Wicked Angel by Julia London Read Free Book Online Page A

be positively ancient by now, and the older she got, the more obstinate she became. For reasons beyond Lauren's ability to understand, the children loved her. The last time Lucy had gotten it into her head to take a stroll in search of new fodder, it had taken the considerable efforts of both her and Rupert to lure her home, and she had not gone so far that time. As Rupert had taken Ethan and Paul to Pemberheath, she would have to corral Lucy by herself. She had no earthly idea what she would do once she found the walking ham, but if she did not return with her, the children would be frantic.
    She came to the edge of the field, but still no Lucy. Beyond the barren wheat field was an orchard of new apple trees, donated by Abbey's friends, Lord and Lady Haversham. Beyond that, a few spindly stalks of harvested corn. And farther still, a field of pumpkins, which Lauren had already bartered for enough tallow to last the next two months.
    Dear Lord, but it was terribly warm. The heavy mane of her hair was making her neck sticky, and she attempted to knot it, but her efforts did little more than keep a few errant strands from her face. She wiped a hand across her brow and continued plodding through the field, shaking her head at the damage the enormous pig had caused as she had rumbled through the cornstalks.
    She found Lucy in the middle of several destroyed pumpkins, happily munching away. "Oh
no!
" Lauren groaned. As she approached, the headstrong hog moved in front of the pumpkin she was devouring and glared at Lauren.
    "Lucy, come away from there!" she insisted, fully cognizant that Lucy had never heeded a single command in her long life. Lucy responded with a loud, warning snort. Lauren slowly circled her, thinking that if she could grab the last pumpkin in the row, the ham might follow her. But the moment Lauren reached for the pumpkin, Lucy charged. With a shriek, Lauren jumped out of the way. Lucy had
never
charged her. Standing between Lauren and the half-eaten pumpkin, Lucy began to paw the earth like a bull. Lauren cautiously backed away, but it did not convince the swine of her good intentions, and she continued to paw the earth, snorting wildly. Besides food, Lauren knew of only one thing that would calm Lucy.
    She sang, a little frantically, a song from a Shakespeare play. If there was one thing Helmut had liked in his declining health, it was a good play. English, German, or French, it made no difference. A variety of plays had been staged at Bergenschloss at great expense, and if Helmut liked one in particular, it was played several times.
    "
Who is Silvia, what is she? That all our Swains commend her?
" Lauren sang softly, then paused.
    She quickly resumed when Lucy angrily pawed the ground again. "
Holy, faire, and wise is she, The
heaven such grace did lend her, that she might admired be
…" Lucy stopped pawing and regarded Lauren suspiciously. "
Is she kinde as she is faire? For beauty lives with kindness: Love
doth to her eyes repaire, to helpe him of his blindness: And being help'd, inhabits there
…"
    Putting aside, for the moment, that it was utterly
ridiculous
to be standing in the middle of a pumpkin field singing to a hog, Lauren had no idea what to do. If she stopped, Lucy was prepared to charge. But she could hardly stand here singing all day like a simpleton. Trapped between the wood fence and Lucy, Lauren tried to think while she sang.
    Alex paused and removed his coat, then lifted his foot. Just bloody grand. A stone had pierced a hole in the sole of his very,
very
expensive boots. What he paid for the custom-made leather Hessians should have guaranteed him a walk all the way to Scotland and back. He slung his coat over his shoulder and continued, wincing every so often when he managed to step on a pebble and spear the bottom of his foot. God, he had never been so completely miserable. First that stubborn buck, then Jupiter, and now his boot. And to top it all off, he was positively melting under