The Master of Phoenix Hall Read Online Free Page A

for The Season and the young debutante had been presented at Court. She had been squired about at all the balls and parties and had gone to all the fashionable places, yet it had been a failure for the most part and mother and daughter had gone back to Cornwall, disillusioned with London society. Young Laurel was evidently more interested in her good deeds, her young brother, and the gardens than in finding a suitably wealthy husband. Mrs. Mallory had died two years later with her daughter still unwed.
    I was interested in them all: the Master with his violent disposition, the pale young girl who had been a failure in London, the gentle boy with his lame leg and love of music. My new neighbors might prove to be antisocial, but they would certainly never be dull.
    All the light had washed out of the sky now and heavy shadows veiled the horizon. The coach lurched and shook. I felt my eyelids growing heavy, and my head nodded. Nan was already asleep, curled up in the corner on her side of the coach, the canary’s cage in her lap, her arm curved about it protectively.
    A box tumbling to the floor awoke me. It fell with a crash, and I sat up with a start, my eyes wide open. If the coach had been going fast before, it was fairly flying now, crashing over the road at a pace that seemed impossible. Nan and I were like rag dolls caught in a box being tossed up and down by some demonical child. Nan let out a shrill scream as a pile of boxes tumbled over her. I gripped the leather strap by the window, trying to catch my breath.
    The air around us seemed to be full of explosions. It sounded like Trafalgar Square on Guy Fawkes night, firecrackers bursting. What we heard was the driver’s whip slashing the air violently, rocks flying up to crash against the side of the coach and tree limbs that scratched it. There were shouts, too, from more than one throat. Nan was quite plainly terrified, and my heart felt as though it were going to leap into my throat.
    â€œGod in Heaven!” Nan screamed, her blue eyes twice their normal size. “What is it!”
    There was an ear-splitting explosion and I saw a flash of flame. It was followed by the splintering of wood. The coach almost toppled over, but somehow the driver managed to hold it on the road. There could be no doubt now. We were being pursued by highwaymen.
    â€œGuns!” Nan yelled. “Murder! Lord preserve us!”
    I saw a dark figure streak past the window. It seemed that we were surrounded by horses. There was a final great lurch, the screeching of wheels and a jolt as the coach came to a stop. There was a sudden silence and Nan and I stared at each other. My heart was still beating, but I was not nearly as frightened as I had been when the coach threatened to go off the road and crush us as it rolled over. Nan sat up, adjusting her skirt and retrieving her bird cage from the floor. Her bonnet had fallen off and her golden curls were scattered chaotically over her head. There was a large streak of dirt across her cheek. She peered out the window with curious eyes.
    â€œKeep still, Nan,” I warned.
    â€œWe’re surrounded,” she whispered excitedly.
    We heard loud voices and the sound of the driver climbing down from his seat. A lantern was lit and held up. We saw a group of shadowy figures in the flickering yellow glow. The door was jerked open and a hoarse voice commanded us to get out. I moved slowly, stepping out carefully. A hand seized my arm and pulled me into the open. Nan fairly leaped out of the coach, clutching the canary’s cage. The bird, for some strange reason, was chirping a bright, monotonous song.
    â€œJust keep quiet, Ladies,” a voice directed, “and you will not get hurt.” The voice was hoarse and gutteral, but it was obviously not natural. The man was disguising his normal speaking voice, and rather poorly, I thought.
    There were three men, but the man with the forced voice was obviously the leader. He was