Penelope Goes to Portsmouth by M C Beaton

Author:M C Beaton [Beaton, M C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781849019088
Publisher: Constable & Robinson
Published: 2011-10-25T20:00:00+00:00

Miss Trenton did not sleep. She found she could not. She longed to hear the return of the others, to learn that the footman had not been found, and it had all been for nothing. That way, she could comfort herself with doing the right thing by not getting involved in such a hare-brained adventure.

Many harsh things had been said to Miss Trenton in the past, but none had struck home like the remark made to her by Mr Cato: that it was her lack of adventure which had kept her a maid.

It was not true, she kept telling herself. What absolute folly, to expect her, a gentlewoman, to embark on such a ploy to rescue a mere footman, and perhaps get arrested herself in doing so. Such was not an adventure but pure stupidity. A little voice in her head kept nagging at her that no one had expected her to go, but she tried not to listen to it.

Then she heard the rumble of the cart arriving. She was still fully dressed, so she made her way downstairs in time to join the landlord, his wife, the coachman, and guard, who appeared to have been waiting as anxiously as she had been herself, but for different reasons.

The landlord lit the lamps in the low-raftered tap and stirred up the fire.

The inn door opened and the first thing Miss Trenton saw with a sinking heart was the bloodied Benjamin, supported by Mr Cato and Lord Augustus. All, with the exception of Miss Trenton, demanded to know what had happened. Benjamin was tenderly placed in front of the fire and given brandy. Hannah and Penelope entered, fully recovered from their fright, their eyes shining with excitement. Lord Augustus told of the fire and Hannah of finding Benjamin in the undercellar.

There was a sour taste like bile in Miss Trenton’s mouth. She could not possibly imagine herself bailing out a barrel of wine, or of creeping about in the dark.

She affected to be horrified. ‘But we shall all be arrested!’ she cried. ‘Setting poor Lady Carsey’s house on fire.’

Mr Cato looked at her with contempt as they all took their places round the fire.

‘Calm yourself,’ said Lord Augustus. ‘She would not dare. Miss Pym, find your notebook and let us see if Benjamin is strong enough to write his adventures.’

Hannah did as she was told and as Benjamin wrote busily, the landlord said, ‘No one shall hear a thing from me. You have my word on it. But they will be looking for you.’

‘Yes, we must leave soon,’ said Hannah. ‘Be so good as to pack, Miss Trenton.’

‘I had not unpacked,’ said Miss Trenton.

‘Beats all,’ said the coachman, his eyes round with wonder. ‘Best adventure I ever did hear. Like a book, it is. I’ll be getting the coach ready and we’ll be off as soon as we can.’

Hannah took the notebook from Benjamin and said, ‘He says he remembers being struck on the head at the inn and the next thing he knew he was lying on the floor of the carriage.

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