The Wicked and Wonderful Miss Merlin by Anne Herries

Author:Anne Herries [Herries, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Usernet, C429, Kat, Extratorrents
Amazon: B00A184HSC
Published: 2012-11-01T22:00:00+00:00

Samantha looked out of her bedroom window. In the distance the lake shimmered in the early morning sunshine. It was going to be a beautiful day. She had asked for her breakfast to be brought up early, because after the painful experience at dinner the previous evening she had not wanted to sit down with Lord Brough too early in the day. He had sat tight-lipped throughout the meal despite all her efforts to make pleasant conversation. Eleanor had begun well enough but grown quieter as the evening progressed and ate hardly anything. By the time they left Robert to his port the girl had been almost in tears.

‘I told you how it would be,’ she said to Samantha when they were alone. ‘He is determined to make me suffer.’

‘Perhaps it is me he wishes to punish,’ Samantha suggested. ‘He did compliment you on your gown, Eleanor.’

‘Oh, it is the same as before Papa died,’ Eleanor said. ‘I used to dread dining with him after Robert left – and now…’ A tear trickled down her cheek. ‘He will forbid me to marry for years I know he will.’

‘I am sure he will not.’

Samantha had tried to comfort her but Eleanor had shook her head, claimed a headache and gone up to her bed before her brother came into the parlour. When he did he’d glared at Samantha.

‘Where is my sister?’

‘She had a headache and went to bed. What do you expect when you treat her to such a display of coldness?’

He’d actually looked surprised. ‘What are you saying? I did no such thing.’

‘You hardly spoke to either of us,’ Samantha replied. ‘While I understand that you blame me for the situation, your sister is hurt by your behaviour. It is exactly as her father behaved to her after you left to join the army.’

‘I am not like my father…’ Robert glared at her. ‘She would be locked in her room on bread and water if he had been the master here.’

‘That might even be preferable to being given the silent treatment.’

‘I was not punishing anyone…I was thinking…’

‘Then I pity your family when you marry. They will live in fear of displeasing you and never know whether you are in a good mood or a bad one.’

‘Damn you, madam. Who gave you permission to lecture me…?’ Robert swore and then reached out, dragging her into his arms. Before Samantha could react or protest, he had kissed her – so fiercely that she felt her lips bruised and pushed him away violently.

‘Sir, I think you forget yourself. I am a guest in your house and unmarried.’

For a moment he’d stared at her with something like bewilderment in his eyes; then he turned, walked from the room and slammed the door behind him.

Samantha waited a few minutes before going up to her room. She closed and locked the door, pressing her fingers to lips that still bore the imprint of his kiss. Why had he done that? Was it a form of punishment?

Trembling, she’d walked to her bed and sat down on the edge, feeling uncertain.

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