Miss Winbolt and the Fortune Hunter Read Online Free

carriage returned without you. But why have you come in this way—?’ She stopped short and regarded her sister-in-law with astonishment. ‘Heavens! What on earth have you done to yourself? No, don’t waste time on that now—you can tell me later. We must get you upstairs to your room first.’
    Emily was helped through the hall and up to her room at the top of the main stair case, and was soon sitting in a chair being ministered to by Rosa herself and by Mrs Hopkins, the house keeper. Mrs Hopkins had been with the Winbolt family for many years, andhad known Emily since child hood. She gently removed her torn clothes, exclaiming as she did so at the state of her hands and legs. Rosa mean while fetched salves and lotions from her own room, then disappeared again to return with a glass of Philip’s best brandy. After a short while Emily was lying on her bed, propped up by pillows, her hands bandaged and the scratches on her legs bathed and soothed with ointment. Rosa sat beside her on the bed and held the brandy to her lips.
    â€˜Drink it all,’ she said with a reassuring smile. ‘Every drop. You’ll feel better.’
    When Emily hesitated, Mrs Hopkins nodded her head. ‘There’s nothing like a drop of brandy, Miss Emily,’ she said firmly. ‘You do as Mrs Winbolt says.’ They waited until Emily had finished the brandy, then the house keeper said, ‘If you don’t need me any more, ma’am, I’ll go about my business. The master will be back soon, I dare say.’
    After she had gone out Rosa said, ‘She thinks you’ll feel able to talk more freely in her absence, but she could have stayed. Mrs Hopkins wouldn’t dream of gossiping with the other servants. She is the soul of discretion.’ She paused, then said hesitantly, ‘I’m very anxious to know what happened, Emily. If you feel well enough to tell me, I’d like to hear about it.’
    Emily took a breath. Discretion was a good word to use. She would have to use a good deal of it herself.
    â€˜You know that I visited Mrs Gosworth this afternoon…’ she began. She paused.
    â€˜I did warn you,’ said Rosa. ‘She is one of the un kindest people I know. Oh, Emily, I should have gone with you. Did she upset you?’
    â€˜She tried,’ said Emily with a small grimace. ‘But I’m afraid she was disappointed. I was angry rather thanupset, but I managed not to show it. I even thanked her for a delightful visit!’
    Rosa clapped her hands and laughed. ‘Wonderful! She must have been furious. How long did you stay?’
    â€˜Not a second more than the correct time, believe me. But you can’t imagine what I did afterwards. I must have been mad.’
    Rosa raised an eyebrow. ‘You? But you are the soul of good sense!’
    â€˜Not today. After talking to that woman I was so very angry that I didn’t want to be driven home. I needed to work my temper off. I needed exercise and air, so I walked home across the fields. And…and I forgot all about Pritchard’s bull and came through Three Acre field.’
    â€˜Thr-Through’ Rosa looked at her aghast. ‘I don’t believe you! You can’t have for got ten. Weren’t you listening when Will Darby told us he’d been moved there?’
    â€˜Yes. But it had gone right out of my mind. I didn’t think of the bull until I was halfway across the field and saw his eyes on me.’
    Rosa was shocked. She got off the bed and walked about the room in agitation. ‘Good God, Emily, when I think what could have happened… What has already happened to others…’ She turned and looked at Emily in bewilderment. ‘How can you have been so foolish? It’s so unlike you! That bull…’ She came back and took her sister-in-law in her arms. ‘We could have lost you.’
    Emily laughed shakily. ‘There were a few moments when I