Read Online Holiday in Bath by Laura Matthews - Free Book Online

for a large bosom! I don’t like people to stare at me that way. It makes me feel wretched. Oh, go away, Cranford. You make me angry with your pious piddle.” She pulled her arm from his and swung away from him. Belatedly she said over her shoulder, “Thank you for intervening.”
    “No, you don’t, young lady.” He grasped her hand firmly and headed for the house. “We are going to speak to your mother about this.”
    “Why?” she asked unhappily. “You said he wouldn’t bother me again. There’s no reason to upset Mama.”
    “There is every reason, Trelenny. Where are we likely to find her?”
    “In the morning room.”
    Mrs. Storwood looked up from the list she was making when the young people entered the room. Cranford’s grim expression and Trelenny’s reluctant one immediately alarmed her. “Is something the matter?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I just came upon your daughter in the garden with Mr. Filkins, who was attempting to make improper advances.”
    Although her face paled, Mrs. Storwood asked in a chilly voice, “I hope you are not suggesting that there was anything improper in Trelenny’s conduct.”
    “No, of course not, but she is not worldly enough to know how to discourage such an old roué."
    “He is undiscourageable,” Mrs. Storwood answered, to their mutual surprise. Trelenny flung herself into her mother’s open arms. “Forgive me, my love. I have been so distracted by him that I didn’t even notice your distress. I thought if he was so persistent with me... but, there, that is no excuse. Your father will have to be told. He did not harm you, did he?”
    “No, Mama.”
    “Thank God.” An agonized sigh escaped her. “This will be very upsetting for your Papa. We will have to make light of it as much as we can and still insist that Mr. Filkins be sent about his business.”
    “Did he do this to you the last time he was here?” Trelenny asked.
    “Well, yes, but he was not here for long then, though it seemed an eternity.” She looked up at Cranford. “Thank you for your help. I’ll see that matters are taken care of from here.”
    “Could I propose a solution which might save embarrassment to you and anguish to your husband, Mrs. Storwood?”
    “Certainly.”
    “I gather that Mr. Filkins is financially embarrassed. No, Trelenny said nothing to me, ma’am. I have seen a score of Filkins’ type, and I fear it would only put Mr. Storwood in a more difficult position to have to send the blighter away, and at the same time provide him with money, which he would doubtless feel obligated to do. Why not leave him here with your husband and go away ourselves? I have been considering a journey to Bath, a stay of perhaps three or four weeks, and I would be happy to escort you there. After such an annoying experience I dare say you and Trelenny would welcome the change.”
    “Go away? To Bath? But we have never been away.”
    “Surely this is the ideal time. Mr. Storwood need know nothing about these incidents, and I think it a fitting punishment to Mr. Filkins to leave him here without his prey. He has promised a long stay; let him be useful while he serves his time. Can you convince Mr. Storwood not to give him enough money to leave?”
    "I...I suppose so,” Mrs. Storwood said uncertainly.
    “Of course you can, Mama,” Trelenny urged enthusiastically. “You have only to tell Papa that you think it will do Cousin Filkins good to rusticate and keep him company while we are gone. And our odious cousin might just receive a whisper from Cranford that no mention will be made if he stays here until we return. Then of course he is to leave immediately and never come back. Oh, I think it a splendid idea, Mama. May we go?”
    A dozen considerations flitted through Mrs. Storwood’s mind: to spare her husband the upheaval such a disclosure would cause him; to avoid the unpleasant attentions of that disgusting man; to take her daughter out of his reach; yes, even to punish him for his horrid