have no money,’ Eleanor replied blushing. ‘My allowance was spent at the inn before you arrived. I dare say Robert might pay the bill – if he isn’t too angry…’
‘He might indeed, but we shall not ask him,’ Samantha said. ‘They shall be my leaving gift to you, for I do not think you will return to the school.’ She would either be married – or her tyrant of a brother would drag her home in disgrace.
‘You are so kind to me – the sister I never had,’ Eleanor said. ‘Had Aunt Grace been more like you I should never have run away.’ She was silent for a moment, then, ‘I visited the wishing well, you know – and I wished that Toby might love me. He told me how he felt the very next day.’
‘Oh…that foolish tale,’ Samantha said. ‘I believe that the lady of the well does sometimes grant one’s wish, but usually if it is for someone else.’
‘Oh…I did not realise I was supposed to ask for someone else,’ Eleanor said. ‘Had I known I should have wished that Toby would be happy.’
‘I dare say the lady of the well knew what was in your heart.’ Samantha looked at her curiously. ‘Did you by chance hear anything when you made your wish?’
‘Yes…’ Eleanor stared at her. ‘Have you heard it too…that strange haunting music? It isn’t like singing or any instrument I ever heard. I supposed it must be the wind sighing in the trees.’
‘It does sound a little like that, but it usually means that the lady has heard and approves of your wish. I think even as you asked for yourself, your heart was saying something different – and I believe she listens to our hearts not our words.’
‘Are you a white witch, Samantha? Some of the girls think you can cast spells.’
Samantha laughed and shook her head. ‘I have no magic – unless it is the love I have for my girls and for life itself. It is that love which I try to instil in you all. I want you to enjoy your lives but also to be kind and considerate to others…to bring joy into another person’s life is to light a star in the heavens…’
‘You say such beautiful things,’ Eleanor said. ‘I think it is why we all love you so much.’
‘I say what is in my heart. Perhaps I say too much at times. I am very sorry if what I said made you think it right to run away, Eleanor.’
‘Oh…’ Eleanor had the grace to look ashamed. ‘No, of course not. I knew you would not approve – but I just couldn’t face the thought of living with Aunt Grace again after I’d known what it was like to be happy. Toby saw me crying and said he would take me to his aunt’s house – but I thought he might elope to Gretna Green if I asked him nicely and that’s why…but he thought it would not do…’
‘Very sensible of him,’ Samantha said. ‘I think him exactly right for you, my love, and I’m sure you will be happy together.’
‘If only he is not too badly hurt…’ Tears welled up in Eleanor’s eyes.
‘Well, we shall know when we see him later, for the doctor will examine him – and now, my dear, we are here. Forget your troubles for the moment and enjoy buying your new gowns.’
Robert looked through his letters immediately he reached his home. There was nothing from either Eleanor or Miss Merlin. Damn her! Call herself a schoolmistress! She was not fit to have charge of a puppy. Well, she would not get her claws into any more impressionable young ladies. By the time he was finished with her…
He glared at his butler, who had come to inquire when he would require dinner. It was bad enough that he had been chasing all over the country in search of his errant sister – but that her head mistress should conspire to keep her from him when she knew…She would rue the day she’d tangled with Robert Brough.
For a moment delightful pictures of his hands about her throat and her begging for her life threaded through his mind, to
‘He might indeed, but we shall not ask him,’ Samantha said. ‘They shall be my leaving gift to you, for I do not think you will return to the school.’ She would either be married – or her tyrant of a brother would drag her home in disgrace.
‘You are so kind to me – the sister I never had,’ Eleanor said. ‘Had Aunt Grace been more like you I should never have run away.’ She was silent for a moment, then, ‘I visited the wishing well, you know – and I wished that Toby might love me. He told me how he felt the very next day.’
‘Oh…that foolish tale,’ Samantha said. ‘I believe that the lady of the well does sometimes grant one’s wish, but usually if it is for someone else.’
‘Oh…I did not realise I was supposed to ask for someone else,’ Eleanor said. ‘Had I known I should have wished that Toby would be happy.’
‘I dare say the lady of the well knew what was in your heart.’ Samantha looked at her curiously. ‘Did you by chance hear anything when you made your wish?’
‘Yes…’ Eleanor stared at her. ‘Have you heard it too…that strange haunting music? It isn’t like singing or any instrument I ever heard. I supposed it must be the wind sighing in the trees.’
‘It does sound a little like that, but it usually means that the lady has heard and approves of your wish. I think even as you asked for yourself, your heart was saying something different – and I believe she listens to our hearts not our words.’
‘Are you a white witch, Samantha? Some of the girls think you can cast spells.’
Samantha laughed and shook her head. ‘I have no magic – unless it is the love I have for my girls and for life itself. It is that love which I try to instil in you all. I want you to enjoy your lives but also to be kind and considerate to others…to bring joy into another person’s life is to light a star in the heavens…’
‘You say such beautiful things,’ Eleanor said. ‘I think it is why we all love you so much.’
‘I say what is in my heart. Perhaps I say too much at times. I am very sorry if what I said made you think it right to run away, Eleanor.’
‘Oh…’ Eleanor had the grace to look ashamed. ‘No, of course not. I knew you would not approve – but I just couldn’t face the thought of living with Aunt Grace again after I’d known what it was like to be happy. Toby saw me crying and said he would take me to his aunt’s house – but I thought he might elope to Gretna Green if I asked him nicely and that’s why…but he thought it would not do…’
‘Very sensible of him,’ Samantha said. ‘I think him exactly right for you, my love, and I’m sure you will be happy together.’
‘If only he is not too badly hurt…’ Tears welled up in Eleanor’s eyes.
‘Well, we shall know when we see him later, for the doctor will examine him – and now, my dear, we are here. Forget your troubles for the moment and enjoy buying your new gowns.’
Robert looked through his letters immediately he reached his home. There was nothing from either Eleanor or Miss Merlin. Damn her! Call herself a schoolmistress! She was not fit to have charge of a puppy. Well, she would not get her claws into any more impressionable young ladies. By the time he was finished with her…
He glared at his butler, who had come to inquire when he would require dinner. It was bad enough that he had been chasing all over the country in search of his errant sister – but that her head mistress should conspire to keep her from him when she knew…She would rue the day she’d tangled with Robert Brough.
For a moment delightful pictures of his hands about her throat and her begging for her life threaded through his mind, to
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