Miss Winbolt and the Fortune Hunter Read Online Free Page B

round here yesterday. From what they told me, he arrived halfway through the morning, left his horse at the inn in the village and went for a walk. Odd sort of thing to do, wouldn’t you say? Did you catch sight of him, Emmy?’
    Emily’s cheeks grew warm, and were even warmer as she felt Rosa’s eyes on her. She replied with commendable calm, ‘No, I don’t think I did. Did he…did he go back to the inn?’
    â€˜Yes, but quite late. He claimed to have lost his way. But he must have come back along the stream about the time you were there.’
    â€˜Is he…is he still at the inn?’
    â€˜ I don’t know! I haven’t seen Will Darby this morning. Why are you asking? There’s no reason to be afraid. They all thought he looked like a gentleman. I don’t think he’s dangerous.’ Now that is entirely a matter of opinion! thought Emily with a wry smile, hastily straightening her face when she saw Rosa looking at her again.
    Philip went on to talk of other matters, and the stranger was not mentioned again. Emily hoped he was for got ten. But afterwards Rosa looked Emily in the eye and said firmly, ‘It’s a lovely morning. Do you feel well enough for a walk in the garden? Or shall we sit in the small parlour? There are just the two of us here this morning. Philip has to go over to Temperley.’
    Philip said, surprised, ‘Aren’t you coming with me to see your father?’
    â€˜Not this morning, my love. It’s a business call, and you’ll do much better without me. No, Emily and I are going to have a comfortable chat in the garden. Aren’t we, dear?’
    â€˜I thought I might go…’
    â€˜You mustn’t disappoint me, Emily,’ said Rosa, with smiling determination.
    Rosa was the sweetest, gentlest girl imaginable, thought Emily, except when she’s looking as she does at the moment. She gave up. ‘No. I see that I mustn’t. Very well. The garden it is. I should like a walk.’
    â€˜And a talk, I hope,’ said Rosa with another charming smile.
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    It was a beautifully sunny day and the two ladies, wearing wide brimmed hats and carrying parasols, went out into the garden. They walked for a while, and then sat down in the shade. Emily looked around her. She had helped Philip so much here when he had first inherited Shearings. Their Great-Uncle Joseph’s chief interest had been in new methods of farming, and Shearings’s gardens had lain neglected. She and Philip had worked so hard that first year to create this haven of flower beds and shaded walks, arbours and fountains. Emily sighed. She was genuinely happy that Philip had found Rosa. They were ideally suited. But it was some times difficult not to be nostalgic about the past.
    Rosa snapped her parasol shut and turned to Emily, who saw the militant look in her sister-in-law’s eye and braced herself.
    â€˜Now!’ she said. ‘Now you can tell me just what happened yesterday, if you please.’
    â€˜I…I’ve told you.’
    â€˜So you did. And I believed you. But that was before I heard about a stranger. A gentlemanly stranger.’
    â€˜What…what has he to do with me?’
    â€˜That is what you are going to tell me, Emily dear. I know you. You’re a bad liar. And I have a strong suspicion that you not only saw this “gentlemanly stranger” yesterday, but probably talked to him, too. Is that what made you so late?’ She stopped and looked closely at Emily. ‘Dear heaven, I hadn’t thought… He didn’t attack you, did he? Is he the cause of those bruises and scratches? Tell me, Emily, don’t be afraid.’
    â€˜No, no! You’re quite wrong. I told you the truth about those. I got them when I climbed the tree. Most of them.’
    â€˜And the rest?’ Rosa’s lovely face was unusually stern.
    Emily heard the determination and realised that she was not