The Dangerous Lord Read Free Page A

them for me,” she said irritably.
    She regretted her sharp tone the instant he flushed. “I-I’m sorry, Lissy. I was reading. I’m keeping up with my studies until I can return to Islington Academy.”
    His beloved Islington Academy, which they could no more afford than gold plate and silk suits. “It’s all right, James. You should maintain your studies.” Though God only knew when he’d be able to resume them, if ever.
    A weary sigh escaped her lips. She shouldn’t have put the eleven-year-old in charge anyway. Her studious brother had as much business playing nursemaid to three rapscallions as a puppy to three wolf cubs. But she couldn’t afford a real nursemaid.
    Nursemaid or no, Georgie needed the fear of God put into him before the other two began mimicking his antics. “Well, Georgie, I suppose we must call the doctor.”
    Georgie’s jaw dropped. “What d’you mean?”
    â€œYou seem to have a problem with dropping things, so something must be wrong with your hands. Perhaps you have the shakes. I’ll send for a doctor to examine you.”
    â€œI don’t need a doctor, Lissy! Truly, I don’t!” He held his hands out over the rail. “See? They’re fine!”
    She tapped her finger against her chin, feigning a look of deep speculation. “I don’t know. A doctor might cure your sudden malady. He could suggest a physic—minced frog’s eyes or some such.”
    Georgie went green. “F-frog’s eyes?”
    â€œOr cod liver oil. Three or four times a day.” Georgie detested cod liver oil.
    â€œHonest, Lissy,” Georgie blurted out, “it won’t ever happen again! I’ll be very careful next time I lean out…I-I mean, next time I’m near a window.”
    â€œSee that you are.” She caught the other two looking smug, and added, “If the rest of you find yourself with shaky hands, I’ll be happy to call the doctor for you, too.”
    That sobered them at once.
    â€œNow go on with you. And play quietly, for pity’s sake.”
    They didn’t budge. Hanging on the rail, Ansel cast her a wistful look. “Maybe you could come tell us a story.”
    â€œAbout the peacock eating the dragon,” William addedhopefully. Peacocks and fanciful creatures were William’s current obsession.
    â€œNot that one,” Georgie piped up. “Tell us the one where the evil knight falls off his horse into the slime pit and his armor just sli-i-i-des off of him!”
    His enthusiasm made her heart constrict. “I can’t right now, moppet. I’m sorry, but I must finish this article. Mr. Pilkington is sending Mr. Winston over for it, and I can’t keep him waiting.”
    â€œI don’t like Mr. Winston,” Ansel complained. “ He should fall into a slime pit.”
    She daren’t tell him, but Mr. Winston had indeed been the model for her tale.
    â€œMr. Winston is smelly and ugly,” Georgie added. “When he looks at you, I want to punch his face. He’s a bloody arse, that’s what he is.”
    â€œGeorge!” She tried to look shocked, but it was difficult when his word choice was so astonishingly accurate. “Watch your language, or I’ll use that cod liver oil to rinse your mouth!” When he grimaced, she added, “Besides, much as we dislike Mr. Winston, we must be civil to him if I’m to keep writing for the paper.”
    â€œBut I hate him!” Georgie cried. “We all hate him, don’t we?”
    â€œUh-huh. If he were here, I’d punch him in the nose,” Ansel said vehemently.
    â€œI’d spit him on a sword,” William added, as if he used one every day.
    â€œI’d…I’d…” James hesitated, lacking his brothers’ bloodthirsty instincts. “Well, I’d do something.”
    â€œNo, you wouldn’t. I wouldn’t allow it.” She