AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Alice tightened her grip on her stepdaughter.
“What manner of man is he to say such vile things!” Alice cried. “And to children! He deserves to be horsewhipped! He can’t be allowed to get away with such behavior.”
“Will you tell Papa?” Amelia asked. “He might want to challenge him to a duel.”
“No,” Alice said, rising to her feet. “I’ll deal with Mr. Scrimgeour myself.”
“No, Mama!” Amelia cried, horror in her voice. “You cannot! I promised Papa I’d take care of you.”
“And you have, my love,” Alice said. “Now, the best thing you can do for me is to take care of Twinkle and Monty while I go and teach that man a lesson or two on human decency. See how poor Twinkle is shivering? She’s had a fright, and I’m sure she’s in need of a brave little girl to make her feel safe. Can you do that for me?”
Amelia stopped sobbing and nodded.
“Georgia, my dear,” Alice said, turning to Amelia’s friend who, by now, had regained her composure after uttering such a profanity. “Perhaps you could ask Mrs. Bascomb to make some hot chocolate for you both.”
With the two girls occupied in their tasks, thereby diverting them from the fright they’d had, Alice strode out into the hallway, wrapping her cloak around her, and called for the housekeeper to fetch a lantern.
If Mr. Scrimgeour thought he could intimidate women and girls, he was in for a rude awakening.
