Unmasking the Silver Heiress by Ava Devlin

Author:Ava Devlin [Devlin, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-25T21:00:00+00:00

IT WAS the clanking of dishes that woke her.

Nell had slept so deeply that it seemed only a moment ago that she'd crawled into bed, and yet it had clearly been many hours. The sun was bright in the window, the black makeshift curtains flung back for the day, and servants were clearing away the remains of their little dinner from the floor.

She spared a moment for quiet relief that she had put her nightgown back on, for she threw off the coverlet from her body before remembering what had passed here the night before.

"Good morning," said Nathaniel from the wardrobe, where he was rolling up his shirtsleeves opposite a thin, propped-up mirror. He smiled at her in reflection, sending her heart directly into her throat. "I hope I didn't wake you."

"You didn't," she assured him, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and stifling an early-morning yawn. "I usually rise before the sun. It was an unusually deep sleep."

"Was it?" he asked, turning to face her, obviously pleased with the idea. "I also slept better than I have in ages. It is a relief to be done with the traveling for a spell."

She blushed, reaching for her sumptuous new dressing gown as she slipped from the bed. Somehow in the light of day, she felt less certain about her body in such thin material. Perhaps it was a silly thing to be bashful now, but here she was, all the same.

"I am going to open some of the rooms on the first floor this morning, after breakfast," he continued, oblivious to her sudden reticence. "There's no telling what we'll find. I also have a carpenter coming today to install proper lighting in this room and the dining area. You are not required to assist in the labor, of course, I simply think it is prudent that I inspect each room before the staff flocks in, so that I will know if aught goes missing. My aunt would be delighted to show you around the grounds today instead, if you prefer it."

"I would love to see the grounds, but I would much rather become acquainted with the house first, if I am to be its mistress. Besides, I must confess I'm dreadfully curious about what's in some of these old rooms," she said, passing him to draw some items from the wardrobe. "I shall wear one of my old frocks so that the dust won't be an issue. I don’t mind a bit of muck, but I would hate to stain one of the new ones."

"It isn't just dust. There might be rodents or other nasties in the unattended areas," he warned her. "We found an unseemly big spider in the kitchen on the first day."

She chuckled, shaking out her patched travel dress and tossing it on the bed. "I grew up alongside a twin brother, sir. I assure you I have met my fair share of nasties. So long as they aren't the venomous sort, I will stand brave against them.

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