Page 17 of Scandalous Heiress
Chapter 4
Ada sprinted down the main staircase the next morning at seven.
No one stirred early in this household.She’d been first up the past few days.Today, from the looks of the empty foyer and salon, she’d catch worms again.
She’d awakened fewer than thirty minutes ago and sprung from her bed.She pulled the cord for her maid, intent on doing her morning ablutions quickly to escape the house and let the brisk air along the river blow some sense into her brain.She’d spent the night, tossing and turning and fuming over Victor Cole.
She wrinkled her nose.He might be beautiful, sculpted in form and firm in body, but he was carved from marble.More than cold, he was rude.Sitting next to him last night at table, she’d done her duty by her hostess and host, her family and her breeding.She’d talked to the man.Correction, she’d talkedathim.He, straw man that he was, found it proper to speak to her in the fewest possible words.
Yes, Miss Hanniford.
No, Miss Hanniford.
I do like riding.
I do like my fish.
I long for dessert.
She’d wanted to pinch his thigh, tickle his ribs, wave a magic wand to awaken him from his apparent nap, pound his chest, breathe life into him.By time for the chocolate mousse and peach compote, she’d prayed to sprout wings and fly from the room.Only the remove of the ladies for tea and the gentlemen for their brandy and cigars saved her.By heavens, had they offered, she would have lit up an ugly brown stick and downed an ounce of cognac herself.She needed sustenance after the wasteland of the previous two hours.
If she had to sit next to him again this evening, she would bite him on one of his marvelously broad shoulders.If that didn’t work, she’d remove her spleen with a fish fork.More fun certainly.Get his attention, one would wager.Anything to see him startle, perhaps even see him bleed like a living creature.
Worse, she had the distinct impression that his mother watched over them from her place at head of the table like the hen she was.If the duchess surmised that Lord Victor might possibly be interested in her, the lady needed glasses and a full bottle of French liquor to clear her head.
Ada sailed into the breakfast room, grinning that no one was about.
“Good morning, Miss Hanniford.”Fawkes the butler appeared from the hall.Could he see through walls?“You are up very early again.Like it?”
“Good morning, Fawkes.I do indeed like the morning.”And the solitude.“I’ve heard so much from the duchess about the path along the river, I plan to enjoy it myself.”
“Will you walk or ride?”he asked as he came forward to pull out a chair for her.“I can have the groom prepare a horse for you.”
“I’ll walk.Thank you.”God, when would she remember it was not good form to thank servants?“I like to ride occasionally, but prefer to go with a companion.Horses are not, shall we say, my favorite animal.”
“I understand, Miss.”He suppressed a smile.“Will you have your usual coffee?”
“Thank you, Fawkes, I will.”
“Wonderful.And shall I serve you or do you prefer to choose from the sideboard yourself?”
She’d always hoped to diminish the work servants had to do for her.All their fussing seemed so unnecessary.Rather like stuffing a turkey for Christmas dinner.The bird was good as he was.No farce required.“I shall serve myself, thank you.”
“Very well.”He began to back away.
“One thought, Fawkes?”
“Yes, Miss?”
She hadn’t asked for this previously, but she was sorely out of touch and needed a distraction from brooding over Victor Cole.“Since no one else is awake, I wonder if I might read the newspapers, please?”
Surprise lined his bushy brow.“Of course you may.Only Lord Victor has been down and seen them already.I was pressing them for the next…er…gentleman, but I can give them to you.”
“I am most appreciative.”So, His High and Mighty Lordship has already passed through this portal.Fabulous.
She pressed her hands along the smooth linen of her napkin and sat back to contemplate the joys of the morning that awaited her.Peace.So rare at a house party.The deluge of other guests would begin tomorrow.So, too, Richard would arrive today, having finished with his business.She’d begin to examine the marquess and decide what to say to her best friend about her intended groom.She’d have time these next few days to view him in person.From what she’d read of him, he was a young roué.No suitable match for sweet Ezzie.Yesterday, the duchess informed them that he had promised to escort them both to the theatre in Bath tonight.Ada shut her eyes, praying that Richards’ brother would not volunteer to be her escort.To endure his indifference was worse than having to thwart five suitors with bad breath and groping hands.
Murmurs from the central hall had her turning to see who might be up and about.Please, let it be a servant.A maid.A—
