Minx by Julia Quinn Read Free Book Online

meal, and you'll need your strength—"
    "Yes, I know. You explained it in great detail last night. I had better eat well in the morning, because it's porridge at noon."
    "Yes. I think we have a bit of leftover pheasant, so it won't be as austere as usual, but—"
    He held up his hand, not wanting to hear anything more about the slow starvation she had planned for him. "Say no more, Henry. Why don't you go down to breakfast? I shall join you shortly. My ablutions, as you so gently called them, shan't take very long this morning."
    "Yes, of course." She hurried out of the room.
    Henry managed to make it halfway down the hall before she had to stop and lean against the wall. Her entire body was shaking with mirth, and she could barely stand. The expression on his face when she told him he could bathe only once a week—priceless! Topped only by his expression when she told him she would bathe only every two weeks.
    Ridding herself of Dunford, Henry reflected, was not going to take as long as she had originally anticipated.
    Going without a bath was not going to be fun, Henry had always been quite fastidious. But it was not too great a sacrifice for Stannage Park, and besides, she had a feeling that her lack of cleanliness was going to be harder on Dunford than on her.
    She made her way down to the small dining room. Breakfast had not yet been laid on the table, so she headed into the kitchen. Mrs. Simpson was standing in front of the stove, sliding sausages around on a skillet so as not to burn them.
    "Hello, Simpy."
    The housekeeper turned around. "Henry! What are you doing here? I would have thought you'd be busy with our new guest."
    Henry rolled her eyes. "He isn't our guest, Simpy. We're his guests. Or at least I am. You have an official position."
    "I know this has been difficult for you."
    Henry just smiled, judging it imprudent to let Mrs. Simpson know she had actually been enjoying herself this morning. After a long pause she said, "Breakfast smells lovely, Simpy."
    The housekeeper shot her an odd look. "Same food as every day."
    "Perhaps I am hungrier than usual. And I shall have to eat my fill, because the new Lord Stannage is somewhat—shall we say—austere."
    Mrs. Simpson slowly turned around. "Henry, what on earth are you trying to tell me?"
    Henry shrugged helplessly. "He wants porridge for lunch."
    "Porridge! Henry, if this is one of your crazy schemes—"
    "Really, Simpy, do you think I'd go that far? You know how much I detest porridge."
    "I suppose we could have porridge. I shall have to make something special for dinner, though."
    "Mutton."
    "Mutton?" Mrs. Simpson's eyes widened in disbelief.
    Henry let her shoulders rise and fall in another expressive shrug. "He likes mutton."
    "I do not believe you for one second, Miss Henrietta Barrett."
    "Oh, all right. The mutton was my idea. No need for him to know how well he can eat here."
    "Your little plans are going to be the death of you."
    Henry leaned closer to the housekeeper. "Do you want to be turned out on your ear?"
    "I don't see—"
    "He can do that, you know. He can turn every last one of us out. Better to be rid of him before he can be rid of us."
    There was a long pause before Mrs. Simpson said, "Mutton it is, then."
    Henry paused before she opened the door leading out to the rest of the house. "And don't cook it too well. A little dry perhaps. Or make the sauce just a touch too salty."
    "I draw the line at—"
    "All right, all right," Henry said quickly. Getting Mrs. Simpson to prepare mutton when she had beef, lamb, and ham at her disposal had been enough of a battle. She was never going to succeed in getting her to prepare it badly.
    Dunford was waiting for her in the small dining room. He was standing in front of a window, staring out over the fields. He obviously didn't hear her come in, for he started when Henry cleared her throat.
    He turned around, smiled, motioned to the window with a tilt of his head, and said, "The land is lovely. You have