In the Arms of the Heiress (A LADIES UNLACED NOVEL) by Maggie Robinson Read Free Book Online Page A

their deference as if you’re used to it. Remember the château staff attended to your every whim, not that you were hard to please. But don’t be
too
friendly—the servants will think less of you. Don’t be too cold, either. I never would have married a snob.”
    “I’ll aim for ‘just right’ then. Goldilocks would have had a regular field day breaking beds and chairs in a pile this size.”
    Captain Cooper had seemed weary on the trip, but suddenly his chin lifted and spine stiffened as he climbed out of the car. He extended a hand to her to help her down and she gave it a gentle squeeze. “Showtime. Break a leg! Good afternoon, everyone!” she said with false cheer. “I’m so pleased to be home.” Louisa clung to the captain’s arm as an affectionate—but not
too
affectionate—new wife would. “May I present my husband, Mr. Maximillian Norwich?”
    Louisa performed the necessary introductions and accepted the earnest congratulations. Several of the servants were unfamiliar to her, but Griffith, the butler who’d been here since her grandfather’s day, provided assistance. Captain Cooper nodded and smiled in a most dignified manner, not showing too many teeth. He made a striking impression in his new clothes. Aunt Grace would not be able to fault the man on his fashionable appearance.
    “How fares my aunt, Griffith?”
    The butler clucked. “Not well, Miss Louisa, not well. Oh! I should say Mrs. Norwich. I daresay that will take me a little to get used to. Mrs. Westlake has not left her bed this age. She’s most anxious you go straight to her apartments to see her, once you’ve refreshed yourselves, of course.”
    “And my cousin. Is he about?”
    “In London, madam. On bank business. We expect him back any day.”
    Well, that was one good thing. Louisa did not relish the prospect of Hugh inspecting Maximillian Norwich just yet.
    “Lulu, darling!”
    The man at her side twitched. “
Lulu
? Really?”
    Louisa stifled her groan and urge to elbow Captain Cooper for his mockery. Isobel flew out the front door, dripping in pearls and trailing sleeves and scarves. Louisa found herself embraced in a quantity of silk heavily scented with patchouli. She stifled a sneeze, too.
    “Is this divine creature your husband? I quite see why you eloped, dear heart. What shoulders!” Isobel was actually running a hand over one of them while Captain Cooper looked somewhat ill at ease. “I am Lulu’s second cousin, Isobel Crane.
So
delighted to meet you. Now, you must tell me exactly how you charmed her. We’d given up that any man could do so.”
    “Isobel, do let go of Maximillian; you’ll bruise him. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later. I’m sure my husband wants to see our rooms before we go to Aunt Grace. Griffith, where did Mrs. Lang put us?” The housekeeper had not been present in the line of employees.
    “In your parents’ room, Mrs. Norwich. Mrs. Lang wished me to apologize for her. Her mother’s funeral was yesterday and she is not yet back.”
    “Goodness, how awful.” Louisa wasn’t sure if she was commenting over the death or being forced to share a bedroom with Captain Cooper.
    “Cot,” Cooper muttered.
    “Shh. I’ll see to it, if Mrs. Lang hasn’t already. She does tend to cover all the bases.” Louisa didn’t much like Mrs. Lang, but she recognized the woman was an excellent housekeeper.
    They trooped up the front steps behind Griffith, passing into the enormous entrance hall. An arrangement of hothouse flowers stood on the center table. Louisa had spent much of her time growing up hiding in the conservatory, and she recognized the plants as Rosemont’s own—she’d tended them herself. “Lovely,” she said to the butler.
    “Your aunt Grace did them herself to welcome you home.”
    Louisa was surprised. It was not like Grace to be crafty or kind. “Got out of her bed, did she?”
    “No, Mrs. Norwich. Everything was brought up to her and then carried down.”
    The