Page 3 (1/2)
"Yes?" Lucy popped a forkful of potato into her mouth
"Neverhis plate and pulled it to where his belly ht a fire under the old boy after all this tihtful" Lucy smiled If Papa ever did finish his memoirs and publish them, there would be a score of apoplectic fits in His Majesty’s navy
"Quite Quite" Papa sed and took a sip of wine "Now, then I don’t want you worrying over this scoundrel you’ve brought hoaze dropped to the fork she held It trehtly, and she hoped her father wouldn’t notice the ood deed, Samaritan and all that Just as your mother used to teach you from the Bible She’d approve But remember"--he forked up a turnip--"I’ve seen head wounds before So you can do about it either way"
She felt her heart sink in her chest "You don’t think he’ll live?"
"Don’t know," Papa barked iht not"
"I see" Lucy poked at a turnip and tried not to let the tears start
Her father slammed the flat of his hand down on the table "This is just what I’et attached to the tramp"
A corner of Lucy’s ," she said gently "I’ll do it no matter if I want to or not"
Papa frowned ferociously "Don’t want you to be sad if he pops off in the night"
"I’ll do my very best not to be sad, Papa," Lucy promised But she kneas too late for that If the ht, she would weep on the morrow, promises or no
"Huh for now If he survives, though, mark my words" He looked up and pinned her with his azure eyes "He even thinks about hurting one hair on your head, and out he goes on his arse"
Chapter Two
The angel was sitting by his bed when Sih, opened his eyes
He would’ve thought it a terrible dreahtly--or worse, that he’d not survived the beating and had e out of this world and into the fla next But he was almost certain hell did not smell of lavender and starch, did not feel like worn linen and down pillows, did not sound with the chirping of sparrows and the rustle of gauze curtains
And, of course, there were no angels in hell
Siious woreat book, eyes intent, level black brows knit Her dark hair was pulled straight back froathered in a knot at the nape of her neck Her lips pursed slightly as her handhis sins The scratch of the pen on the page hat had woken hiels, especially in the context of the fe a flowery fillip of speech They thought of fair-haired creatures with pink cheeks--both kinds--and red, wet lips Insipid Italian putti with vacant blue eyes and billowy, soft flesh cael Siel was the biblical kind--Old Testamental kind The type that was more apt to hurl men into eternal daer than to float on feathery pigeon wings She wasn’t likely to overlook a fes here and there in a fellow’s character Sihed
He had el h She turned her unearthly topaz eyes on hiaze as palpably as if she’d laid a hand on his shoulder, and frankly the feeling bothered him
Not that he let his unease show "That depends on one’s definition of awake," he replied in a croak Even the littlemade his face hurt In fact, his entire body see, yet I have beenas coffee to hasten the awakening process?" He shifted to sit up, finding it more difficult than it should be The coverlet slipped to his abdoaze followed the coverlet down, and she frowned at his bare torso Already he was in her bad graces
"I’m afraid we don’t have any coffee," she murmured to his navel, "but there is tea"
"Naturally There always is," Simon said "Could I trouble you to help e flat on one’s back, not to mention the positionit into the ears"
She looked at hie or my father"
"I promise not to bite, truly" Simon placed a hand over his heart "And I hardly ever spit"
Her lips twitched
Siel after all, are you?"
One ebony brow arched ever so slightly Such a disdainful look for a country miss; her expression would’ve fit a duchess "My name is Lucinda Craddock-Hayes What is yours?"
"Sih, viscount of, I’m afraid" He sketched a bohich ca he was prostrate
The lady was unih?"
"Sadly"
"You’re not from around here"
"Here would be?"
"The town of Maiden Hill in Kent"
"Ah" Kent? Why Kent? Siauzy white curtain obscured it
She followed his gaze "You’re in my brother’s bedroo his head hadrapped about it He felt with one hand, and his fingers encountered a bandage Probably ht fool "No, I can’t say I’ve ever been to the lovely town of Maiden Hill; although I’hlight"