Free The Courteous Cad by Catherine Palmer

the forefront of his thoughts, but he will put it all right soon enough.”
    While Mary set about finding paper and ink, Prudence sipped her tea. How could she ever show her face to William Sherbourne this evening? He was just the sort of man to enjoy making a fool of her twice in one day. His mocking wit and his snide comments would surely cut her until she had not a shred of pride.
    Perhaps that had been God’s design after all, she mused. Perhaps she needed taking down a notch or two. If so, the plan had worked well, for she felt as low as a worm.
    There was only one thing to do now. She must wear her pink silk gown, white gloves, and ruby necklace to dinner. If she could not shame William Sherbourne into helping the mill children, she would entice him to do it.
    “The deed is done, William. You can change nothing now.” Randolph studied his younger brother across the tea table. “She will come here tonight, and you must be polite.”
    As was the custom since William’s return to the Thorne-Chatham estate, he had joined his brother at tea that afternoon. Olivia sat with the men when she was at home, and quite often visitors came to the table as well.
    William had learned to take pleasure in the congenial assembly of family and friends. True, it was not as hearty or raucous a gathering as some he had enjoyed, but he found the conversation stimulating, the advice sound, and the affection genuine.
    Following the morning’s incident at the mill, the mists had faded and the day had grown warm. An open window ushered in the sweet scents of early spring—fields newly turned by the plow, flowers unfurling petals one by one, a hint of rain in the breeze.
    The table in the sitting room at Thorne Lodge fairly groaned beneath the load of delectable treats carried up from the kitchen. Fresh currant buns, a bowl of sugared strawberries, a plate piled with thinly sliced ham and savory cheeses, and a large pot of hot strong tea crowded the round tabletop. Unpleasant news had no place in such an amiable family scene, but William could not rest until he had disclosed the debacle that now occupied all his thoughts.
    Randolph received the information and fell silent, but his wife appeared scandalized.
    “Had I known Miss Watson’s true character, I should never have invited her to dinner again.” Olivia’s warm eyes met William’s. “But she must be all deceit. Her beauty and charm hide her defects. By outward appearance, she is witty, clever, and accomplished, and her family connections are more than satisfactory.”
    “Satisfactory? Have you forgotten that her father traded in opium?” William asked. “You informed us of his iniquities not ten minutes ago.”
    “I have not forgotten what I said about Mr. Gerald Watson. I do not repeat gossip, William, and you must know that every shred of information I have reported was either taken from Miss Pickworth’s society news in The Tattler or given to me by our minister’s wife.”
    “Making the information, of course, utterly and irrefutably true.”
    “Yes, indeed. Miss Pickworth rarely errs in her accounts, and Harriet is never wrong.”
    William could not resist teasing Olivia. He knew she enjoyed reading the society gossip in the London newspaper. He also knew she treasured her friendship with the Reverend Nigel Berridge’s wife, Harriet. The young minister’s growing family, now residing in the parsonage beside the church at Otley, brought a welcome warmth to the small town. As a boy, William had dreaded his family’s Sunday obligation to attend church services, but of late he found them more palatable.
    “Mr. Watson’s superior connections in society were purchased,” Olivia continued. “Trenton House, the family’s home in London, belonged to a peer of the realm before Mr. Watson bought it. He procured his eldest daughter’s first husband, the late Lord Delacroix, in the same way.”
    “He purchased a husband for his daughter?” William asked. “That is