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

deserved…No, he wasn’t going down that road again.  He would be dignified, reserved and cold.  She should not melt him with her fascinating smile or her perfume that made his senses swoon...
    Growling low in his throat, Robert dragged his thoughts back on track.  The woman was a menace, a bad influence on her pupils and him alike.  He did not know what had got into him.  He was not so starved of female companions that he would be taken in by that woman’s wiles.  She would be sorry she had not bothered to let him know her intentions – even if her quick action had possibly saved his sister’s reputation.
    Approaching the house he knew to be the Viscount’s, he went up to the door and knocked.  A butler dressed very correctly in black with a pristine white shirt looked him up and down and then inclined his head.
    ‘May I help you, milord?’
    ‘I am Lord Brough and I should like to speak with Miss Merlin and my sister, if you please.’
    ‘Ah…’ The man frowned and then stood back.  ‘Please come in, sir.  I fear they went out early this morning, milord.  Lady Wrexham is at home, if you should wish to see her?’
    Robert stepped into the hall and looked about him.  It was a spacious hall, with high ceilings, the floor covered with marble in a black and white pattern.  Difficult for the servants to keep clean, he imagined and wiped his boots on the mat just inside.  Following the butler into a small parlour to the right of the hall, he was left to himself for a few minutes before he heard light footsteps and turned to see one of the prettiest young women he had seen in an age.  He thought that she might be increasing, though it was not easy to be sure for her gown was most discreet.  He smile lit up her face.
    ‘Lord Brough.  You have come to call on your sister.  How disappointed she will be to have missed you.  She and Samantha stepped out to the lending library – and to purchase some new bonnets.  Eleanor saw one or two yesterday that she liked and they have gone back to try them on…’
    ‘Do you know when they may be back, Lady Wrexham?’ Robert clenched his hands as he struggled to control his impatience.  It seemed that he could not catch up with them whatever he did.
    ‘They will be here for nuncheon at a quarter past the hour of noon.  They forwent breakfast to get a good start so I am certain they will not miss another meal.’
    Robert inclined his head, forcing a smile.  ‘Pray tell my sister I shall call on her at two o’clock.  I should be grateful if…both she and Miss Merlin would receive me then.’
    ‘Oh, I am certain they will not want to miss you,’ said Annabel with a dazzling smile.  ‘Would you care to wait?  I can offer you some refreshment…’
    ‘No, thank you.’  Robert hesitated, then, ‘Is Mr Brockleton here?’
    ‘I fear not.  He called for a cab and went to visit his uncle this morning.  He was feeling a little better and we must hope that he will soon recover from his accident.’
    ‘Did he take a tumble from his horse?’
    ‘In a manner of speaking…someone turned across the road in front of him without giving a signal and he had to halt his horses quickly.  He managed to avert an accident to his chaise but unfortunately fell and struck his head.  I know Samantha is worried about his dizzy spells but Doctor King says they should pass in time…we can only pray he is correct.’
    ‘Yes, I imagine so,’ Robert said.  ‘Eleanor was not harmed in the accident I hope?’
    ‘Not at all,’ Toby’s quick action saved a much worse accident, but his tumble was serious enough.  It meant they were stuck in an inn for days – but I dare say you know about that little contretemps?’
    ‘Yes…’ Robert bit back the angry words.  He had had to discover it for himself, which was infuriating.  Had Miss Merlin thought to tell him as soon as she knew, he might have caught up with them days ago.  ‘Thank you for your time, Lady