The Wicked and Wonderful Miss Merlin by Anne Herries Read Free Book Online Page B

when Lord Brough eventually comes to see us, he will be prepared to allow them to marry – and then it should all be fine.’
    Samantha sounded more optimistic than she felt, for she knew that Lord Brough was bound to be very angry.  He might feel that she should have written to him before bringing his sister to London, but she’d had little choice.  Toby had really been quite unwell on the journey; they had stopped a few times to allow him to be sick and there was no doubt that his balance had been affected by the bang to his head.
    Samantha was a little worried and had asked him if he wished his parents to be told, but he’d asked her not to write to them.
    ‘I dare say I’ll be perfectly well again in a few days,’ he said.  ‘Please do not worry them for nothing.’
    Samantha could only do as he wished.  At least she had established them in a respectable house.  If a whisper began to the effect that they had an understanding, though nothing could be announced until Eleanor’s birthday next month, it would go a long way to squashing any rumours. They were guests of Viscount and Lady Wrexham and therefore society could find nothing to object to – and the fact that they had arrived with Miss Merlin and Miss Tompkins made it all perfectly proper.
    However, it was not to be expected that Lord Brough would see things quite as she did, and Samantha thought that she would rather like a few days grace before the axe descended.
    If he was truly angry with her, he might decide to blacken her name.  The end of term was close and her pupils would be going home to their parents in a few days.
    She was not certain how many would wish to return…
     
     
     
     
    ‘I’m sorry, milord,’ the innkeeper said in a respectful tone.  ‘The young people were here but they left yesterday.  After the other one arrived it all changed and they said as the young sir ought to see a proper doctor in London – one what knows about bangs to the ‘ead, like.’
    ‘A bang to the head?’  Robert frowned.  He did not like the sound of that much.  Eleanor’s letter had said nothing about an accident…only that she was going to stay with Mr Brockleton’s aunt. Or had it?  He had not bothered with the last lines.  The foolish chit had sent him on yet another wild goose chase.  His mouth thinned as he asked, ‘May I inquire the name of the person who suggested the visit to London?’
    ‘I believe it was Miss Merlin…a rather unusual name, wouldn’t you say?’
    ‘Damn her interfering…’ Robert recollected himself.  It would not do to let anyone know what he was thinking.
    He might have known who it would be.  No doubt Eleanor had written to her and told her all.  Why the devil hadn’t she sent him word?  Or was there a letter waiting at his home?
    He gave the innkeeper a gold coin and, after stopping to rest his horse and take a bite to eat, decided to return home.  It was on his way to London after all and his clothes were not exactly what was needed in town.
    What had Miss Merlin done about the situation?  If she was with Eleanor for most of the time perhaps something could be saved from this mess after all.  His mouth settled into a grim line.  In one way he was relieved to know that his sister was in the charge of a respectable lady, but in another he was furious.
    It was all Miss Merlin’s fault in the first place for putting ideas into the girl’s head and she would feel the full force of his displeasure when they next met.
     
     

 
     
     
     
                                            Chapter Six
     
    ‘I think we should order one or two new gowns for you, Eleanor,’ Samantha said when the young lady accompanied her to her dressmaker that morning.  ‘Although we do not intend to go out into society much, Annabel will entertain friends and you must be properly dressed.  You have only a few simple gowns with you and they simply will not do.’
    ‘I