Frovtunes’ Kiss by Lisa Manuel Read Free Book Online

evenings, as well. Throughout Moira’s childhood, they’d shared wonderful adventures, reading aloud from the novels and histories he loved. Moira had adored the stories, though sharing Papa’s spacious wing chair and hearing his voice rumble against her ear had provided as much if not more delight.
    â€œWhat on
earth
do you think you’re
doing?”
    Oh, dear. The pointed toe of a delicate silk house slipper rapped an angry tattoo practically beneath Moira’s nose. Attached to it, the person of Miss Letitia Foster loomed above, her pale blue eyes positively glacial.
    Moira hadn’t seen the girl steal back into the room. Nor had she noticed the soapy rivulets coursing along the floorboards and soaking the rug beneath the breakfast table. Her heart sank. The crimson dye from the now-sodden needlework roses had stained the fringed tatting a bright pink.
    â€œI’m so terribly sorry, miss. Perhaps I could…”
    â€œSorry? Yes, you’ll
be
sorry when my brother hears about this.” With a whirl that sent the hem of her gown flouncing into Moira’s face, Miss Letitia stormed from the room.
    Moira sat back on her haunches and, with another glance at the rug, admitted the girl could not be blamed entirely. She flung the scrub brush into the bucket, only to send another sudsy wave splashing onto the floor. She stared at this newest puddle and felt exhausted. Empty. Defeated. Then she gathered her weary legs beneath her and hefted the bucket. She supposed she might as well go pack her things.

    â€œWe must dismiss her at
once
, Monteith. Before she destroys something else.”
    Graham scowled at his sister but didn’t bother correcting her on his name. She’d stormed into his study moments ago, figuratively but not literally dragging the housekeeper in behind her. Letty had delayed her tirade long enough to toss a pointed glance at Shaun, who took the hint and exited through the connecting door to the library.
    â€œI fail to see why
we
need do anything,” Graham replied. “The girl is Mrs. Higgensworth’s charge.”
    The housekeeper folded her arms across her chest and gave a gratified nod. Graham responded with a little wink.
    â€œBut Mrs. Higgensworth
refuses
to sack her.” Letty stood with hands on hips, chin in the air, feet anchored firmly to the floor. Her outrage had quickly consumed all her ladylike affectations; oddly, Graham rather preferred her this way.
    â€œPerhaps she sees no reason to sack her,” he said with feigned patience. “I respect Mrs. Higgensworth’s judgment.”
    The housekeeper’s self-satisfied grin faded when Letty narrowed her eyes in her direction.
    â€œPardon me, but in this instance Mrs. Higgensworth’s judgment isn’t worth a wooden
farthing.”
    â€œBe nice, Letty.”
    â€œHave you
seen
what that chit of a maid has
done
these past few days? The drawing-room curtains are all awry—”
    â€œSo straighten them.”
    â€œThe luncheon china is chipped—”
    â€œBuy new.”
    â€œShe just now threw the remains of breakfast all over the morning-room floor—”
    â€œWere you planning to eat the leftovers?”
    â€œAnd the lovely rug Mama purchased only two weeks ago is reduced to rubbish.”
    â€œBother the rug.”
    â€œMonteith, how
can
you make light of this?”
    â€œBecause for one thing, it is no small matter to let go a servant. Even with a letter of recommendation, she could very well end up on the street. Secondly, I trust Mrs. Higgensworth. She has run this house for nearly two decades.” He turned to the waiting housekeeper. “Mrs. Higgensworth, is the girl worth retaining? Is she salvageable?”
    The woman stepped forward, her capable hands clasped at her waist. “I believe so, sir, for all she makes the occasional mistake. Ah, but she’s a sweet lamb with an elderly mother to support. She means well and