Read The Forgotten Family for Free Online Page A

you ask?’
    ‘Well, the other day, Nanny called me Queenie—’ She leapt to her feet as her uncle choked on a mouthful of whisky, and thumped him on the back. When he had recovered, she continued. ‘I asked Father who she had been talking about, and he said it was someone they’d known a long time ago, when I was a baby. Do you know who it was?’
    ‘I’m afraid I can’t help you there.’ He took a cautious sip of his drink, dismissing the subject.
    But Ellie never gave up easily when she wanted to know something. There was a mystery here, and she found it intriguing. ‘Do you mean you can’t help, or that you won’t?’
    ‘Both.’
    ‘Uncle Henry,’ she said laughing, ‘all any of you are doing is making me more curious.’
    ‘Ah, and we know that’s a dangerous thing to do, don’t we?’
    ‘You’ll have to tell me one day.’
    ‘It isn’t anything important.’ He waved her away. ‘Now, be off with you, and thank your mother for the invitation.’
    She stood up. ‘Don’t be late. Father likes to dine at eight-thirty, on the dot.’
    ‘I wouldn’t dare.’ He visibly shuddered.
    She left the house, amusement showing on her face. The way her uncle had spoken about her father made him sound like a monster, but he wasn’t like that. He could be stern when it was needed, and with her that was often, but the rest of the time he was kind and understanding. He was patient with her, and gentle with her mother. She couldn’t wish for a better father.
    As soon as she was in open country, she urged Silver into a gallop. Of course, she should have a groom with her, but that wasn’t necessary when she was so close to home. At least, she didn’t think so, but her father would have other ideas if he found out she had left the estate on her own. Still, Philip would soon be home, so she would have a companion for riding and lessons. It would be more fun with the two of them, and they got on well together. Philip’s mother had died when he had been born;they were more like brother and sister, than cousins.
    Bending low in the saddle, she urged, ‘Go girl.’ She hoped the tutor liked riding because she didn’t want to spend all her time indoors studying. Neither would Philip. He was a good rider, as well. Though not as good as her.
     
    Albert was muttering irritably as he strode along the corridor towards his office in the Palace of Westminster. They had just wasted precious time on something of no importance, and it had left no time for his speech on improved education for the poor. This subject had been his passion long before Eleanor had arrived in his life; since then it had been an obsession. Some progress had been made over the last fifteen years, but not enough. One way to alleviate poverty was to give children, whatever their background, a decent education, thus equipping them to help themselves. Next on his campaign list was housing.
    When he threw open the door and marched in, a young man leapt to his feet so violently that his spectacles slipped sideways. He straightened them at once.
    ‘And you are?’ Albert barked, still seething.
    ‘Stanley Rogers, sir. You asked me to meet you here at two o’clock. About the position of tutor to your daughter.’
    ‘Ah, yes, of course. I apologise for keeping you waiting. Please be seated.’
    For the next hour, Albert questioned Mr Rogers with great care. His references were excellent, but did he have the temperament to deal with Eleanor? If the young man showed any weakness, she would have him running forcover. His mouth twitched when he thought about his daughter. He couldn’t love her more if she had been his natural child.
    He decided to see if Mr Rogers was easily frightened. ‘My daughter is strong-minded and has been expelled from two schools – the last one a finishing school of high repute – and she refuses to be turned into a lady. She is not tolerant of fools and will defend what she feels is right – with some force.’
    Stanley Rogers