A Well Pleasured Lady by Christina Dodd

Author:Christina Dodd [Dodd, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Historical Romance
ISBN: 9780380790890
Google: qOtdUekCdzAC
Amazon: 0380790890
Barnesnoble: 0380790890
Goodreads: 490425
Publisher: Avon
Published: 1997-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The servants glanced among each other, clearly wondering if she’d run mad.

Determinedly cheerful, Mary continued, “It’s a bit of a backwater there, you understand, but this is a pleasant habit I would be loath to abandon.”

Silent, Mrs. Baggott placed a heaping plate of golden eggs, deviled kidneys, and crumpets with marmalade in front of her. Mary took a bite of the kippers. “The housekeeper in Scotland always kept me company, too.”

“Well.” Mrs. Baggott carried two teacups to the table and sat down, her chair creaking. “I’m glad we can make you feel at home.”

Mary left the kitchen that morning alight with a sense of triumph. Mrs. Baggott had sat with her for the whole breakfast, and they’d much in common. Not that Mary told her she had been a housekeeper.

Oh, no. On that subject, she took Ian’s advice and kept silent. But Mrs. Baggott assumed that Mary had been the mistress of a large household, and Mary let her assume what she wished.

After asking for directions from a servant only once, she slipped back into her bedchamber.

Looking worried and tapping her foot, Jill swung around as Mary shut the door behind herself.

“Miss Fairchild! What are you doing out at such an hour?” Jill ran her astonished gaze over Mary’

s outfit. “And dressed in such a garb!”

“I just went for a walk,” Mary said soothingly.

“Without me? Unchaperoned?” Jill bustled toward Mary. “Miss Fairchild, you know better. What would the gentry say?”

“Nothing, if you don’t tell them.” Mary looked at the handful of papers Jill held. “What are those?”

“Love letters, I suppose, from your suitors. The servants have been slipping them under the door.

That’s what woke me.” Jill handed over the stiff, sealed sheets. “ ’Tis the only reason I knew you were gone.”

“Yes, I had hoped you’d sleep. You were up late waiting for me last night.” Mary seated herself in a comfortable chair and looked through the notes. All the sealing wax had impressions on them. All except one. She put it aside for last.

“Sleep through your absence? Why would I want to? Miss Fairchild, don’t you realize your position here? You’re the heiress. One of these men could come along, bop you on the head, and carry you off ere anyone knew it.”

Aggass, Mary thought, noting the design pressed in the wax on the first note. “I think we can acquit all of these gentlemen of being early risers,” she said to Jill.

“For a fortune, any one of them would get up early of a morning. They’d kidnap you, and where would I be, I ask you? Where would I be?”

“With a new mistress?” Mary guessed.

“Not likely.” Jill snorted. “After Lady Valéry had taken my guts for garters, your Viscount Whitfield would take his turn. There wouldn’t be enough of me left to serve another.”

Dear Miss Fairchild,

I toss and turn, unable to sleep for want of a smile from your sweet lips…

Indigestion, Mary diagnosed, and opened the one from Mr. Mouatt. “Lady Valéry would be unpleasant, but I doubt that she’d kill you.

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