When had she become such a self-absorbed bitch?
After Kevin, she’d thought she learned what it felt like to be used. She’d never thought she might be thoughtlessly using people herself.
Lady Chesterfield and Muriel would both be getting a sincere apology tomorrow, she promised inwardly as she sank into the covers.
And Avery would get his return declaration of love as soon as she saw him again.
She smiled as she drifted off to sleep.
i
Her eyes opened only a brief second later. Sunlight streamed through the window, making her soft peach bedroom glow. She stretched luxuriously, relishing the tenderness of her thighs.
“Avery.” She couldn’t help but say his name aloud.
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man she’d found, and she hadn’t had to slay any dragons to do it.
A soft knock on the door drew her into a sitting position.
“Come in.”
Muriel appeared with a tray.
“Good morning, miss. I’ve your chocolate here.”
Leah grinned. “Great. Bring it over.”
Muriel cocked her head curiously as Leah held her hands out for the tray. “You want the tray in bed with you, miss?”
“Hand it here.” Leah set the tray on the foot of the bed and scooted over. “Now here. Sit with me.”
“Oh, miss, I couldn’t.” Muriel shook her head, but an embarrassed smile was beginning to spread across her face. Leah patted the spot next to her.
“Come on, I don’t bite unless you ask.”
Muriel giggled and settled on the edge of the bed next to Leah.
Picking up the cup of chocolate, Leah smiled at the maid. “See? I’m not so scary.” She took a deep whiff of the chocolate in the cup. It smelled like heaven, but she passed it over to the maid anyway.
“Here.”
Alarm crossed Muriel’s face as she took the cup. “But it’s yours, miss. Is it not to your liking? Shall I have the cook make a fresh cup for you?”
Leah grabbed Muriel’s arm to prevent the maid from running to the kitchens and overhauling them to produce the most perfect cup of hot chocolate the world had ever seen. “It’s fine, you goof. But I want you to have it.”
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houseguest. I kept you up way too late last night. You’ve
been so wonderful to me the whole time I’ve been here, and I’ve taken you for granted. And believe me, anyone who can empty chamber pots for a living really deserves much more of my gratitude. So thank you.”
Muriel’s head bob nearly spilled the chocolate gripped in her eager hand. “It was my pleasure, miss.”
“Drink up.” Leah’s flop into the pillows wrenched a giggle from the maid. “We can chat and relax for a few minutes before you go attack whatever dust bunnies and dirt devils are on your list for the day. I can even help if you want.”
“It wouldn’t be proper, miss.” Muriel’s eyes closed in bliss as she took a sip of the hot chocolate.
“You haven’t known me too long, but I promise that I can be improper with the best of them.” Leah winked.
They fell quiet for a moment as Muriel sipped the chocolate. A memory sparked in Leah, about a story Jamie had told her.
“Muriel, wasn’t there someone you were interested in? A footman or something?”
The maid’s cheeks went red. Leah hastened to fill the gap.
“Sorry if the question is rude. I just wondered if the two of you were still together.”
Muriel stared down into the cup. “He became a sailor, miss. He’s in the Royal Navy. I’ve not heard from George for nigh on a year now.”
Leah didn’t know what to say, so she rubbed Muriel’s back. “I’m sorry.”
Muriel drained the rest of the chocolate. “Never mind that, miss. When he returns, we’ll wed. I’m sure of it.”
Leah nodded and smiled. “That’s the spirit.”
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i
Leah didn’t get the chance to make good on her offer of housecleaning assistance, because Lady Chesterfield called for her only half an hour later. Muriel helped her dress, and Leah descended the stairs feeling a little more at peace with the world.
Only one more apology to go through, then she’d start focusing on the future. Rounding the bottom of the staircase, she laughed to herself. How would Avery take to life in the twenty-first century? The thought of him on a motorcycle was definitely appealing. As was the thought of him in full armor as he jousted at the Renaissance Faire. For that matter, she couldn’t think of a situation that he wouldn’t be sexier than Magic Mike to her.