Pengelly's Daughter Read Online Free Page A

inching from his touch. My sharp tone must have angered him. His thin lips creased into a false smile and I could hear Father’s voice warning me never to trust a man whose smile did not reach his eyes. Yet Father had trusted him.
    â€˜Mr Tregellas has called to tell us Sir Charles Cavendish is expected from London,’ said Mother quietly. ‘The town’s that packed. There’s a bi-election meeting tomorrow night and there’s likely to be trouble. There’ve been ghts already, what with the navy in town – and Mr Tregellas is telling us to stay indoors.’ She looked distraught, knowing any mention of the election would rouse anger in me. She was right.
    â€˜Then Sir Charles would be wiser not to distribute so much free ale and grog. People who have so little will naturally drink to excess. Perhaps if Sir Charles spent more time down here, with the people he’s meant to represent, he could nd better ways to relieve their misery – more appropriate ways of gaining their support.’ I said it before I could stop myself. I bit my tongue but already I could see Mother wincing.
    The lines round Mr Tregellas’s mouth hardened. ‘I can see you’ve been too long in the sun, Miss Pengelly. You need to rest.’ His face furious, he snatched the reins from Jimmy Tregony. Mounting the trap, he lashed the whip. ‘Good day,’ he said curtly.
    The trap jolted forward and I watched his receding back with an equal mix of fear and loathing. Holding out her hands to help Mother, Jenna’s eyes were deep with reproach and, immediately, I regretted my words. My anger would get us nowhere. No, worse than that, it could plunge us into even greater poverty. They had every reason to look at me like that.
    Yet why should I not have an opinion? I had the education and intelligence of any man, so why must I always stay silent? Besides, everything was not lost. I had been handed the one piece of knowledge I needed most. Tomorrow night, Mr Tregellas would be at the meeting and his study would be empty. Tomorrow would be my chance.

Chapter Three
    Wednesday 26th June 1793
    I tried to make amends with Jenna, sitting patiently on the three-legged stool while her deft hands brought order to my hair.
    â€˜They do say Madame Merrick’s a spy…d’you think she spies for the French?’ she muttered, her mouth full of hairpins. ‘They do say she’s the centre of a smuggling gang.’
    â€˜I wouldn’t put it past her.’
    â€˜â€¦and there’s talk she’s the fancy woman of three rich men.’
    â€˜What? Madame Merrick? No, surely not…well maybe she is…!’
    â€˜They do say she ran off as a young woman and married an English sea captain.’
    â€˜Jenna, you must be nished by now!’
    Pursing her lips, she tugged my hair and I knew I was to be held captive a little bit longer. ‘Mrs Pengelly says I’m as good as any of them seamstresses Madame Merrick employs but that’s only ’cos Mrs Pengelly taught me so well.’
    â€˜I hope that doesn’t mean you’re going to leave us and join Madame Merrick?’
    â€˜Might...depends…’ Jenna tucked the last ringlet into the clasp and stood behind me, admiring her handiwork. Our eyes caught in the mirror. ‘No, course I won’t,’ she said. ‘Things will turn out right – honest they will.’
    â€˜Perhaps I need to be more like Madame Merrick?’
    â€˜Well, they do say she’s that clever – everyone’s buying her gowns...’ She paused as Mother’s voice echoed up the stairs.
    â€˜Rosehannon, what’s keeping you? I can’t be late…if you’re not ready, I’ll take the ferry on my own.’
    I hurried downstairs. We needed Mother’s job and we needed Madame Merrick, but as far as I was concerned, putting Madame Merrick’s accounts in order was