Her Master and Commander by Karen Hawkins Page B

our garden. What if one bit a student? Perhaps you should speak to the captain again, only this time, pray use a more gentle tone.”
    “He leaves me with no choice. I’ve asked him repeatedly to do something about those blasted sheep—”
    “Prudence!” Mother’s voice edged with soft disapproval.
    “I’m sorry. It’s just that I have asked him and asked him and he does nothing more than shoo me away like some sort of buzzing insect.”
    “That’s no reason to lower your standards of speaking. As I’ve told you often enough, a woman is judged as much by—”
    “—her speech as by her deeds. I know, I know. I don’t mean to be so indiscreet, but that man raises my ire.”
    “Hm. You know, Prudence…perhaps there is something to your irritation.”
    Prudence looked suspiciously at her mother. “Oh?”
    “There must be something about the captain that attracts you if he’s able to raise your temper so.”
    “Nonsense. I am often angry with men I don’t know.”
    “When?”
    “Whenever I read the Morning Post. There are several contributors—all male, I might add—whom I do not care one snap of my fingers for. Every time they dip their pen into the ink pot, steam begins to rise from my ears. They express no one’s opinion but their own, yet presuppose they are speaking for the masses. I have no time for such worthless conceit.”
    Mother’s lips quirked into a smile. “That’s not anger. That’s irritation.”
    “Well, it feels like anger to me.”
    Mother gave Prudence’s hand another squeeze, and picked up her own teacup. Her eyes smiled over the rim at Prudence. “Don’t look so grim, dear. Everything will work out. And if it doesn’t, you can always marry the doctor.”
    That would be just lovely, Prudence thought glumly. Marriage to the doctor would be about as thrilling as napping during an opera.
    Whatever happened, she’d win this war with the captain. Win it and help Mother establish a successful school, too. Then she’d see who had the last laugh. The captain would see that she’d not yet begun to fight.

Chapter 4
     
     
    The First Meeting with your employer is vastly important. Here, you must set the tone of your future relationship. This is a delicate maneuver as too much familiarity breeds contempt while too little begets a disturbing tendency for said employer to run roughshod over one. Take a stand on important issues, but do so in a discreet manner that allows your master to retain his pride. And you, yours.
     
    A Compleat Guide for
Being a Most Proper Butler
by Richard Robert Reeves
     
     
    T ristan leaned his head against the high back of his favorite chair, savoring the burning warmth of his brandy. He shifted slightly, wincing as he did so. His damned leg ached deeply, as if the very bones were grinding against one another.
    He forced his mind elsewhere, away from the pain, to the carriages even now climbing the cliff road. His first thought had been that it might be his father. But that simply could not be. The man had never made the slightest attempt to contact him; why would the bloody fool do so now?
    Not that it mattered. There would be no welcome for the earl in Tristan’s life. Not now. Not anymore.
    He was through with wishing. The time to believe in knights in shining armor and happily ever after had died years ago when Tristan had been forced aboard that damned ship. It was the one home truth life had taught him—if he wanted something good in his life, it was up to him and no one else to make it happen.
    His gaze drifted to the terrace doors that lined one wall. He loved this room, had had it built to look as much like his cabin aboard the Victory as possible. It held the same furnishings with the exception of his bunk. At night, when he could sleep, he occupied the large corner room upstairs, the only chamber not filled to overflowing with his past shipmates.
    He sighed, looking into his glass. When he’d been injured and had finally realized that he