When Angels Fall by Meagan McKinney Read Free Book Online

sister once more, her face a beautiful mask of control. “He’s coming back. So we must deal with his presence eventually—though I doubt, because of our station, we will see much of the grand Marquis of Powerscourt.” Lissa let out a well-rehearsed laugh. “So perhaps our poverty is a blessing in disguise.”
    “You would have made a splendid match—”
    “Father was not about to see me married to my stableboy, especially one,” she said, lowering her voice, “who was born on the wrong side of the sheets.” Her browfurrowed. “So now let’s not speak of it further. It’s in the past. And Wilmott Billingsworth is in the future.”
    “No, Lissa, no,” Evvie groaned again. But this time their contentions went no further for George abruptly burst through the door, arriving home from school.
    Their little brother was a handsome boy. Lissa knew he would devastate the ladies once he became a man. Just nine years old, he already had Alice Bishop, the Bishops’ granddaughter, completely smitten with him. Alice was quite free with the horehound candy from her grandparents’ store whenever George was about. And though George tried to be manly and aloof, he was inevitably taken in by a sweet, toothless smile and the offer of candy.
    As if she were his mother, Lissa went to him and took his school bag. She ran her hand lovingly through his coal-black hair, so different from her own blond tresses and Evvie’s brunette ones.
    “So how was school today? Are you hungry?”
    “It was fine,” George answered glumly, then he brightened. “But I read about Africa. Did you know there are tribes there who can kill you with a poison dart? And they stretch their lips like this . . .” He walked to the tea service, pulled out his lower lip, and tried to place a tea saucer inside it.
    “No, George. Not with Mother’s Copeland Spode.” Horrified, Lissa immediately took the precious saucer from his grasp. “Eat something,” she ordered.
    She gave him some tea she and Evvie had made earlier. There were some scones on a plate, and he eagerly reached for two.
    “Any teasing today?” Evvie asked lightly.
    George scowled. His heavily lashed, dark-brown eyes darted to Lissa.
    “Well?” Lissa probed.
    “No.” He began swinging his legs.
    “No one said anything. Not even Johnny Miller?”
    “No.” His legs swung harder.
    “Well, that’s a relief.” Evvie began to knit once more. The clicking of her needles was soothing, but Lissa frowned, her gaze on George’s swinging legs. She looked him in the eye, but when she did, he sheepishly looked away.
    Brave child, she thought, then sighed and watched him devour a third scone.
     
    The next morning Lissa was out in the side yard hanging laundry. She was hurrying for she needed to go to Bishop’s to price fabric. Though they could hardly afford the expense—particularly now—she had convinced herself that she would need a new gown in order to call on Wilmott. Evvie was still in despair over her plan to marry the elderly man, but Lissa was determined to go forward.
    It was a blustery fall day that held the threat of storms. However, once washed, the linens had to be hung, so Lissa quickly pinned the sheets, all the while glancing balefully at the sky, as if she were daring it to rain.
    Without her crinoline, her long blond hair tucked in an old purple kerchief, and the sleeves of her faded pink calico pulled up to her elbows, she certainly felt as plain as an old washwoman. But the wind had chaffed her cheeks, making them a rosy pink, and her eyes sparkled vibrantly from their seductive azure depths. Many a gent had tipped his hat passing Violet Croft while she was in the yard. Unaware that they found her a fetching sight, Lissa merely nodded back demurely, uncomfortable with their attention.
    She was almost done with her task when a commotion drove her to the front yard. Down the lane, the Johnsons were all stepping from their cottage, excitedly pointing in the direction of