Read Online Rhonda Woodward by Moonlightand Mischief - Free Book Online
Authors: Moonlightand Mischief
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in from the west. Rain streaked down the windowpanes, and the nearest clouds intermittently glowed with flashes of lightning. The sound of rumbling thunder grew nearer by the minute.
Mariah knew that mere rain would not discourage the gentlemen from hunting, but she wondered if the lightning would prove too dangerous for them to venture outdoors.
She felt bad for Steven, for she knew how much he had wanted to join the grouse shoot.
After another nearby rumble of thunder, Mariah swung her legs off the window seat and set her cup and saucer on the tray the maid had placed at the foot of her bed.
Her thoughts, for the countless time, returned to the earl. She did not know what disturbed her more— stumbling upon him kissing Lady Walgrave, for never before had she seen passion so boldly displayed, or her unexpected conversation with him afterward.
Despite her initial shock, she realized that she had felt a certain daring thrill at their frank discussion. As close as she and Steven were, she could never imagine openly discussing the ways of men and women with him.
She had fully expected the earl to dismiss her, and now she felt ashamed that she had been flattered that he had not.
As her deeply ingrained sense of propriety pricked her conscience again, she admitted to herself that she should have done the proper thing and returned to the house as quickly as possible. Mama would have apoplexy if she knew what had happened, but Mariah did not intend to enlighten her.
It did surprise her that the earl had taken her direct speech so well. Shaking her head, she had to admit that her stay at Heaton had begun in a completely different manner than she had expected.
Having finished her breakfast of hothouse fruit and toast, Mariah decided to have a bath before starting her day.
Standing, she pulled her robe close against the morning chill. Just then she heard a tap at the ornately carved door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Harris, her maid, entered the room.
“Good morning, miss. I thought you might like a nice hot bath on this dreary morn. There’s a tub ready for you in the chamber beyond.” She gestured toward the door on the other side of the room.
Mariah smiled at the older woman. “Thank you, Harris. Sometimes I suspect that you are clairvoyant, for I was just wishing for a bath.”
“My grandmother was fey, miss, so I might have a touch of the second sight.”
“No doubt,” Mariah said with a laugh.
As she passed the window, she saw that the clouds had grown blacker and lower across the expanse of rolling countryside.
“It is too bad about the filthy weather. I dearly wanted to continue my exploration of the grounds. I am itching to sketch one of the views,” she said, conceding to herself that the exercise would have the added benefit of keeping her out of the house and away from the other guests.
“My bones tell me we are in for bad weather for a few days, at least,” Harris said, moving the tray to tidy the bed.
“Your bones are never wrong, Harris. Please rest your legs as much as possible,” Mariah said as she crossed the room.
“I’m not in my dotage, Miss Mariah, and if I’m too idle, I stiffen. But thank you.”
Mariah smiled at the woman’s stubborn tone. Harris had been her maid for almost ten years, and Mariah had learned early on that the good woman had a very wide obstinate streak and took great pride in her position in the Thorncroft household.
Closing the door behind her, Mariah thought the room appeared even smaller with the enormous copper bathtub taking up so much space.
After removing her robe and nightgown, Mariah gingerly dipped a toe into the tub. Though hot, the water felt deliciously inviting. Stepping in, Mariah lowered herself, shivering slightly as the steaming water warmed her faintly chilled skin.
To her delight, the bathtub was so large she could recline fully. Leaning her head back to rest against the tub, she closed her eyes for a moment and savored the
Mariah knew that mere rain would not discourage the gentlemen from hunting, but she wondered if the lightning would prove too dangerous for them to venture outdoors.
She felt bad for Steven, for she knew how much he had wanted to join the grouse shoot.
After another nearby rumble of thunder, Mariah swung her legs off the window seat and set her cup and saucer on the tray the maid had placed at the foot of her bed.
Her thoughts, for the countless time, returned to the earl. She did not know what disturbed her more— stumbling upon him kissing Lady Walgrave, for never before had she seen passion so boldly displayed, or her unexpected conversation with him afterward.
Despite her initial shock, she realized that she had felt a certain daring thrill at their frank discussion. As close as she and Steven were, she could never imagine openly discussing the ways of men and women with him.
She had fully expected the earl to dismiss her, and now she felt ashamed that she had been flattered that he had not.
As her deeply ingrained sense of propriety pricked her conscience again, she admitted to herself that she should have done the proper thing and returned to the house as quickly as possible. Mama would have apoplexy if she knew what had happened, but Mariah did not intend to enlighten her.
It did surprise her that the earl had taken her direct speech so well. Shaking her head, she had to admit that her stay at Heaton had begun in a completely different manner than she had expected.
Having finished her breakfast of hothouse fruit and toast, Mariah decided to have a bath before starting her day.
Standing, she pulled her robe close against the morning chill. Just then she heard a tap at the ornately carved door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Harris, her maid, entered the room.
“Good morning, miss. I thought you might like a nice hot bath on this dreary morn. There’s a tub ready for you in the chamber beyond.” She gestured toward the door on the other side of the room.
Mariah smiled at the older woman. “Thank you, Harris. Sometimes I suspect that you are clairvoyant, for I was just wishing for a bath.”
“My grandmother was fey, miss, so I might have a touch of the second sight.”
“No doubt,” Mariah said with a laugh.
As she passed the window, she saw that the clouds had grown blacker and lower across the expanse of rolling countryside.
“It is too bad about the filthy weather. I dearly wanted to continue my exploration of the grounds. I am itching to sketch one of the views,” she said, conceding to herself that the exercise would have the added benefit of keeping her out of the house and away from the other guests.
“My bones tell me we are in for bad weather for a few days, at least,” Harris said, moving the tray to tidy the bed.
“Your bones are never wrong, Harris. Please rest your legs as much as possible,” Mariah said as she crossed the room.
“I’m not in my dotage, Miss Mariah, and if I’m too idle, I stiffen. But thank you.”
Mariah smiled at the woman’s stubborn tone. Harris had been her maid for almost ten years, and Mariah had learned early on that the good woman had a very wide obstinate streak and took great pride in her position in the Thorncroft household.
Closing the door behind her, Mariah thought the room appeared even smaller with the enormous copper bathtub taking up so much space.
After removing her robe and nightgown, Mariah gingerly dipped a toe into the tub. Though hot, the water felt deliciously inviting. Stepping in, Mariah lowered herself, shivering slightly as the steaming water warmed her faintly chilled skin.
To her delight, the bathtub was so large she could recline fully. Leaning her head back to rest against the tub, she closed her eyes for a moment and savored the
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