title: Prudence and Practicality: A Backstory to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
author:  C J Hill 
description: C. J. Hill is a high school English teacher and great admirer of Jane Austens wit and social commentary. She has lived in England and Northern California, and now resides in New Zealand.
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  Prudence Fairworthy was a natural temptress.
  
  Alluring and lovely, entrancing—and untouched. Lucas Fox found her innocence
  strangely disturbing. The appeal of this young woman who was a virtual
  stranger to him was hard to explain. Since returning to Marlden Hall he had
  seriously begun to consider marriage. Whenever he tried to think of a suitable
  candidate it was Prudence’s image that lingered the longest in his mind’s eye.
  Proud, willful and undisciplined she might be, but she was also too lovely for
  comfort.
  
  Lucas did not understand the reasons for what he was about to do. He wanted
  her, and that was reason enough. But he realized he would have to tread with
  caution.
  
  Paying court to Prudence would be like paying court to a powder keg.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Helen Dickson
  
  LORD FOX’S PLEASURE
  
  ![](images/00003.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  HELEN DICKSON
  
  was born and still lives in south Yorkshire with her husband on a busy arable
  farm where she combines writing with keeping a chaotic farmh