Breathless (The House of Rohan 3)

“Indeed,” she managed to come up with. Being picked up by him had been an unnerving experience, reminding her of those clandestine moments on his lap at the inn, as well as reinforcing how strong he really was. Strong and warm and hard.

“I assume you have rooms that are habitable for my bride,” he said in his silken tone, and the sour woman in her starchy black nodded, clearly under his spell, as most women seemed to be. Even Jane had shown signs of blind obedience.

“There’s a fire in the green saloon, as well as one in your study, your lordship. I’ve also had the girls in from the village to clean and dust your bedroom and the brown bedroom in the east wing. I hope you’ll find that acceptable. ”

His lip curved. “That will be quite a walk to my wife’s bed when I choose to join her. ”

“Oh, don’t worry about it, darling,” Miranda said cheerfully. “Just open your door and give a shout and I’ll come running. Now where is this green salon? I’m chilled to the bone. ” She unfastened her pelisse and dumped it in Mrs. Humber’s unwelcoming hands, handing over her gloves and bonnet, as well. The woman just looked at her, a solid lump like the house she oversaw. No help there, Miranda thought.

Lucien looked at her as if wondering who was this alien creature. “I’ll take her, Mrs. Humber. And tea would be an excellent idea. I think she’s had a surfeit of wine for one day. ”

Miranda smiled up at him, wanting to kick him in the shins. Preferably in his bad leg. “You take such good care of me,” she crooned.

“And you’re quite drunk. ” Taking her arm he led her down the dark, gloomy hallway to a small room that was so blissfully warm she ignored its other imperfections. She sank down in a chair by the fire, holding out her chilled hands and breathing a sigh of relief. Lucien was standing a ways away from her, staring at her.

“Don’t you want to come closer to the fire?” she said. “You must be absolutely frozen. ”

“I don’t pay much attention to the weather…. What are you doing?” he demanded.

“Taking off my shoes. They’re wet. ” She’d pulled off the demiboots, then wiggled her stocking-clad toes in front of the fire. She glanced up at him. “Don’t look so shocked. We’re going to be married, after all. And I’ve decided that suits me very well indeed. I was growing quite tired of my own company and that of the few who visited, and I hardly thought I’d achieve a marriage, particularly such a good one. You’re quite a prize, you know, despite your physical imperfections,” she said lightly. “You’re wealthy, you’re relatively young, though not quite in the first bloom of youth, and you’re an earl. The main thing that’s bothering me is will I be Countess Rochdale, or will I continue as Lady Miranda? I believe the hereditary title takes precedence, and I’m the daughter of a marquess, but I never paid much attention to these things. I’m certain my sister-in-law will know—she’s a stickler for details like this. I’ll write her …”

“The wine makes you talkative,” he observed, coming to sit opposite her, his pale eyes hooded and predatory.

“Oh, I suppose I’m a bit nervous. ” She was actually finding this quite easy. The cheerful, prattling bride, finding roses in a dung heap. And Pawlfrey House was most certainly a dung heap—it smelled of mold and dry rot and layers of dust. She beamed at him. “After all, I’m to be married. I would like to bathe and change my clothes first, if you don’t mind. I’d like to look my best for you. ”

“I doubt the vicar will be located today, my love,” he said, watching her as one might watch a rabid dog, waiting for it to attack.

“What a shame. And I was so looking forward to my wedding night. ” She pouted, making it as provocative as she could.

He laughed at that, and she wondered if she’d overplayed her hand. “Of course you are, my pet. If wine makes you this affable I’ll have to see you get a regular supply of it. ”

“That would be delightful. ”

He rose. “I’ll have Mrs. Humber arrange for your bath. In the meantime I have duties to attend to. ”

“And what will I wear after I bathe? I didn’t have a chance to pack. ”

“I made arrangements for a suitable wardrobe. It was simple enough to contact your dressmaker. Madame Clotilde on St. James Street, am I right?”

“Oh, you think of everything!” she said with perfect, breathless delight.

He gave her a slight, ironic bow. “I try. In the meantime I’ll leave you to Mrs. Humber’s good graces. She’s been in my family all her life. In fact I believe she’s a third cousin or something, and we’re all very fond of her. Treat her with respect. ”

Miranda controlled her instinctive growl. “But of course, darling! I always treat underlings with kindness and respect. ”

“Mrs. Humber doesn’t consider herself an underling. ”

“No, I imagine she doesn’t. Nevertheless, she’s your housekeeper, and therefore an upper servant. Or is she your mistress?”

He laughed. “She’s my housekeeper. Tread warily, dear Miranda. She would make a formidable enemy, like all of my family. ”

She already was, Miranda thought, still managing her idiot smile. At this rate her cheeks were going to hurt and she’d have premature wrinkles

around her eyes. Go away, she thought. Give me some quiet moments by the fire.

And thank God, he did.

His careful plans had suddenly become upended, Lucien thought as he limped down the hall to his study. It had been an act of sheer bravado, carrying her over the threshold like that, and his leg was paying for it. He did well enough in the best of circumstances, but the incessant rain always made his old wounds act up, and Miranda had been too tipsy to notice one way or another.