The Scholar and Her Escort (A Novella)

By Zelah Meyer

The only child of the local village squire, Selina has always thrown herself into her studies, perhaps a little too much. She knows a lot about books but not so much about people. When she receives an invitation to the Gathering of Great Minds in Trevarde, she is desperate to attend. It’s harvest time and no one can be spared from the village to escort her on her travels. Selina sees no reason why she shouldn’t make the journey on her own.

Bill is a patient and good-natured gentleman, passing through Selina’s village on his way to Trevarde. The local innkeeper suggests him to the squire as a suitable protector to get Selina safely through the dangerous border lands. On hearing from her father that she is threatening to make the journey alone, Bill volunteers to escort her.

Willful, smart, but too sheltered to comprehend the dangers she would face traveling alone—Selina wants to shake off the man she believes her father has hired unnecessarily. Her thoughts are on the gathering and the speaker she hopes to impress. She wants to concentrate on her studies, but when she writes Bill off as a brainless fighter, it might just lead to her most important lesson yet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zelah Meyer
• Release date: Sep 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301636815

Zelah Meyer

Zelah Meyer is a British author, improviser, and all-round arty-crafty type. She studied Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University, but doesn’t recommend that anyone else do the same! She credits books and narrative improvisation with teaching her everything she knows about writing. She loves to learn new things, and could potentially paper at least one wall with certificates in everything from hypnotherapy to health and safety on a rail track. She currently lives in Southeast England with her husband and their son.

Book preview

The Scholar and Her Escort

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Zelah Meyer

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The only child of the local village squire, Selina has always thrown herself into her studies, perhaps a little too much. She knows a lot about books but not so much about people. When she receives an invitation to the Gathering of Great Minds in Trevarde, she is desperate to attend. It’s harvest time and no one can be spared from the village to escort her on her travels. Selina sees no reason why she shouldn’t make the journey on her own.

Bill is a patient and good-natured gentleman, passing through Selina’s village on his way to Trevarde. The local innkeeper suggests him to the squire as a suitable protector to get Selina safely through the dangerous border lands. On hearing from her father that she is threatening to make the journey alone, Bill volunteers to escort her.

Willful, smart, but too sheltered to comprehend the dangers she would face traveling alone—Selina wants to shake off the man she believes her father has hired unnecessarily. Her thoughts are on the gathering and the speaker she hopes to impress. She wants to concentrate on her studies, but when she writes Bill off as a brainless fighter, it might just lead to her most important lesson yet.

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The Scholar and Her Escort

Copyright Zelah Meyer 2012

Interior and Cover Design by Zelah Meyer at Beresford Brown

Cover Image Credits: Daniel Midgley, Darja Vorontsova, Michael Connors, Brenda Starr

Published by Beresford Brown at Smashwords: http://beresfordbrown.com

All rights reserved. This e-book may not be sold or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without permission from the rights holder. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This work is fictional. Any similarity of names, places, or events to any that exist, or have existed, in reality, is purely coincidental.

Any product names, brands, and other trademarks that may be referred to within this book are the property of their respective trademark holders. Unless otherwise specified, no association between the author and any trademark holder is expressed or implied. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark, registered trademark, or service mark.

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Chapter 1

Selina clutched the invitation to her chest and looked at her father with an expression of horrified bemusement. What do you mean it’s not possible?

It’s harvest-time, my dear, Frank Merryweather replied apologetically. You know I need every man on the estate right now. Maybe the next one will be held at a more convenient time and I can go with you.

The next one won’t be for another ten years! She shook her head. Ten years and I might not even get an invitation to that one. Do you know what an honor this is, Father? All my studies, all the hours of working on theories, and they liked my essay. They sent me an invitation … me! The Gathering of Great Minds—I’m invited and you say I can’t go?

I’m sorry, I truly am, but it’s just not possible to send anyone with you without risking the harvest. The weather is so changeable at the moment.

You don’t have to send anyone with me. I will travel alone.

Alone? Now it was Frank’s turn to look horrified. Don’t even think of that, Selina. It’s far too dangerous.

Trevarde is a major city. Mother’s cousin Suzanna lives there with her husband. I can stay with them. In fact, I’ve already written to say I’ll be coming, she announced, feeling guilty at the attempt to force his agreement, but she had to go. She had to!

You shouldn’t have done that, Frank said, shaking his head. You should have spoken to me first. You must write again and explain that you can’t come after all.

I’m sorry, Father. You know I would normally do as you wish, but this time I can’t. It’s too important. I have to be there! W. R. Delainey will be speaking—I’ve got all his books—and S. Morton and Professor Trenton. She tucked the invitation into a pocket worked within the folds of her dress. It grieves me to go against your wishes, but I am going.

No, Frank replied firmly.

I’m not a child anymore. I am an intelligent woman. I am perfectly capable of planning a route, following a map, and paying my way at inns. Why, I always organize our trips to Aunt Katherine, she reminded him, feeling a little impatient now.

Katherine doesn’t live across the border.

Cousin Suzanna does, and I’m sure it’s just as safe as where Aunt Katherine lives.

Most probably, but the lands around the border are not. It’s less than a hundred years since the borders were finalized and the skirmishes stopped. Those areas are still rough for travelers. You get troublemakers looking for a fight in every village.

Selina laughed. They’ll hardly fight me. I’m a scholar, and I’m a woman.

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How could I tell her, Jack? Frank sighed to the landlord of the local inn over his tankard. I couldn’t explain why I won’t let her travel alone. I even tried to say she’d attract unwanted attention from men, but she just shook her head and said she’d not be encouraging anyone, so I didn’t need to worry about that. Not worry!

"Ah well, it’s a