The Riddle of the Shipwrecked Spinster Read Online Free PDF

again. You can imagine the scandal!” Miss Guild sighed. “How I feel for the poor child.”
    Piers looked at her curiously. “I’d think you’d be glad for her. I fancy her family must be overjoyed, unless she is ill, perhaps?”
    “Ruined, rather. No, never look so betwattled, Piers. Do but consider: a young spinster, unchaperoned, cast up on an island inhabited only by savages, and living with them for a year and more! Goodness gracious! You can imagine what…” She broke off, her gentle face rather pink.
    “
I
can,” said Piers with a chuckle. “But I don’t believe
you
can. Or in fact, should, dear Aunt.”
    Her blush deepening, Miss Guild took up her embroidery hurriedly and resorted to the only appropriate comment. “Men!” she said.

    The large coach shot round the bend, taking up the centre of the lane with the team at a full gallop.
    Piers Cranford, who’d been gazing through the window, lost in thought, was hurled to the side as his own carriage swerved violently to avoid a collision.
    On the box, Florian Consett howled an incensed “Hey! Get out of the way, dimwit!”
    The coachman driving the larger vehicle responded with a flood of fiery profanity as his wheels skidded from the road surface. The coach lurched and almost overturned, the horses snorting and squealing in terror. Enraged, the coachman scrambled from the box, seized the bit of the off-leader and attempted to drag the team back onto level ground. His loud curses and brutal hands further alarmed the animals, and he resorted to his whip, cutting savagely at the panicked bay as the horse reared in pain and fright.
    “Stop that at once!” Florian secured the reins, leaped fromthe box and ran to seize the coachman’s whip and attempt to wrest it from him.
    Cranford wrenched the door open and jumped down. He recognized the other coach as belonging to his neighbour, Gresford Finchley. He hadn’t seen the face of the coachman, but the man’s bulk and temperament identified Grover, the Major’s head-groom, in which case the fat would be in the fire. Sidney Grover shared his master’s loathing for the youth they referred to as “the thieving gypsy,” and he and Florian had already come to blows. Cranford swore and ran to them; he’d not wanted any more disputes with the cantankerous major, but he had no intention of allowing anyone in his service to be abused. Florian had been of inestimable aid to Peregrine, who valued him highly; he had become a friend as well as an employee and, aware of his background, Piers could understand and sympathize with his present behaviour.
    As a child the boy had been stolen by gypsies. His early years had been nightmarish, but his attempts to run away had resulted in such cruel retaliation that he’d given up hope. A kind-hearted man, much respected in the tribe for his artistic abilities, had “adopted” him, given him his own name, and a love of books. For a while he’d been protected, but as he grew into young manhood, his eager pursuit of knowledge and cultured way of speech had irritated many; his reluctance to steal caused him to be viewed with suspicion; and his dark good looks, while winning the hearts of several girls in the tribe, had earned him the increased enmity of the men. In desperation he had at length succeeded in escaping, but had been close to starving when a chance encounter with Peregrine Cranford had led to his being taken into that young ex-soldier’s service.
    Of late, Peregrine’s involvement in diplomatic affairs, and his approaching marriage, made it necessary for him to spend much time in London. Piers, in need of a man with the potential to take on the duties of steward at Muse Manor, had offered Florian the position. Peregrine had protested with much indignation,but he was aware that Florian was happier in the country than in the great City. When the youth’s loyalty had caused him to refuse the offer he yearned to accept, Peregrine relented and encouraged him to