Breathless (The House of Rohan 3)

“We don’t employ many servants here, Lady Miranda,” she said in starched accents. “I’ve told the upstairs maid to bring up bathwater but of course the master’s needs come first, and he always requests a hot bath on arrival. It may be some time before your bath is ready. ”

Miranda smiled at her sweetly. “Then perhaps you ought to show me to the master’s room and I’ll avail myself of his bath. ” She said it mainly to see the shock on Mrs. Humber’s face, but in truth it seemed an excellent idea.

“Your bathwater will be up directly,” Mrs. Humber growled, pushing open the door to the bedroom. “Make yourself at home. ”

Miranda stood in the doorway for a long, miserable moment. She could hear the housekeeper’s heavy footsteps thudding down the corridor—she was willing to bet the old besom walked with a lighter tread when Lucien could hear.

She laughed beneath her breath. She could just imagine his reaction if he came up to his room and found her disporting in his bath.

No, she wasn’t quite ready to fight this war on that level. Because she’d be naked, and she had every intention of putting that particular battle off as long as possible, if not forever. Would revenge against the Rohans be worth living with a cheerful idiot? She wasn’t certain Lucien would think so.

She was loath to step across her threshold. The room was dark and gloomy, even with the fire. It smelled like mouse droppings and mildew, and she sighed. The first thing this place needed was a good cleaning, and if Mrs. Humber didn’t employ enough servants she’d have to see that they found more.

She crossed to the tall windows, pushing open the faded curtains to look out into the rainy afternoon. A cloud of dust rewarded her efforts, and she began to cough, waving away the motes. She glanced over at her bed, wondering if it were equally untended, but it appeared that at least there were fresh sheets and pillowcases. Probably because Mrs. Humber expected Lucien to share that bed with her.

Fat lot she knew.

The room was damp and chilly despite the fire, and she doubted she’d find any help from the limited servants. At least there was wood piled beside the fireplace, and she leaned down and loaded more logs onto the grate. Really, they ought to be burning coal. It was easier to load and lasted a great deal longer, but perhaps the wretched old house wasn’t equipped for it. After a moment she was rewarded with a merry blaze, and she dragged a chair closer, warming her hands and bare feet.

The look on Lucien’s face when she’d taken off her shoes had been priceless. He’d hidden it almost immediately, but she’d been looking for it, and she’d almost crowed in triumph.

It was nearly pitch-dark when two burly

men carried the copper bathtub into the room, followed by a maid with a bucket of hot water. If she was going to have to rely on the one maid and that small bucket the tub would be filled by next Christmas, but she gave them her best smile and thanked them, and was rewarded, at least by the young maid, with a shy smile.

“Should I close the curtains, miss?”

One of the older men cuffed her. “She’s called ‘my lady,’ you dimwit. ”

The girl’s face flooded with color. “Oh, miss … my lady, I beg pardon. I’m just the kitchen maid—I’ve never been called upon to serve a real lady before. ”

“Never mind,” Miranda said kindly. “What’s your name?”

“Bridget, my lady. ”

“Well, Bridget, why don’t you help me sort through my clothes while these strong men bring up the rest of the hot water. ”

“That’s not our job,” the bully began, but then he saw the look on her face and swallowed. “Yes, your ladyship,” he said, and practically bowed out of the room, closing the door behind them.

Bridget laughed. “He’s a right brute, is Ferdy. He’s Mrs. Humber’s cousin, and he thinks he’s in charge around here, when he’s only a groom. But he’s strong, and she uses him for the heavy work. ”

“Then he’s perfectly suited for hauling heavy tins of water. ”

“Should I close the curtains, my lady? It’s an ugly night out there. ”

“Very carefully. They’re full of dust and I almost choked to death when I opened them. ”

Bridget looked horrified. “Oh, miss … er, your ladyship, I’m so sorry! We hadn’t much notice you were coming, and Mrs. Humber is that difficult. She doesn’t like it when his lordship brings a female up here. ”

There was no reason that should feel like a blow, and Miranda weathered it beautifully. “Does she disapprove on moral grounds? Because his lordship and I plan to be married. ”

Bridget shook her head, and Miranda could see a nasty bruise on the side of her neck. Probably thanks either to Mrs. Humber or her henchman, Ferdy. “That’s not it. I think she fancies him herself. ”

Author: Anne Stuart

“Mrs. Humber?” Miranda echoed, astonished. “She’s twice his age, and his housekeeper, as well. ”

“No one says that love has to be practical, my lady. ”