The Wicked and Wonderful Miss Merlin Read Online Free PDF Page A

it was headed with the inn’s name and direction so she struck it through with bold strokes.  That done, she stared down at the blank sheet and sighed in frustration.  Whatever she said, Robert was going to be angry.
    Well, there was no avoiding it.  Toby said she must explain to her brother and he would be cross with her if she had not done it when he woke up.
                 
    My dear Robert, she wrote, I daresay you are very cross with me.  Well, I wish you would not be, because I have not done anything so very bad.  Toby is taking me to stay with his aunt, Lady Mary Merrill, in Northampton.  I cannot bear to stay with our great aunt, and besides, I no longer wish for a season, as I have promised to marry Toby.
     
    I know I told Miss Merlin that I was eloping to Scotland, but Toby would not have it, as he thought it improper and scolded me for writing such a letter.  Please do not bother yourself on my behalf.  I shall be quite safe with Lady Merrill.
    Your affectionate sister, Eleanor.
    PS. Toby will call on you as soon as he has recovered from the accident.
                 
    Eleanor perused her letter.  She felt that it was a much better effort than her letter to Miss Merlin, which had been penned in haste with many tears and mistakes.  This was much neater and straightforward.  If Miss Merlin had shown her brother her earlier letter this ought to set his mind at rest.  She could only hope that it would. 
    Ought she to write to Miss Merlin and tell her what had happened?  Perhaps she should for she very much liked her teacher, who had made her shrug off the fears and apprehension living with Aunt Grace had instilled in her.  Yes, she would write a fuller letter to Miss Merlin and tell her everything.  After all, she owed her the truth after leaving that foolish note.  She took out another sheet of paper but did not strike the heading through this time.  Miss Merlin would not come chasing after her – but she would be happy to know that they were safe.
    Deciding that she could do no more for the moment, Eleanor took her letter downstairs and asked if the landlord could have it taken to the collecting office.
    ‘Post won’t go until Friday,’ he told her.  ‘That will cost you one shilling and sixpence, miss – and tuppence for the boy.’
    ‘Thank you, sir.’  Eleanor took the silver shilling, a sixpence and two pennies from her reticule and gave them to him.  She thought it expensive for two letters of one sheet each, but supposed it must cost more in the country than in town.  ‘They will go on Friday, won’t they?’
    ‘You can trust me to see to it, miss,’ he told her.  ‘How is your cousin now?’
    ‘Oh…’ Eleanor faltered, because Toby had insisted that she should be known as his cousin during the journey.  ‘He is still sleeping.  I think he should be better when he wakes, sir.’
    ‘Good.  Doctor Caine is a good man, none better.  Your cousin will be hale within a few days, but until then you and he – and your chaperone are welcome to stay here, miss.’
    Eleanor thanked him and turned to go back to her room.  Miss Tompkins had gone out for a walk earlier but she had not felt like accompanying the older woman.  She was too anxious to leave the inn while Toby’s state of health was unknown.  Yet she disliked being cooped up in her room.  Thankfully, Miss Tompkins always carried some books in her bag and so at least, Eleanor had a novel to keep her company.
    Why had that stupid man driven his cart out into the middle of the road like that and caused the accident?  If it had not happened they would even now be sitting in Lady Merrill’s parlour…
     
     
     
    Samantha had welcomed her new pupil by inviting her to take tea with her and found Miss Hampden a very pleasant young lady with good manners and a bright way about her.  She herself had been a little subdued, keeping to subjects that were perfectly proper for any young woman and not