The Orphan's Dream by Dilly Court Read Free Book Online

not how business is run, my love,’ Jacob said mildly. He left the table, pausing by Mirabel’s chair. ‘You do look tired, my dear. Are you quite comfortable on the top floor?’
    â€˜I’m fine, thank you, Pa.’ Mirabel smiled valiantly even though every bone in her body ached from sleeping on the hard floorboards.
    â€˜Perhaps your girls could share a room, Ernestine . . .’ Jacob faltered, and came to a halt beneath his wife’s stony stare. ‘It was just an idea.’
    â€˜And a very silly one,’ Ernestine snapped. ‘Mirabel has had her chance to find a rich husband so it doesn’t matter if she has bags under her eyes, but my little girls have their whole lives in front of them. I intend them to marry well, and no man wants a wife who looks as though she’s been up all night weeping.’
    Charity and Prudence sniggered, hiding behind their damask table napkins, and Jacob opened his mouth as if to protest, but Mirabel rose quickly from the table. ‘I’m quite content the way things are, Pa. You mustn’t worry about me.’ She turned to face Ernestine, holding her head high. ‘But I am a bit tired, stepmother. There will be no lessons this morning as I have a headache. If the girls wish to work alone I’ll set them a poem to learn.’
    â€˜Jacob, did you hear that?’ Ernestine cried angrily, but Jacob had fled leaving the door to swing shut behind him. She pointed a shaking finger at Mirabel. ‘Don’t try my patience too often or you’ll be sorry. I’m mistress of this house now and you’re only here on sufferance. The sooner I find a husband for you the better.’
    Mirabel met her stepmother’s angry gaze with a steady look. ‘Say what you like, but you can’t make me do anything I don’t want to, and that includes marrying someone just to please you. As to your stupid and over-indulged daughters, I think you’d better find another governess, because I’m done with trying to instil learning into their wooden heads.’
    Ernestine snatched up the hand bell and rang it. ‘Wiley, come here I need you.’
    Mirabel left the room, ignoring Wiley as she passed him in the hall. She had done it at last. She had stood up to her stepmother, but at what cost to herself? At this moment she did not care, but she knew her rebellion would not go unpunished. She made her way upstairs to tend to Gertie, and found her still feverish and calling out for her errant brother. The heat beneath the roof was already stifling and would get worse towards midday, and the smell of the sickroom seemed to permeate everything. Mirabel let up the sash, but the stench from the river and the surrounding manufactories made her close it again. A trapped fly hurled itself against the window and she opened it a crack to release the insect, watching it soar into the air. How wonderful to be free, she thought, turning back to Gertie who had begun to moan. ‘Hush, my dear. It’s all right, you’re safe now.’
    Gertie quietened at the sound of Mirabel’s voice, but they both jumped when someone hammered on the door. ‘Who’s there?’ Mirabel demanded angrily.
    â€˜Ma says you’re to stop behaving like a spoilt brat and come downstairs to the schoolroom, or she’ll want to know the reason why.’ Charity did not disguise her pleasure in passing on the message.
    â€˜I’m not coming, and that’s that.’
    â€˜But you must.’ Charity sounded less sure of herself. ‘Ma will have a fit if you don’t do as she says.’
    â€˜Go away, Charity.’
    â€˜I’ll tell her what you said. She won’t be pleased.’
    â€˜She never is,’ Mirabel muttered as Charity’s footsteps faded into the distance. She sat back, wondering who Ernestine would send next in an attempt to bully her into submission. She did not have long to wait. The sound of