Wicked Angel by Julia London Read Free Book Online

stallion, Jupiter, could drink. He had been chasing the same buck all morning, but the animal was wily and knew how to evade him. He guessed he was at least five miles from his hunting lodge, Dunwoody. Only a day's ride from Sutherland Hall, he often came to Dunwoody for a few days of respite from his title. Or his wedding.
    Rubbing his eyes, he dropped the reins as Jupiter drank and considered calling it a day. His thoughts drifted to Marlaine. She, of course, had not wanted him to go hunting. She had fretted about it, anxious that something might happen to him and she would not be there to care for him. He had rather salaciously suggested she come along and take care of all his needs, but Marlaine had grown wide-eyed with mortification at the mere suggestion. He had never bedded Marlaine, respecting her ironclad determination to hold on to her virtue until the very last possible moment.
    So he had come alone, unable to endure one more day of idle chatter about their wedding. Marlaine and her mother were insisting on an event during the Season—meaning he had several long months to wait until he could bed her. And several long months to listen to talk of trousseaus, wedding breakfasts, engagement fetes, and bridal trips. Dear
God
.
    She had whimpered when he left. He had responded to that maidenly display by telling her she best get accustomed to his absences. He had left her standing at the great entrance to Sutherland Hall, cautioning him with all sincerity to have a care for his person. Have a care, indeed. He had scaled mountains and forded roaring rivers without a nursemaid and supposed he could manage to hunt alone for a few days.
    A sound in the brush startled him, but he never saw the animal. Jupiter suddenly reared, neighing loudly.
    Caught off guard, Alex grabbed the reins and fought to contain the massive horse, almost falling from the saddle for his efforts. Horse and rider rushed headlong across the stream and into the brush, blinded by dense foliage and shackled by the thick undergrowth. When Jupiter burst through the thicket into a small clearing a few moments later, Alex pulled up hard, finally gaining control. The incident left them both panting; they stood in the clearing, each fighting to regain their breath. He became aware of a stinging in his leg and looked down. His buckskin breeches were torn and his shin was bleeding where he had obviously slammed up against a thornbush.
    "What then, have you never seen a hare, old boy?" He soothingly patted the steed's neck, and attempted to turn back. Jupiter moved awkwardly, neighing softly when his right foreleg came into contact with the ground.
    "
Christ. "
Alex sighed wearily and dismounted. He felt for broken bones, thankfully finding none.
    Nevertheless, Jupiter was in no mood to use the sprained appendage.
    "Bloody, bloody hell," Alex muttered, and glanced around him. Dunwoody lands were vast but oddly shaped, and he could not be completely certain he was still on his property. He impatiently removed his hat and ran a hand through his thick hair as he debated what to do. He hated the thought of leaving Jupiter, but without knowing the full extent of his injuries, he could not chance walking him very far without risking serious damage. Walking to Dunwoody was out of the question; he had ridden too far. If he was not mistaken, the village of Pemberheath was due north, perhaps a mile or two more. At least he hoped so.
    He reluctantly tied Jupiter's rein to a low limb of a tree and covered his heavy rifle in a pile of leaves.
    "Mind you keep an eye on it," he said lamely, stroked the stallion's nose, and walked out of the clearing, headed north to Pemberheath.

Chapter 4
    Traipsing through the wheat stubble, Lauren could not see the hog, Lucy, anywhere. It was unusually warm for the time of year, and she paused to loosen the collar of her work gown. She absently examined a wheat stalk Lucy had stomped in her escape and wondered how long hogs lived. Lucy had to