Read Online Wicked Angel (Blackthorne Trilogy) by Shirl Henke - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shirl Henke
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the greatest contrast of all.
Monty inspected the gangly ape leader who was Suth- ington's niece. Small wonder the old boy never arranged a come-out for her, not that he could do so with that addle-pated nonconformist preacher dragging her about on his crusades. Lud, she looked even worse than she had earlier, if such were possible. Those thick eyeglasses, slightly askew, reflected the candlelight eerily and the faded yellow dress hanging on her was a shapeless horror.
He had an uneasy suspicion he would not like what she had to say about Alex. "Good evening, Miss Woodbridge."
"I know it is presumptuous of me to call unannounced this way, milord, but the matter is most pressing." When he raised his eyebrow sardonically she could see the family resemblance to Alex.
"I fear you've come with ill tidings about my scapegrace nephew. Pray, out with it, Miss Woodbridge. I don't doubt but he's in the suds once more. Tell me, has he sent you for a loan to carry him over at the gaming tables?"
Joss knew Alex did not want his family to know about his injury or that he lay in a charity hospital. She had equally selfish reasons for keeping his guilty secret. She wanted him to remain under her care. "No, milord, Alex has not had an unsuccessful time at the tables. Indeed he's been winning quite steadily. That's why he sent me. He brought with him from America some of his Grandmother Blackthorne's Indian remedies and I have need of them at the charity hospital where I work."
"Indian remedies? Well, if they can cure dogs, then perhaps they can cure the indigent. Lud knows nothing else can."
"Education and a fair wage would do wonders for those of them who are in good health," Joss replied before thinking.
Monty was amused at her impertinent response. "You are Elijah's get, no doubt about it. Never saw two brothers less alike than your father and the earl."
She raised her head. "I take that as a compliment, milord."
He chuckled. "You would."
"If I might have the herbals, milord, I shall trouble you no further."
"Why is it, my dear, that I feel you shall trouble this family a very great deal before we're quits, hmm? Very well," he replied, ringing for a footman to fetch from Alex's room the pouch she described.
* * * *
Alex was able to give her mumbled vague directives about how to make the cherry-bark infusion that she sat spooning down his throat all through the night. She sponged his brow and changed the dressing on his wound, using his grandmother's healing ointment that they had employed so successfully on Poc. As she worked, she was able to study him without those devilish dark eyes to fluster her. He looked so young and vulnerable, almost boyish as he slept.
Thick golden lashes rested against his cheeks and the slashing, expressive eyebrows above them for once were not raised in sardonic amusement. His mouth, so wide and dazzling when he smiled, lay barely closed. She could not resist tracing over his eyebrows, then down his high cheekbones to where the thick gold stubble of his beard abraded the sensitive pads of her fingertips. His lips moved soundlessly, drawing her irresistibly to touch them and wonder how such a mobile, expressive mouth would feel pressed against her skin.
Joss jerked her hand away, scalded by the very thought, a thought that had never entered her mind about any other man she had ever met. I'm a silly old tabby , she scolded herself as she stood up and paced across the room. It was time to check the patients in the ward. The work would keep her foolish hands busy and give her time to get her mind in sensible order once more.
Alex awakened as the first pale rays of sunrise inched over the sill of the narrow window, bathing his face in light. He looked around the bare, unfamiliar room,
Monty inspected the gangly ape leader who was Suth- ington's niece. Small wonder the old boy never arranged a come-out for her, not that he could do so with that addle-pated nonconformist preacher dragging her about on his crusades. Lud, she looked even worse than she had earlier, if such were possible. Those thick eyeglasses, slightly askew, reflected the candlelight eerily and the faded yellow dress hanging on her was a shapeless horror.
He had an uneasy suspicion he would not like what she had to say about Alex. "Good evening, Miss Woodbridge."
"I know it is presumptuous of me to call unannounced this way, milord, but the matter is most pressing." When he raised his eyebrow sardonically she could see the family resemblance to Alex.
"I fear you've come with ill tidings about my scapegrace nephew. Pray, out with it, Miss Woodbridge. I don't doubt but he's in the suds once more. Tell me, has he sent you for a loan to carry him over at the gaming tables?"
Joss knew Alex did not want his family to know about his injury or that he lay in a charity hospital. She had equally selfish reasons for keeping his guilty secret. She wanted him to remain under her care. "No, milord, Alex has not had an unsuccessful time at the tables. Indeed he's been winning quite steadily. That's why he sent me. He brought with him from America some of his Grandmother Blackthorne's Indian remedies and I have need of them at the charity hospital where I work."
"Indian remedies? Well, if they can cure dogs, then perhaps they can cure the indigent. Lud knows nothing else can."
"Education and a fair wage would do wonders for those of them who are in good health," Joss replied before thinking.
Monty was amused at her impertinent response. "You are Elijah's get, no doubt about it. Never saw two brothers less alike than your father and the earl."
She raised her head. "I take that as a compliment, milord."
He chuckled. "You would."
"If I might have the herbals, milord, I shall trouble you no further."
"Why is it, my dear, that I feel you shall trouble this family a very great deal before we're quits, hmm? Very well," he replied, ringing for a footman to fetch from Alex's room the pouch she described.
* * * *
Alex was able to give her mumbled vague directives about how to make the cherry-bark infusion that she sat spooning down his throat all through the night. She sponged his brow and changed the dressing on his wound, using his grandmother's healing ointment that they had employed so successfully on Poc. As she worked, she was able to study him without those devilish dark eyes to fluster her. He looked so young and vulnerable, almost boyish as he slept.
Thick golden lashes rested against his cheeks and the slashing, expressive eyebrows above them for once were not raised in sardonic amusement. His mouth, so wide and dazzling when he smiled, lay barely closed. She could not resist tracing over his eyebrows, then down his high cheekbones to where the thick gold stubble of his beard abraded the sensitive pads of her fingertips. His lips moved soundlessly, drawing her irresistibly to touch them and wonder how such a mobile, expressive mouth would feel pressed against her skin.
Joss jerked her hand away, scalded by the very thought, a thought that had never entered her mind about any other man she had ever met. I'm a silly old tabby , she scolded herself as she stood up and paced across the room. It was time to check the patients in the ward. The work would keep her foolish hands busy and give her time to get her mind in sensible order once more.
Alex awakened as the first pale rays of sunrise inched over the sill of the narrow window, bathing his face in light. He looked around the bare, unfamiliar room,
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