Cousin Prudence by Sarah Waldock

permitted into a bookshop, all other activity might as well be forgotten for the rest of the day. She might not manage to finish a book - unless George rea d aloud - but she liked the idea of so many. And she loved to pick something for George to read for both of them in the evenings.
    “You know me so very well my dear Mr Knightley,” said Emma.
    “And I love you well enough to curb s ome of your gentle vices my dear Mrs Knightley,” said George.
    The ladies were able to make all the purchases they might want; if that was more perhaps than George might have considered strictly necessary it was a long way short of what they might have bought had not both ladies been full of shrewd frugality and a decided horror at paying out
    for such things as beaded reticules that they might easily make at a fraction the price; and George rolled his eyes up at their antics where one of them would keep the shop assistants talking while the other made sketches.  In this way they assembled a veritable fashion book of ideas to apply to their own gowns and accessories. Both young ladies were talented at sketching and if Prudence surpassed Emma with a needle, both would ply their needles with enthusiasm for their fine adornment, aided by both Jennifer and particularly Hester who could turn her blunt clumsy looking fingers to all manner of needlework and crafts with greater skill than Prudence herself.   Hester was remarkably talented and Prudence declared that she was worth her weight in gold.  In many ways, Emma noticed that Prudence had a closer relationship with Hester than was common for a young lady to have with her maid  and when she found out that Hester had also been Pru’s nurse, this made a great deal of sense, and Emma stopped being concerned that Hester would speak her mind.
    That Hester spoke her mind concerning Emma looking fatigued after a long day’s shopping and declared that if she knew what was what then poor Mrs Emma was in a condition that should not be fatigued, Emma permitted the good woman to hustle her to bed with a bowl of good oatmeal porridge well sweetened and milky – Hester had no time for gruel – and a dish of tea. 
    George slipped Hester a good gratuity for actually getting Emma to rest.
    “More than I can manage ,” he said.
    “Eeh, Mr George, tha’s but a man, sithee ,” said Hester kindly.
     
     
    George did have more influence on Emma than he had joked about to Hester; and he had noticed how quickly – for her – the long day shopping had pulled her.
    He had a long and serious talk with Emma and extracted from her a promise to take things at a reasonable pace for fear of overdoing things and then missing out on fun.
    Emma always took her husband’s words seriously; and she knew that she had lied to him by her actions, laughing gaily when she was already wishing she might rest.  The day was a lesson to her; and whatever her faults, Emma always learned from the mistakes she made; and confessed, a little tearfully to her husband how she had lived a lie for the last hour or two.
    George freely forgave her; so long as she promised not to do it again.
    Emma was glad to do so.
     
     
     
    With a less frenetic sightseeing regime, Emma was soon quite back to her effervescent self; and the family greatly enjoyed the solemn service on Good Friday and the joyous one on Easter Sunday.  And if the main enjoyment that Mr Alver had was in sitting near to and able to watch the beloved Emma then that at least brought him pleasure even if he kept losing his place in the service and once absently said ‘AMEN’ in a too loud voice in the middle of a prayer.
    Fortunately the Bishop conducting the service was used to fashionable young men with more religious fervour for their appearance and impressing ladies than for the ceremony and he was ignored.
    Mr Alver was however much embarrassed and kept apologising until Emma said,
    “I pray you will not refine so much upon the incident, Mr Alver; it is a well