Shaking off the doldrums, she reached for the telephone and dialed Silvercreek Cab Company. While waiting for the cab’s arrival, she went into the bedroom and pulled down a shoebox from the closet shelf. She set the box on the bed and removed the lid. Inside were stacks of fifty and one-hundred-dollar bills. Alice liked to keep her money at home. She didn’t trust banks, after witnessing her parent’s despair at losing much of their savings in the Great Depression’s run on banks.
She counted out one thousand dollars, then tucked the money into her wallet. As she returned the shoebox to the closet, she heard the honking of the cab’s horn. She grabbed her purse and raced out the front door.
When she arrived at Lorelle, a high-end boutique, she selected an armful of outfits and proceeded to try each one on. With her shyness still an issue, she peeked out from the dressing room curtain to make sure the communal area with the large three-way mirror was empty before going out there to view the gorgeous evening ensemble she’d slipped into.
Alice had always avoided mirrors, yet she admired her reflection like some shallow debutante. The black ankle-length skirt she wore swirled around her legs as she moved, showing off her calves, and the matching lace blouse revealed just the right amount of skin. She’d never owned anything so beautiful—and she wouldn’t now, she told herself sternly. Where in the world would she wear it? With a sigh, she turned away from the mirror and headed back toward the dressing room.
A cute young woman with a short sassy haircut and a face full of freckles rushed over to her. “Oh, miss, that outfit has your name on it. Here, let me accessorize it for you.” The sales clerk took hold of her arm and led her across the store.
“I was just about to change,” Alice sputtered.
“This won’t take but a minute. I’m sure you’ll love the result. Look.” The clerk pulled a delicate gold chain from a jewelry display. She slipped it around Alice’s neck, then reached for the matching earrings. “You look stunning,” she cooed, holding the earrings next to Alice’s face. “But you need to do something with this.” She grabbed a strand of Alice’s waist-length hair, tucked it inside the black lace blouse, and grinned. “Yes, that’s it. I knew it.” The clerk tucked in the rest of Alice’s hair, then led her over to a mirror. “Now don’t get me wrong. You’ve got beautiful hair—just too much of it. It hides your pretty face. But now, well, take a look.” She stepped away so Alice could see herself.
Alice gasped. The clerk was right. She didn’t need to hide behind her hair. With a shoulder-length style, it would still be long, but it wouldn’t overpower her.
“You like?”
Speechless, Alice could only nod.
The clerk pulled a business card from her pocket and placed it in Alice’s palm. “This is Frederick. He’s a fabulous hairdresser. Tell him Kendra sent you. He’ll take extra-good care of you. Now, will you be putting today’s purchases on your credit card?”
“No, cash.” Alice entered the dressing room with her head awhirl. She had less than two weeks to find true love, and she was about to buy an outfit she didn’t need and cut twelve inches off her hair. Had she gone mad? Or maybe she was doing exactly what she needed to do in order to attract the man of her dreams.
— : : —
At the salon, true to Kendra’s word, Alice was given the royal treatment, beginning with a lengthy shampoo and fabulous scalp massage. She listened to the steady snip, snip, snip of Frederick’s shears as he cut her hair. Her eyes were squeezed shut and her heart was pounding, yet it wasn’t fear she felt but excitement. As each section of hair dropped to the floor, a weight lifted. Old insecurities disappeared, and, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, she too was free.
With the final click of the shears, she snuck a glance.
“No, no,” Frederick shrieked, spinning her chair away from the mirror. He stood with hands on hips, tapping the toe of his heavily studded cowboy boot. “You mustn’t peek till I’m ready for the reveal.” He spoke with a heavy European accent that she thought he used more for effect than from living abroad.
“Sorry,” she murmured, sinking into the chair. The sleeve of his polyester shirt—the likes of which she hadn’t seen for decades—brushed her cheek as he worked mousse through her hair.
He grabbed the blow dryer as if he were drawing a pistol and held it beside his leather-clad thigh. “Now, tip your head down to your knees, and let me finish this masterpiece.”
Alice bent down and studied the veins in the marble floor while Frederick worked his magic on her hair.
“Here we go, Miss Alice. Sit up and toss your head back.” When she obliged, he turned her toward the mirror. “Voila.”
His smile reminded her of the Cheshire cat’s, and she definitely felt like Alice in Wonderland, but her hairstyle was a work of art.
Mountains of glossy chestnut hair skimmed her shoulders. Not too short. Not too long. Perfect. Just perfect. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Ahh, no need for words. Your eyes say it all, and with the right shadow, they could seduce a man with a glance.” Frederick snapped his fingers. A pretty young girl with flawless skin came running. “Take Miss Alice to the makeup counter and make her siz-z-le.”
By the time Alice left the salon, she barely recognized herself—glossed lips, sultry eyes and cheekbones a cover model would die for. Too bad she didn’t have anyone to show off her new look to.
At home, she dropped her armful of packages on the sofa. Jasper jumped off the windowsill and strolled around her feet. He didn’t rub against her legs as usual but kept his distance, as if trying to make out this latest change in her appearance.
“It’s all right. It’s me. Get used to it, my friend, this new look is here to stay. At least for ten days or so,” she said glumly. A chilly bolt lanced through her. The reality of her limited time dimmed the glow of the tin angel’s miracle. If she didn’t find true love by New Year’s…
To rid herself of her melancholy, Alice waltzed over to her old record player and put on Frank Sinatra. As she swayed to the music, she opened her packages. She pulled out outfit after outfit, holding each one up, then tossing it toward the sofa. Some made it to the cushions, but many landed on the floor.
Alice undid the buttons on her coral blouse, then unzipped her trousers. “Away with the old,” she sang, slipping out of her clothes and tossing them into the air, “and in with the new.” She picked up an animal-print shirt, held it up to her chest, then twirled around the parlor in her underwear.
A knock on the front door froze her. Every muscle tensed. For a moment, she was taken back to the night her world shattered—the night Tom had been taken from her. She’d been about the same age, but this was a new day, and it wouldn’t be a solemn-faced sergeant bringing bad news. Oh Lord, it must be Jack. She dropped the shirt and raced to the bedroom for her robe. She wasn’t prepared for a visitor. And she still didn’t know what she was going to tell him.
…Excerpt from
TIN ANGEL
by Raine English © 2012
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TIN ANGEL
Coming Soon...
A Gothic Historical
MISTRESS OF RAGHERY
© 2013 Raine English
On a storm-shrouded island, ghosts of the past threaten to kill again.
Sheeva Desmond always believed she’d marry for love. But when she’s left penniless after her parent’s deaths and her fiancé cancels their wedding, she’s convinced love is a fairy tale. Desperate to find a way to support herself, she takes a position as governess to a troubled mute boy. She never expects to lose her heart to the boy’s handsome father. Or to become entangled in a deadly mystery.
Ronan Quinn, Master of Rathlin Island, spent years in an unhappy marriage. When his faithless wife threatens to leave him and is later found dead, he blames himself for not keeping her safe. He’s left with a hardened heart and a devastated young son. The beautiful governess he hires may have the courage to help his son and to heal Ronan’s soul. Bu
t a murderer from his past haunts the shadows and threatens them all.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author Raine English always wanted to be a writer. She began her career as a journalist, but writing romance novels was her passion. Her stories have won many awards, including finalling in the Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® and winning the Daphne du Maurier Award.
She enjoys writing both adult and young adult contemporary romance infused with elements of magic and the paranormal, along with eerie Gothic historical novels.
When not behind her computer, you can find her reading, usually something involving the supernatural. She lives in New England with her family, two dogs, and a mischievous cat.
Raine would love to hear from you! She can be reached at [email protected].
Visit Raine’s website at http://www.RaineEnglish.com
Follow Raine on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RaineEnglish
Join Raine on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RaineEnglish
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
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