agreed to move to this hole. The country life is not for me.”

  “I know, but it looks like we’re stuck here now. Charles seems very happy, especially now that he’s found a little local girl to play with. Can you believe he’s interested in her?”

  “I know, it’s so embarrassing. She’s a caterer for god’s sakes. I can’t believe he actually invited her to the party, and now he’s introducing her around like she’s someone important. She just got changed out of her uniform ten minutes ago.” They both broke out in peals of laughter and Prue had to call upon all of her willpower not to turn around and say something to them. Her mother would kill her if she made another scene.

  “She’s got nothing on you, darling, but if he can’t see that then it’s his problems. Let him have his little maid.” They moved away and Prue took a few deep breaths to get her anger under control before she began mingling with the crowd. Thankfully there were many nice people at the party and she became so absorbed in conversations with them that she forgot all about the awful women and their comments. Unfortunately she also forgot all about her promise to Cate to keep an eye on their mother.

  When she finally remembered she was horrified to discover that Adelaide Higginbottom had William Darling cornered, and even from a distance she could see from her mother’s shiny, red complexion that she had been drinking a lot. Prue discretely manoeuvred herself close to them so she could listen to their conversation and she breathed a sigh of relief to discover that they had not been talking for long.

  “So, how are you finding our little town? People are very friendly here you must have discovered by now.”

  “Yes, I agree. Everyone was very nice when we first came here, but over the past couple of weeks I’ve noticed a bit of a change.”

  “Oh, what sort of change?”

  “Well, when I go to the markets some of the older men who were quite friendly when we arrived don’t seem to want to know me anymore. Even in the main street some of the ladies seem to avoid me. It’s a bit strange, but I’m probably just imagining things. No one else has said anything.”

  “I daresay you’re reading too much into it. Despite the impression my daughter has given you we’re very accepting of newcomers here, at least the right sort of newcomers.” Prue’s heart lurched as she noticed her mother giving him a wink. She was straying into dangerous territory and the last thing she wanted was for William Darling to discover he had a supporter.

  “I’m not sure I do know what you mean.”

  “We are very happy to have new people here, as long as they are our kind of people.” When he still didn’t seem to understand she whispered loudly, “White skinned English people. Christians. It’s all well and good to have a few foreigners around, but nobody wants too many. They bring all sorts of problems with them and make life difficult for everyone. I’m all for diversity, as long as there isn’t too much of it.”

  “I can see where your daughter gets her opinions from,” said William Darling. Prue quickly stepped in and took her mother by the arm.

  “There you are, Mum, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. It’s time to go home now.”

  “What do you mean it’s time to go home? The party has just started. I was just telling Mr Darling how much I agree with him about his views on immigration and multiculturalism.”

  “What?”

  “That’s great, but we really have to leave now.” Her mother was drunker than Prue had realized, because she pulled back and refused to budge. Her words were slurred and she swayed on her feet. “Come on, Mum, I think you’ve had a little too much wine.”

  “What nonsense,” she replied loudly. “You’re just trying to censor me like you always do at home. I’m tired of living in a society where ordinary people have to keep their opinions to themselves. Its political correctness gone mad. Why should I have to pretend that I don’t think that immigrants cause trouble or that our Christian society is being overtaken? Just the other day I read in the paper that schools aren’t even allowed to celebrate Christmas anymore in case they offend Muslims and Hindus. Can you imagine it? What is the world coming to? You agree with me don’t you, Mr Darling? I want you to know that I support what you stand for and I’d like to sign up for your grassroots movement. It’s about time someone did something before it’s too late.”

  “I really don’t know what you’re talking about, Mrs Higginbottom.”

  “You don’t have to pretend with me. We were all relieved to see that there were so few foreigners amongst you when you arrived. It means we can talk freely amongst ourselves and say what we really think. They are not welcome here. Show the door to the lot of them, I say. Keep England for the English and preserve what civilization we have left. I’m sure it must be foreigners who are behind the push for gay marriage because it doesn’t seem very British. It’s not enough that the gays have civil partnerships, but now they want to sully the most sacred institution we have. I’ve read the bible, I know all about Sodom and Gomorrah. It goes against all the teachings of the church and it’s an absolute travesty.”

  It seemed all conversations had stopped and everyone in the room was staring at them. Prue was beyond mortified as she took her arm again and tried to lead her to the door. Her little speech seemed to have taken the wind out of Adelaide Higginbottom’s sails because this time she yielded, but not before grabbing a bottle of wine from the nearest table and stashing it in her bag as they passed. Prue was relieved when Cate appeared beside them and took her mother’s other arm. They were almost at the door when she heard a snide voice she recognized from earlier in the evening.

  “That’s the little catering girl’s mother. What a family they make.”

  “No class whatsoever. That’s what you get for inviting the hired help to a party.” This time Prue could not hold herself back and she turned to face them.

  “Excuse me, but my sister happens to be a part owner in the business, which is a hell of a lot more than I can say for you. She also has a Masters degree in marketing and runs her own public relations company on the side. And what are you? Glorified secretaries. Not only is she more successful and attractive than either of you will ever be, she also has more kindness and decency in her little finger than you have in your entire bodies. You are not fit for her to wipe her feet on. Why don’t you go back to London since you hate it here so much, and take your bitchiness and negativity with you?” Both women just stared at her with their mouths open and seeing that her mother was about to add her own pence worth, Prue quickly steered her out the door.

  With the help of Charles Bradley they got her into the car, but poor Cate was so embarrassed she could not even look at him as they drove away, and she buried her head in her hands and refused to speak for the whole trip home. Their mother was snoring loudly by the time they pulled up at the house, but somehow they managed to bundle her up the stairs and into bed next to their father. Mr Higginbotton was suitably horrified to see his wife in such a state.

  “Please don’t tell me she’s been drinking. God help us all.”

  “I’m afraid so. It was so much worse than you could imagine, Dad,” said Cate, “but now one of us has to go back and finish clearing up,”

  “Damn it, I forgot about that,” said Prue.

  “I can’t go, Prue, I can’t face Charles again after what just happened. You should have seen the look on his face when Mum started going off.”

  “I’ll do it. You go to bed and try to sleep. Things won’t look so bad in the morning. He’ll just think you come from a family of lunatics.”

  “He wouldn’t be wrong.”

  “I’m really sorry if I embarrassed you by telling those women what I thought of them, but I couldn’t just let them say things like that about you and do nothing.”

  “You don’t have to apologise. It means a lot to me that you stood up for me,
and Mum had already done all the damage by that point anyway.”

  “You know I’ll always be on your side, Sis.”

  “I know. Now you’d better get back there and clear up the mess.’

  “I think it’s far too late for that.”

  ****

  Prue waited for a few hours before returning to the house. She was relieved to find that the party had dispersed and the downstairs rooms were empty. She used the key Charles Bradley had given them to let herself in and start clearing up in the drawing room. It was only when she made her way to the kitchen to dispose of the rubbish that she noticed a light burning and she heard voices. She was about to turn back around when she heard Cate’s name mentioned.

  “It’s better that he find out now how completely mad her family are before he gets too involved. I mean who wants to be stuck with in-laws like that?” It was the woman from the party, and she was still running Cate down! Then she heard William Darling’s voice.

  “She seems like a very sweet girl, and I don’t think we should judge her too harshly because her mother is an embarrassment. My mother is pretty embarrassing too, especially when she gets a few drinks under her belt.”

  “But it’s not just the mother, you heard the sister tonight and the way she spoke to Caroline and me. And what about what she said to you at the pub? She was way out of line.”

  “From what I heard, you deserved it. I was quite impressed that she stood up for her sister like that. It made me think more highly of her.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realize you were an admirer of hers or I wouldn’t have said anything. Don’t tell me you’re interested in the hired help too? It must be going around.”

  “I wouldn’t go so far as saying I’m an admirer, although she does have very nice eyes. She’s a bit of an enigma to me, I must admit. Tonight she said some interesting things about immigration but I’m not sure if she was serious.”

  “Like mother like daughter. I’m going up to bed now. Will you be joining me?”