Free The Phantom Lover by Elizabeth Mansfield

Penloe shrugged. “Don’t know for sure. They be sound asleep.”
    â€œThey couldn’t be! Why, I’m certain the poor thing was frightened out of her wits. Do you know who that old lady is ? My Great-aunt Amelia! It gave me quite a turn, I can tell you, when I recognized her. I’ve no liking for what I did to her. If I’d known that it was my sweet old Aunt Amelia whom I was frightening half to death, I’d never have done it.”
    â€œWell, never mind, Master Harry. There weren’t no real harm done that I can make out. She be sleepin’ like a babe. Come to the table an’ have breakfast. I’ve made ’ee some eggs and covered ’em with scrolls, just the way you like ’em.”
    Henry seated himself at the little table and picked up a fork. But his mind was not on eggs and bits of bacon, but on his unwelcome guests. “What am I to do now?” he asked, half to himself. “What if they don’t leave today? They may go wandering through the house, or—”
    â€œI’ll keep an eye on’em,” Mrs. Penloe asured him. “An’ you can try again tonight.”
    â€œBut I don’t want to frighten poor Amelia again. Who’s the other one? Did you get her name?”
    â€œMiss Belden, I was told. Lady Amelia calls her ‘Nell’.”
    â€œNell? Nell Belden? I don’t believe I know who … Wait, I seem to remember … a scrawny little brat that Sybil took under her wing. Helen Belden, that’s who she is. Perfect! Do you think, my dear, that you can persuade them to change bedrooms?”
    â€œThere’ll be no need, I’ll warrant. Lady Amelia was too frightened to return to her room last night—she bedded down wi’ Miss Belden. If they do stay on another night, ’tain’t Lady Amelia who’ll be in the corner bedroom.”
    Henry Thorne smiled. “You may be right. Well then, my dear, by this time tomorrow, our house will be free of unwanted visitors.”
    â€œâ€™Tis a bit too cocksure you be, Master Harry,” Mrs. Penloe cautioned. “Miss Belden’s growed up since you last seen her, seems like. ’Tain’t no scrawny brat you’ll be dealin’ with. Seems to me she’s a good head on her, and a wide streak o’ stubborn pride.”
    But Henry’s expectations would not be dampened. “Have no fear, my dear. If the floating candle doesn’t do it, I have one or two other tricks up my sleeve. They’re bound to send her packing quickly enough.” And he attacked his eggs with cheerful enthusiasm.
    Amelia and Nell made no appearance until noon, when they came down the stairs and settled themselves in the sitting room which they’d occupied the night before. They had slept well into the morning and had dissipated the rest of it by arguing about remaining at Thorndene. Amelia was somewhat calmed by her few hours of sleep and by the fact that the daylight did indeed make the events of the night before seem like a dream. Nevertheless, she was all for making a quick return to London. Nell pointed out reasonably that such a course would result in her enforced marriage to Sir Nigel. Since no other course suggested itself, and since Nell offered to change bedrooms with Amelia (just as Mrs. Penloe had predicted), the elderly lady agreed to give Thorndene another chance.
    Having instructed Mr. and Mrs. Penloe to meet with them in the sitting room, Nell set about making plans for the running of the household. It was decided that the dining room, the library, the morning room and the little sitting room in which they now sat should be cleaned and opened for their use, but that the rest of the house could be kept closed. Will Penloe was dispatched to Padstow with instructions to purchase sufficient provisions for their meals, to hire an abigail to assist the ladies with their clothing and comforts, and to aid Mrs. Penloe in tending to the