Molly by M.C. Beaton Read Free Book Online Page A

moment she had forgotten the art, and a well-aimed punch from Harry landed right in her eye. Molly drew back and Harry laughed with glee, thinking she was going to turn and run.
    Memory flooded back. Molly’s hands were still hard and callused from housekeeping and shop work.
    Miss Molly Maguire brought a haymaker up from the ground and Harry Petts collapsed on the cobbles.
    “Good-oh!” cheered Mary, who had rushed up to help. “That showed him. Ain’t you the greatest, Molly.” Molly raised her arms in a triumphant boxer’s salute and then froze. Standing at the end of the alley and staring at her with amused interest was none other than Lord David Manley.
    Molly was suddenly aware that her hair was coming down at the back, that her hat was askew, and that, from the throbbing in her right eye, she was about to develop the shiner of all time.
    Lord David strode forward to meet her. Molly blinked slightly at the impact of his charming smile. His hand was outstretched.
    “By Jove, ma’am,” he cried. “That was a great hit!”
    To his surprise, the strange girl ignored his outstretched hand. “Did you just stand there watching like a great palooka?” she said scornfully. “Seems to me you Englishmen are a spineless lot. Here, boys!” The twins came running up like eager puppies and stared at their rescuer with worshipful admiration. Molly pulled out her purse and selected a few pennies. “Go buy yourselves some candy.”
    “Candy, miss?”
    “Allow me to translate,” said Lord David in a cold voice. He had recognized in the smartly dressed young lady the schoolgirl who had so freely insulted him in his own study. “The lady means sweeties.”
    “Oh, miss,” said Bobby. “Thanks ever so. If ’n ever you need help, miss, you just call on us.
    “I will, indeed,” laughed Molly, still ignoring Lord David. “Come, Mary.”
    Mary climbed into the carriage after her sister, her face averted from Lord David.
    Miss Molly Maguire leaned back in the carriage and unfurled her lacy parasol. Lord David was tall and, even though she was seated in the high-sprung open carriage, Molly saw through the lace of her parasol that Lord David’s tanned face was on a level with her own. She thought privately that he was looking very handsome indeed. His gray suit had been tailored by the hand of a master and his tall silk hat accentuated his height. She felt irrationally angry at the little twinge of attraction she suddenly experienced for this man. She lowered her parasol. She smiled sweetly at his lordship. In impeccable upper-class English accents Miss Molly Maguire said, “So long…
buster
!”
    The carriage bowled off, leaving Lord David staring after it.
    The twins took one look at his angry face and then down the alley to where Harry Petts was struggling to his feet and took to their heels.
    Harry Petts stumbled toward Lord David. “If I get me ’ands on ’er, I’ll wring ’er neck, that I will,” he was muttering. Lord David barred his way.
    “You obviously have not learned your lesson, laddie,” he said in his light, pleasant voice. “If I catch you bullying again, then you will have me to deal with.”
    Harry stared in awe at Lord David, from his polished boots to the top of his silk hat, and cringed back against the wall of the alley. Keeping his eyes fixed on his new adversary, he edged his shoulders around the corner, and then turned and ran as hard as he could.
    Lord David began to walk toward his home, following the direction that Molly’s carriage had taken. He was furious with that cheeky girl. How dare she! Who was this little upstart American who looked at London’s biggest marriage prize as if he were something lying in the gutter?
    It was just as well that he was shaking the dust of Hadsea from his polished heels. He need never see her again. Now… just why was that thought so depressing? Why should he calmly walk off and leave that cheeky girl to have the last word? He was well aware of