Lady Sherry and the Highwayman Read Online Free

else does.”
    The search continued. Anyone looking out upon the garden from Longacre House just then would have seen a very perplexing sight as maid and mistress combed the area, peering under hedges and into trees; slapping vainly at Prinny, who considered it great sport to leap at their heels; and in general affording considerable perverse satisfaction to Aunt Tulliver, who was observing their progress from the book room window.
    Amusement was the furthest thing from Sherry’s mind. She was much too warm, and much too worried, and feeling sadly out of curl. She was even beginning to wonder if she’d lived with her head in the clouds dangerously long, as numerous people had suggested, and for that reason found herself in this horrid predicament. “Oh, do get down, you wretched beast!” she cried in exasperation as the dog leaped upon her once again.
    Prinny was deaf to such remarks, even when delivered in much louder tones. So softly delivered was this particular reprimand that he considered it an invitation to further play. Again, he leaped. Unfortunately, Sherry had bent down at that particular moment to peer beneath a hedge and Prinny’s assault knocked her smack to the ground.
    “Lady Sherry! Are you all right?” Daffodil ran to her mistress, then yelped as she barely escaped tripping over Prinny, who was delighted to join in this new game.
    “No, I’m not all right!” Sherry attempted simultaneously to push Prinny’s great weight off her chest and to fend off his very wet tongue. “Get this wretched beast off me. Daffodil!” The abigail didn’t obey immediately. Sherry shoved at Prinny’s furry white bulk. “Help!”
    Daffodil did respond then. “Lawks!” she said. There was a quality in her tone that inspired Sherry to greater efforts.
    With a mighty shove, Sherry freed herself of Prinny. The dog looked at her reproachfully, then set about to be ingratiating, which involved sticking as close as a court-plaster to his lady’s heels. Sherry looked around for Daffodil, who was nowhere to be seen.
    The gardener’s shed stood not far distant. Lady Sherry made her way toward the structure, past a barrel on wheels that could be trundled about to distribute water, and a lemon tree in a terracotta tub.
    She paused on the threshold of the shed. The interior of the small building seemed very dark as Sherry stepped in from the sunlight. It was also cluttered with shovels and spades and rakes, displanter and dibbles and wheelbarrow, sieves and pots and shears and ladders, and other paraphernalia of the gardener’s trade. It was further cluttered by one very irate-looking highwayman, who held a trembling Daffodil with one hand and a wicked pruning knife in the other.
    His expression grew even grimmer as he gazed at Sherry. “I’m not going to hang!” he said grimly. “So if you value your lady’s life—”
    The threat was never finished. Prinny, bounding into the shed at Lady Sherry’s heels, took in the scene at one glance. There was a stranger in the gardener’s shed. Prinny knew what to do about strangers. He leaped.
    Prinny’s weight was sufficient to overset a person in good pin, which the highwayman was not. Captain Toby groaned as his wounded leg gave way, and he fell to the ground. Though Prinny was disappointed to find the newcomer such a paltry playmate, he indicated his lack of hard feelings by planting his front paws on the man’s shoulders and giving his face a great damp lick.
    Sherry’s first thought was that the rogue had fallen on the pruning knife, so much blood there suddenly seemed to be in the small shed—and if it would have been difficult to explain the presence of a highwayman on the premises, what the deuce were they to say about a corpse? “Off!” she ordered Prinny, and tugged at his plumed tail, which was violently awag, earning a reproachful glance.
    Sherry bent over the fallen highwayman. Prinny withdrew in a huff to another part of the garden, there to instigate an