The Master of Phoenix Hall Read Online Free

scattered across her nose.
    â€œJust think,” she said, “tomorrow we will be in our own house. I am sure it will be in a shambles. We’ll have to spend a week cleaning.”
    â€œI hope there is enough linen,” I said.
    â€œI brought along several cakes of lye soap,” Nan said, “and some of that strong polish Mrs. Clemmons used. I hope she doesn’t miss it.”
    â€œNan, did you steal it!”
    â€œAnd this bonnet, too. Isn’t it delightful?”
    â€œAnything else?”
    â€œOnly some stockings”—she hesitated—“and a lavender silk parasol with an ebony handle.”
    â€œNan,” I scolded, only half in earnest, “you should be ashamed.”
    â€œThe old crow owed it to me after all those years of sweeping up after her and takin’ her tea when she’d had a drop too much. We will never have to set foot in the shop again. Never have to hear her roaring when a customer hasn’t been satisfied.”
    â€œIt is well behind us,” I agreed.
    â€œI wonder what is ahead,” Nan said, reflecting.
    â€œSomething wonderful, I hope.”
    â€œI am anxious to see the Master of Phoenix Hall,” Nan said. I had told her everything I knew about Phoenix Hall and its inhabitants. Nan’s curiosity about them knew no bounds, and while I tried to be more nonchalant, I too wanted to know all I could about that fascinating family who would soon be my neighbors.
    â€œI don’t imagine there will be an occasion for you to meet him,” I said primly.
    â€œWhat a shame, after all I’ve read about him in the papers.”
    â€œWhat have you read?” I asked, trying not to sound too anxious.
    â€œSurely you remember all those stories in the tabloids, Miss Angel. They were scandalous!”
    â€œI never read the tabloids, you know that.”
    â€œI know—you miss so much. You’re always reading those dreary old books by Mr. Dickens and missing all the juicy things.”
    â€œWhat did the papers say about Roderick Mellory?” I asked.
    â€œI can’t remember too well. It’s been some time ago. But one story told about a duel he had with an officer in the East India Company. They were fighting over the favors of a music hall actress and they met early one morning in Hyde Park and exchanged shots. The officer got a bullet in the shoulder, and he would have got one in the head as well if the seconds hadn’t restrained Mr. Mellory. There was a big write up, police called in and everything.”
    â€œThe papers always exaggerate those things,” I said.
    â€œAnd there was the time Lord Fitzhubert found Roderick Mellory with the Lord’s young wife in a private box at the Ascot Races. Lord Fitzhubert slashed Mr. Mellory across the face with a riding crop. It seems that Mr. Mellory had been seeing young Lady Fitzhubert privately on many occasions. She’s a lovely blonde thing, they say, always wearing her pearls and lots of pink silk.”
    â€œGossip,” I said, intrigued in spite of myself.
    Before leaving London I had seen Mr. Patterson again. He had a list of instructions to give me and more papers for me to sign concerning some investments he wanted to make. I had pressed him for more information about the Mellorys and he told me that Roderick Mellory was trying to put the estate back in order. It had lost considerable sums since his father died, and the new master of Phoenix Hall had spent three years in India, occupation unspecific, earning money to spend on the estate. He had recouped most of the losses, invested the money with the Bank of England, and only recently had started making repairs on the house. Getting back Dower House seemed to be an obsession with him, and Patterson had received another inquiry about the purchase of it since the first day I was in his office.
    He had also told me something more about Laurel Mellory. Her mother had brought her to London