McAlistair’s Fortune

McAlistair’s Fortune (2009) Alissa Johnson (Providence)

Set in England in 1814.

After the death of her father and the subsequent neglect by her mother, Evie Cole was taken in my her aunt and it was there she truly healed from the carriage accident that left her with scars and a limp.

Gritting her teeth, she continued down the hall in the slow, short steps required to maintain an even gait. After severely injuring her leg in a carriage accident, her stride would never be perfectly smooth. But unless one was actively looking for the slight dip of her frame or listening for the brief drag of her foot, one wasn’t likely to notice her limp. That was all well and good, but slow, short steps and an even slightly dragging foot made it exceedingly difficult for her to storm off with the sort of haughty disdain the situation clearly warranted.

McAlistair worked for the war department until a mission gone bad sent him into seclusion, hiding on grounds of Haldon estate.

The forest would be his home still if he’d had his say in the matter, but William Fletcher, his one-time employer and current thorn in his side, had been steadily pushing him back into the world over the past few months.

McAlistair had capitulated to a point— walking away from the old forgotten hunting cabin he used during inclement weather and buying an equally old, but slightly less secluded cabin just outside the Haldon estate.

After overhearing a plan to introduce her to a likely suitor, Evie is unfazed by a threat against her life, and decides to play along, assuming it is part of the plan.

We don’t spend that much time with Whit and the rest of the Coles, but the glimpses we get of Whit remind us that he is both a good man, and a sensible one. Here the family is arguing whether Evie should go into hiding or not. Whit is adamantly opposed to letting Evie out of his direct protection.

“He’s right,” McAlistair said, earning a hard glare from Whit and Lady Thurston. “Too many doors here. Too many places to hide.”

“The staff has been instructed to—” Whit broke off with a scowl. “Who let you in?”

McAlistair shook his head.

“Damn it. Did anyone see you?”

Another head shake from McAlistair and a soft stream of expletives from Whit.

He turned to Evie. “Pack your things. You’re leaving in the morning.”

Evie and McAlistair are more damaged than the others in the family, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have senses of humor about themselves and their situation.

“Aren’t you going to ask how I learned (so many curse words)?”

“Same as everyone else. From others.”

“I. . .” She pursed her lips. “I could have read them in a book.”

“All of them?” He cocked his head. “May I borrow it?”

This series is precisely the escape I needed.

Stonesong Digital
8/10

• Browse the archives:
  
• The Story of the Stone » »
• « « Tempting Fate