Polly and the Prince Read Online Free PDF

Common, even the ruins of Tonbridge Castle. Many of the visitors to the Chalybeate Spring want a memento of their stay.”
    “Is good people are willing to pay for your work, Miss Howard,” the Russian said quietly. “Thus, you know is of value to others, nyet?”
    “Yes! Yes, that is just how I feel.” Polly favoured thestranger with a delighted smile, and Ned realised that he had failed to understand his sister’s pride in her art. It was not money she cared about, but recognition. She turned back to him. “Do you think there is a shop near Loxwood that will take my pictures?”
    Ned hated to disappoint her. “You might find one in Horsham. It’s a pretty town and the assizes are held there, so there are plenty of visitors at times.”
    “I doubt lawyers and prisoners will want keepsakes of the place,” she said with a sigh.
    “They will if they win their cases,” Nick encouraged her. “You should paint pictures of the gaol to remind them of what they have escaped.”
    Polly laughed. “It is worth trying. Is Horsham on the way to Loxwood, Ned? Shall we pass through it?”
    “Yes, you will see it tomorrow. If we make good time, we might stop there for luncheon, though I left the duke’s horses in Crawley.”
    “Lord John lent you his cattle, too?” Nick was thrilled. “I wager they are famous bits of blood and bone. Lord John must be a regular Trojan.”
    “Is good fellow,” Kolya confirmed.
    Ned found himself the target of four pairs of eyes.
    “Well?” demanded Nick. “Are we taking Kolya?”
    If the man was going to walk to Five Oaks anyway he might as well go with them. After all, there were plenty of servants there to deal with an encroaching foreigner if necessary. Ned sighed and gave in. “Very well, we shall take you up, Kolya.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “And you,” Ned said severely to his young brother, “come up to my room with me while I wash. I’ve a bone to pick with you.”
    It was unfortunate, as he confessed to Polly later, that Nick’s bear story made him laugh. After that it was impossible to instill a proper sense of wrongdoing in the boy, let alone to discipline him thoroughly.
    “I could not help remembering,” he told her as they climbed the stairs to bed, “that you warned me an academic career would not suit him. However, he has picked up some little learning at least, and now I shall just have to see what I can do to help him join the Navy.”
    “I hope he realizes how lucky he is to have such an amiable brother,” said Polly, kissing him good-night.
    He hugged her. Despite her vagaries, she was a dear girl, and he was glad that at last he was able to have her and his mother to live with him. He had worked very hard for this moment. Even Nick’s misdeeds could not spoil it. He just hoped Lord John would not be too infuriated by his delivery of that wretched foreigner his impulsive sister had taken under her wing.
     

Chapter 4
     
    In the morning, Ned had to admit that both Nick and Kolya were a great help when it came to packing up the last of the household goods and loading the coach. It did not take long—fortunately Mrs. Howard had let her house furnished, and owing to her efficiency almost all themoveables had gone with the carter.
    Everything was ready. Mrs. Howard locked the door and was about to give Ella the key to take to the neighbour’s when suddenly she stopped and looked round.
    “Polly! Where has the girl got to now? Nicholas, have you seen her?”
    “Not since breakfast. Ned, do say I may ride on the box.”
    “Polly went up to the attic half an hour ago,” Ned said, “to make sure she had not left anything in her studio. Perhaps she is still up there, lost in one of her dreams.”
    Kolya laughed. “I wager Miss Howard is sketching in garden.” He held out his hand. “Give key, please. I fetch.”
    Mrs. Howard gave him the key and he went back into the house. Ned looked at his mother with a frown. “How does the fellow know so much