Read When Angels Fall for Free Online

immediately by the man named Jones, but Lissa hardly noticed the concern on his face. Her mind was elsewhere, already looking ahead to a grim future.

CHAPTER TWO

    “I must see him, at once.” Holland’s voice was firm as he pushed his way past Biddles. Agitated, he barely paused in the hall of Tramore’s London town house to demand, “Where is he?”
    “His lordship is in the breakfast room finishing his coffee,” the majordomo said icily. “If you would be so kind—Mr. Jones!” he called as Holland started for the breakfast room.
    Holland didn’t hesitate. He threw open the mahogany double doors just as a footman was serving the marquis another helping of black pudding. Shocked by the intrusion, the footman looked up.
    Tramore did not.
    Holland noted that he merely took another sip of coffee from an exquisite Wedgwood creamware cup. He then placed the cup back on its saucer and continued with his breakfast.
    “I’ve come about the Alcesters,” Holland stated coldly.
    “I don’t remember your being announced, Jones.”
    Tramore let the words hang in the air before he finally looked up. With a nod he instructed the footman to retreat to the kitchens.
    “Damn being announced. I was there, I tell you. Iwas there when they got that letter and a damned bloody sight it was too!” Holland’s face reddened with anger. “Why must you cut them off? Couldn’t you have at least given Miss Alcester more time to adjust?” He took a bold step further. “Or did you want it to be like this? Do you want them to suffer all because of what happened in the past?”
    “And what happened in the past? You tell me, if you’re such an expert on the Alcesters.” Powerscourt sent him a piercing stare.
    “I don’t know everything that happened between you and Elizabeth. But I do know how you were treated in that village. And I suspect you have some twisted notion that if you wreak your vengeance on Elizabeth Alcester—set her up as example—you’ll have somehow gotten even with the whole of Nodding Knoll.”
    The marquis was quiet for a moment, as if he were pondering his accusation. He then blithely announced, “You’re wrong, Jones. Go back to your tasks concerning Powerscourt. You’ve only two more weeks.” With that, he seemed to have finished his breakfast and the conversation. He stood and began to walk past Holland.
    Holland wasn’t through, however. “I resign.”
    “What?” Tramore shot back.
    “I said I resign. I shall no longer work for the Powerscourts. You shall have to find another estate manager.” He turned to go.
    “And what is it that has you so upset, Jones? You quit a position that has been in your family for centuries all because I’ve cut off a woman’s support that was not my responsibility to provide in the first place? I don’t understand your motives,” Powerscourt finished coolly.
    “You’re the enigma, not I!” Holland shouted, his voice filled with frustration. “You do these inexplicable things, which will have tragic consequences. I will not continue on!”
    “Ah, but you will continue on!” Tramore suddenlycommanded. His angry voice boomed across the room. “If only for the reasons that throughout your lifetime the Powerscourts have seen to it that you’ve been well fed and finely clothed; they’ve paid for you to attend Cambridge and they gave your parents a respectable burial. So you will remain my estate manager, Jones. You will stay because you owe it to me!”
    Holland listened to this outburst, his face becoming as white and rigid as a piece of Roman sculpture. He wanted to throw the words back in Tramore’s face, but all at once guilt wouldn’t let him. He tried to stop himself, but the memory of his languid days at Cambridge came to mind, as did the memory of Tramore’s working in a stable like the meanest of paupers. Worse was the remembrance of his comfortable and pleasant childhood. As the son of the mighty estate manager of Powerscourt, he had wanted