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

Chinese urn weighed a ton, even empty. “How annoying for the servants. I’ll be happy to do the next one. It will be time for pine boughs and holly soon, I think.”
    “Yes, madam. May I say how delighted we all are to have you home for Christmas. Last year just wasn’t the same without you.”
    It hadn’t been the same for her, either. She and Kathleen had dined on roast duck and champagne in a French country inn, warm and snug in the charming little dining room. There had been no interminable Christmas lunch with twenty courses and Aunt Grace giving her the gimlet eye.
    “I hope you and Mrs. Lang will help me when it comes time to get presents for the new staff, Griffith. There are quite a few new faces.”
    The butler cleared his throat. “Yes, madam. Your aunt insisted on replacing those staff members she felt were inefficient.”
    Grace really had no right to do so now that Louisa was officially in charge. But how had Louisa exercised her authority? By running away.
    “Well, thank goodness you’re still here. I don’t know what Rosemont would do without you.”
    “You’d all manage, I’m sure.” But Griffith looked pleased with the praise. “But speaking of presents, we have a small wedding gift for you and Mr. Norwich from the staff.” Griffith snapped his gloved fingers. There was no noise, but a footman raced in with a very large beribboned box. The servants had followed them into the hallway and stood expectantly.
    Captain Cooper stared. “A
small
gift?”
    “Oh, Griffith! You shouldn’t have! How very kind of you all. Help me open it, Maximillian. Darling.”
    “Of course, Louisa. Darling.” The captain pulled one end of the silver ribbon while Louisa pulled the other. They tussled with the box top. Inside a cloud of tissue was an ornate ceramic planter.
    “To pot one of your orchids, Mrs. Norwich. We know how you love your flowers.”
    “It’s lovely.” Louisa stifled her impulse to kiss the old butler on his cheek. The impropriety of it would horrify him. “I cannot wait to fill it. Thank you all so very much.”
    There was a smattering of polite applause. Everyone had contributed out of their hard-earned pay, Griffith more than his share, no doubt. Louisa was sure Aunt Grace was not a generous employer and resolved to do something about that as soon as possible.
    “You needn’t accompany us up the stairs, Griffith. I know my way. Come along, Maximillian, dear.”
    “Yes, Louisa, dear.”
    Louisa looked over her shoulder. The captain was wearing a deceptively meek expression. That wouldn’t do at all. Maximillian was forceful, always in command, except of course when he deferred to her superior sensibilities.
    “Stop that,” she hissed.
    “Stop what?”
    “Looking like that—so, so—milksoppy.”
    “Is there such a word?”
    “You know what I mean.”
    “Yes, dear.”
    Oh, this was not going to be easy. Louisa rued for the hundredth time that she’d ever created the impossibly charming, impossibly perfect Maximillian Norwich. What man could ever live up to him? Certainly not Charles Cooper, who seemed determined to drive her the slightest bit crazy.
    She passed by her old bedroom with regret and continued around corner after corner to the end of the hall. The double doors to her parents’ suite were open. More flowers graced the sitting room mantel and tabletops, and a lively fire warmed the room. The cream and gray wallpaper was new, and the furniture had been reupholstered in dull grayish jacquard fabric that reflected the present color of the water. Not very cheerful. Louisa sensed Aunt Grace’s grim decorative hand. She walked to the bank of windows and set the new planter down on the sill. “I never get tired of watching the waves.”
    “Impressive.”
    The captain had come up behind her, his single word tickling the back of her neck.
    “Yes, isn’t it? This suite has a sea view from all the rooms, even the bath.”
    “I trust the seagulls won’t tell any tales