Breathless (14 page)

He didn't care. Her mouth was just as kissable as he'd thought. Even more so. She had a cold, her nose and eyes were red and swollen, and she was still the prettiest morsel he'd seen in God knew how long. He couldn't quite understand why he was so infatuated. It wasn't as if he'd suddenly developed a taste for quality—he'd had any number of titled ladies and they'd been no better than one of Molly's doxies. Sometimes even less honest with their favors.

She was no particular beauty, but he'd had plainer girls, prettier girls, taller girls, shorter girls, thinner girls, fatter girls. He'd long ago lost count of the women he'd had—when he'd had the itch there had always been someone available to scratch it.

So why was he suddenly so interested in a little bit of fluff from the upper classes?

She was still wearing the ring. That had been a devilish impulse on his part. He'd known the ring was too small but he'd still managed to get it on her when he'd
been busy seducing her with his mouth. A treat like Miss Jane Pagett shouldn't have to settle for that miserable little piece of shit her fiancé had provided for her.

She was still wearing that as well, though on the wrong hand. Not that he'd given her any choice. If she wanted his ring off she'd have to stop thinking about it, and he could think of only one way to do that.

Scorpion had been right mad at him for tossing away such a valuable piece of glimmer. Too bad. A sad little girl like that needed diamonds more than some over-bred whore like the Duchess of Carrimore. If he got the chance he'd take it off her finger, but he'd do it for her sake and no one else's.

It looked pretty on her hand. A big, brassy, tacky diamond on her elegant bone structure. He looked at it and thought
mine,
in a totally irrational spurt of emotion. But she wasn't, and he certainly didn't want her to be. He'd just really like to get a better taste of her.

That wasn't going to happen. She was engaged to someone worthy, and he made it a rule never to interfere with someone's life simply because he was hungry. She'd be safely deposited at her family home in London, still a virgin, minus the telltale ring, and she could forget all about the blackguard who kissed her in the darkness as he stole diamonds.

And if he had to kiss her to do it, so be it.

Molly was probably telling her all sorts of stories about him. Lies, of course, but he doubted he was going to come off in a good light. It didn't matter. She'd given him a good long look and hadn't recognized him, which didn't surprise him. That room had been pitch-dark, but he had eyes like a cat, and he'd seen her very clearly. She definitely wouldn't have seen him, and today he'd
kept his head down, the cap pulled low so that even if she remembered him she'd have a hard time thinking of her jewel thief as the driver with a rough Yorkshire accent.

It would be a longer trip back. He wasn't going to change cattle, and there was a limit to which he would push his horses.

And to be entirely truthful, which wasn't like him, he wanted more time with Miss Jane Pagett. No, he wasn't going to touch her. That one kiss had been dangerous enough, and he couldn't afford to get tangled with a young lady of quality. He made it a habit not to despoil virgins or people who didn't have it coming. Not out of any essential goodness, he told himself. Such things were just more trouble than they were worth.

It was a cold night, and he wondered if Long Molly had remembered to get some warm bricks for their feet. Probably not. He jumped down off the driver's seat, headed back into the inn, and a moment later came back out with two warm bricks wrapped in wool shawls that he'd had to pay dearly for, opened the carriage door and found himself looking up, directly into Jane Pagett's face.

He quickly ducked his head, shoving the hot bricks toward her. “These mun keep tha warm,” he said in his thick Yorkshire accent before backing out and closing the door behind him. He cursed. She'd had a good look at him, but that meant nothing. She'd never seen him before in the clear light.

Worse was the good look he'd had of her. Her soft, kissable mouth, her huge brown eyes, his diamond ring flashing on her finger.

He vaulted into the driver's seat, grabbed the reins
and started forward with a sudden jerk, no doubt throwing his passengers into disarray. It was nothing compared to his state of mind.

Maybe he'd better not take his time. He had a certain love of danger, but Miss Jane Pagett put the fear of God into him.

P
awlfrey House was a disaster, Miranda thought as she followed Mrs. Humber's sturdy figure up the first wide staircase, then another, down one long hall until the surly woman finally stopped, turning to look at her out of mean little eyes.

“We don't employ many servants here, Lady Miranda,” she said in starched accents. “I've told the up stairs maid to bring up bathwater but of course the master's needs come first, and he always requests a hot bath on arrival. It may be some time before your bath is ready.”

Miranda smiled at her sweetly. “Then perhaps you ought to show me to the master's room and I'll avail myself of his bath.” She said it mainly to see the shock on Mrs. Humber's face, but in truth it seemed an excellent idea.

“Your bathwater will be up directly,” Mrs. Humber growled, pushing open the door to the bedroom. “Make yourself at home.”

Miranda stood in the doorway for a long, miserable moment. She could hear the housekeeper's heavy
footsteps thudding down the corridor—she was willing to bet the old besom walked with a lighter tread when Lucien could hear.

She laughed beneath her breath. She could just imagine his reaction if he came up to his room and found her disporting in his bath.

No, she wasn't quite ready to fight this war on that level. Because she'd be naked, and she had every intention of putting that particular battle off as long as possible, if not forever. Would revenge against the Rohans be worth living with a cheerful idiot? She wasn't certain Lucien would think so.

She was loath to step across her threshold. The room was dark and gloomy, even with the fire. It smelled like mouse droppings and mildew, and she sighed. The first thing this place needed was a good cleaning, and if Mrs. Humber didn't employ enough servants she'd have to see that they found more.

She crossed to the tall windows, pushing open the faded curtains to look out into the rainy afternoon. A cloud of dust rewarded her efforts, and she began to cough, waving away the motes. She glanced over at her bed, wondering if it were equally untended, but it appeared that at least there were fresh sheets and pillow-cases. Probably because Mrs. Humber expected Lucien to share that bed with her.

Fat lot she knew.

The room was damp and chilly despite the fire, and she doubted she'd find any help from the limited servants. At least there was wood piled beside the fireplace, and she leaned down and loaded more logs onto the grate. Really, they ought to be burning coal. It was easier to load and lasted a great deal longer, but perhaps
the wretched old house wasn't equipped for it. After a moment she was rewarded with a merry blaze, and she dragged a chair closer, warming her hands and bare feet.

The look on Lucien's face when she'd taken off her shoes had been priceless. He'd hidden it almost immediately, but she'd been looking for it, and she'd almost crowed in triumph.

It was nearly pitch-dark when two burly men carried the copper bathtub into the room, followed by a maid with a bucket of hot water. If she was going to have to rely on the one maid and that small bucket the tub would be filled by next Christmas, but she gave them her best smile and thanked them, and was rewarded, at least by the young maid, with a shy smile.

“Should I close the curtains, miss?”

One of the older men cuffed her. “She's called ‘my lady,' you dimwit.”

The girl's face flooded with color. “Oh, miss…my lady, I beg pardon. I'm just the kitchen maid—I've never been called upon to serve a real lady before.”

“Never mind,” Miranda said kindly. “What's your name?”

“Bridget, my lady.”

“Well, Bridget, why don't you help me sort through my clothes while these strong men bring up the rest of the hot water.”

“That's not our job,” the bully began, but then he saw the look on her face and swallowed. “Yes, your ladyship,” he said, and practically bowed out of the room, closing the door behind them.

Bridget laughed. “He's a right brute, is Ferdy. He's Mrs. Humber's cousin, and he thinks he's in charge
around here, when he's only a groom. But he's strong, and she uses him for the heavy work.”

“Then he's perfectly suited for hauling heavy tins of water.”

“Should I close the curtains, my lady? It's an ugly night out there.”

“Very carefully. They're full of dust and I almost choked to death when I opened them.”

Bridget looked horrified. “Oh, miss…er, your ladyship, I'm so sorry! We hadn't much notice you were coming, and Mrs. Humber is that difficult. She doesn't like it when his lordship brings a female up here.”

There was no reason that should feel like a blow, and Miranda weathered it beautifully. “Does she disapprove on moral grounds? Because his lordship and I plan to be married.”

Bridget shook her head, and Miranda could see a nasty bruise on the side of her neck. Probably thanks either to Mrs. Humber or her henchman, Ferdy. “That's not it. I think she fancies him herself.”

“Mrs. Humber?” Miranda echoed, astonished. “She's twice his age, and his housekeeper, as well.”

“No one says that love has to be practical, my lady.”

The thought that the stern, sturdy Mrs. Humber could be in love with Lucien was so bizarre that Miranda left the subject for the one that was more troubling. “So he's brought other ladies up here?” she asked, toying with a loose thread on her bedraggled dress.

“No, miss. Not ladies, exactly. You know how gentlemen are—they like a bit of fun now and then.”

“I doubt Lord Rochdale knows the meaning of fun,” Miranda said dryly. “Well, I suppose I should be happy
to hear he's brought whores up here on occasion. At least the place isn't totally unused to female inhabitants.”

“They haven't stayed long, miss. His lordship tires of things very quickly.”

“Let's hope so,” Miranda said sweetly. With any luck he'd tire of her and the battle long before he'd won. In the end he was the stronger, and for some odd reason she was abominably vulnerable when he touched her. So, she simply had to avoid letting him touch her until he grew weary of the game. It had to happen, sooner or later.

“I beg your pardon, my lady?” Bridget said, carefully pulling the heavy brown velvet curtains without disturbing the dust.

“Just talking to myself.”

Her bath was filled with steaming water within half an hour. Bridget took over the feeding of the fire, and was even bold enough to tell the bully to bring more logs and a tea tray with something solid to eat.

When Miranda slid into the copper tub she moaned with sheer ecstasy. The heat on her stiff muscles was better than any physical sensation she'd ever enjoyed, and the thought of being clean as well, after two days in that wretched gray dress, was dizzying. Bridget did a decent job of washing her long hair, then pulled out a beautiful nightdress and robe from the wardrobe.

Miranda had a normal woman's interest in new clothes, but at that point Father Christmas himself couldn't have raised her attention. She stepped out of the bath and into the large Turkish towel that Bridget held for her, looking at the nightclothes.

“I won't be dining with his lordship?” she inquired.
It couldn't be that late. It was still light when they'd arrived.

“He's gone out, miss, and there's no telling when he'll be back. He told them not to hold supper for him but to send you a tray in your room.”

“You don't suppose he's gone to find the minister?” Miranda said, pulling the lacy wrapper around her. The clothes were gorgeous, elegant, even better than what she was used to. Lucien had expensive tastes.

“I wouldn't know, miss. When he goes out like that he's often gone for days.”

“One can only hope.” She tied the lacy combing jacket around her. It wasn't nearly enough protection against the cold, unfriendly house, but she was loath to climb into that big bed and await her seducer.

Because she strongly doubted he had any intention of waiting for the marriage vows.

And she had no intention of giving in, ever.

But at least the tray they brought her had a sensible amount of food, even if it was bland and overcooked. This household needed some serious sorting out. If she could just get rid of Lucien she could enjoy herself tremendously. She'd always had an affection for decorating things—even her surly brother Charles said she had a real gift. This house was like a huge, dirty, smelly, moth-eaten blank canvas, and if she was going to be trapped here she was going to do her best to have fun.

She dismissed Bridget for the night, propped a chair under the door handle and climbed up into the big bed. The large, shabby chamber was sufficiently warm now, but as she lay back among the pillows she realized she had absolutely nothing to do. Nothing to read, no one to talk to, no piano—did this wretched place even come
with a piano? If so, it was no doubt dreadfully out of tune. How many bedrooms were there? And how many public rooms? There was the dank salon she'd first come to, and Lucien had disappeared to his study. There'd be a large formal dining room, perhaps a morning room, and…

Bloody hell, she wasn't going to lie there, wide-awake, wondering. She slid out of bed and into the slippers Bridget had set out for her, lit her candle with the fire, moved the chair out of the way and began to explore.

It wasn't until she reached the ground floor that she realized she was more vulnerable, wandering around like this. He'd said he wasn't interested, and she was counting on that. If he changed his mind she was going to be in a more precarious position, and she almost headed back. But the house was still and silent, and she was the only one moving around in the darkness. She and the mice.

The pianoforte was in what was likely called the music room. There were plaster images of cherubs playing instruments along the cornices, and a harp stood in the corner as well as the pianoforte. She dusted off the seat and sat down, playing a quick Mozart piece she'd memorized. To her astonishment the instrument was in almost perfect tune. Someone here must play, but she couldn't imagine who.

There were three salons of varying sizes, a breakfast room, an office clearly meant for the estate manager but now covered with dust. There were stuffed heads of moth-eaten stags, and more ancient armaments adorning the walls than they had in the British Museum, one of her favorite haunts. If she ever decided she had to defend
her honor she had more than enough weapons at hand to make efficient work of her fiancé. It was reassuring.

Lucien's study was the only room that looked relatively clean and comfortable, and the servants knew better than to let his fire die down. There was a rich wool throw tossed carelessly over one chair, and Miranda immediately claimed it, wrapping it around her slender shoulders.

She moved on. There was a set of double doors at the end of the room, and she pushed them open, expecting to see a ballroom. Instead she found the largest library she'd ever seen in her life, and for the first time since she'd discovered Lucien's perfidy she was absolutely, perfectly happy. It took no time at all to find a book to her liking, a French novel short on improving aspects and long on entertainment. The room had no fewer than six window seats, each partially enclosed by heavy curtains, and she took the nearest one, setting her candle down on a convenient shelf as she curled up to read, the woolen throw wrapped tightly around her.

 

Lucien de Malheur was in a very ugly mood when he returned to the cold, miserable confines of Pawlfrey House. When he'd imagined imprisoning his unwilling bride here he'd forgotten that he'd have to put up with it himself. Not that he didn't have a certain fondness for the place, and he cherished the isolation.

But winter and early spring were both miserable times to be up there. Snow could trap one quite easily. The rain was so cold it could freeze your very bones, and Pawlfrey House was made for consequence, not comfort.

Not the best place to take a new bride, but then, he
wasn't looking for her comfort. In truth, quite the opposite. He needed to bed her and get it done with, then leave her to molder in the old place while her family went mad with fury.

It was enough to warm his cold, cold heart. It was well past midnight when he returned to the last ancestral home the poor de Malheurs had managed to hold on to, and even Mrs. Humber was in bed. He let himself in, just as glad not to deal with servants, and went upstairs to his new plaything.

She wasn't in her room. He even looked under the bed and in the wardrobe, in case she was hiding, and then felt utterly silly doing so. He could raise a search party, but that would make him feel like a complete fool. If she'd run off in this cold, wintry rain she'd be in trouble, but they might as well wait for morning to go in search of her. If she was hiding somewhere in the house he'd deal with it later.

He let the anger simmer in the pit of his stomach. He'd had mixed feelings about bedding her; he hadn't decided which would be worse, with or without marriage. He wanted a warm house, a warm bed and a warm, willing woman, and he was going to find none of those things at Pawlfrey House.

He headed down to his study for a late night glass of brandy. He sat at his desk, telling himself he was annoyed, not worried, when he noticed the doors to the library were slightly ajar. He rose, going over to them, about to close them, when he noticed the faint light over in one corner.

Aha, he thought. He crossed the large room on silent feet, coming to stand over Lady Miranda Rohan.

She was sound asleep. Her hair was loosely braided,
and he was astonished to see how long it was. It must go down past her hips. How unexpectedly erotic. She had a racy French novel in her lap, but even the remarkable doings of Mme. Lapine weren't enough to keep her awake. She'd wrapped herself up in his best throw, and she looked so peaceful he couldn't bring himself to wake her.