The Adventuress: HFTS5 Read Online Free Page A

rooms. We shall take the bedrooms on the second floor in case the large one on the first needs to be turned into a saloon. Light the fire here and light the fires everywhere else. Jump to it. And serve tea
immediately!”
    Rainbird skipped out while Emily glared furiously after him.
    “My dear,” quavered Mr. Goodenough, “such studied insolence does, I fear, betoken that they have guessed our humble origins.”
    “Stuff!” said Emily roundly.
    They waited impatiently as oh-so-slowly Joseph lounged in and made up the fire, placing lumps of coal delicately in the hearth with the tongs, one piece at a time.
    Rainbird came in with the tea-tray and set it down on a console table with a loud crash that made the silver clatter against the china.
    But Emily brightened. For the array of cakes looked absolutely delicious. Her stomach gave an unmaidenly rumble.
    Rainbird began to skip off.
    “Stop!” cried Emily. “Cannot you leave a room in a civilised manner?”
    Rainbird turned hurt eyes on her. “You told me to jump to it, ma’am,” he said plaintively, “so I am jumping.”
    “When I have finished tea,” said Emily evenly, “I want you and the rest of the staff to assemble here. Such impertinence must cease immediately.”
    “Impertinence?” demanded Rainbird, folding his arms and leaning against the door jamb. “I—”
    He broke off as a resounding volley of knocks sounded on the street door.
    He sprang to answer it.
    The Earl of Fleetwood stood on the doorstep.
    “I am come for another look at this place,” he said, strolling in past Rainbird.
    “The house is taken,” cried Rainbird, but Lord Fleetwood had already entered the front parlour.
    He stopped short before the vision that was Emily.
    Emily looked at him, her eyes wandering from his handsome, clever face to his elegant dress, the large jewel sparkling in his cravat, and then down to those boots which had caused even Beau Brummell to turn green with envy.
    “My apologies, ma’am,” said the earl. “Am I to understand the house is let?”
    “Yes,” said Emily breathlessly. “To me.”
    “Me being?”
    “Introduce yourself first,” snapped Emily, who was quite overset by the insolence of the servants.
    He raised thin brows and looked at her haughtily. “My name is Fleetwood.”
    “Earl of,” prompted Mr. Goodenough
sotto voce
.
    “Well, Lord Fleetwood, I am Miss Emily Goodenough, and this is my uncle, Mr. Benjamin Goodenough.”
    “Your servant, Miss Goodenough. When did you decide to take the house?”
    “Today, my lord.”
    “And you are satisfied with it?”
    “Not quite,” said Emily with a baleful look at Rainbird, who was staring at the cakes in a most peculiar way. “I find the staff lacking in respect. Pray be seated, my lord.”
    Lord Fleetwood sat down. “I confess I do not like the servant class, Miss Goodenough,” he said. “I find them all prone to gossip and insolence.”
    Rainbird picked up the plate of cakes and headed for the door.
    “Put those cakes back down immediately,” said Emily crossly. “And go away, Rainbird. I shall speak to you later.”
    Rainbird slowly put the cakes back on the tray as Emily drew a chair up to the table and asked Lord Fleetwood if he took sugar and milk.
    The butler ran downstairs to the kitchen. “Angus,” he wailed, “that Lord Fleetwood has called and she is about to offer him those cakes. What did you put in them?”
    “Enough curry powder to blow his head off,” said the cook.
    “We must stop him eating them,” screamed Mrs. Middleton.
    “Why?” demanded the cook laconically. “I don’t like him either.”
    “Fleetwood is a leader of the ton, you lummox!” howled Rainbird. “This house is damned as unlucky, and now added to that will be the tale that the servants try to poison their masters. I must think of something.”
    Upstairs, Emily held out the plate of cakes to the earl. “Thank you, Miss Goodenough,” he said, “but they look so delicious, I feel you