Read Oh My Laird!: A Risqué Regency Romance for Free Online Page A

with the buttons quite quickly. She choked down a shriek at the ancient and cracked chamber pot, tucked out of sight behind a cupboard door. Perhaps it was temper that drove her, or perhaps the pervasive damp mustiness of the air in the room. But whatever it was, she was soon ready to start making a few changes.
    Opening her door, she nearly tripped as the plink-plink of a leak in the roof dripped into fine porcelain.
    “Damn. That’s where the real chamber pot went to.” She looked upward, noting the ever-enlarging rings of stains on the ceiling. Given that she believed this to be at least a three story residence, the fact that the drip had penetrated this far was not encouraging.
    Side-stepping the impromptu rain-collector, she found her way along a dim corridor to the top of the staircase. Everything seemed dull and dark, whether because of the rain or the state of the windows, she wasn’t sure.
    But there was light coming from beneath a door, so she followed that and found herself heading down to the kitchens.
    Here, there was a fire. A small maid was just removing fresh bread from the oven and Amelia’s mouth watered as the fragrance spread throughout the room. She noted a very decent china set on the table, and some nice crystal glasses.
    All the pieces fell together quite rapidly, and when the surprised Treadways entered the room together, laughing at something, she found something upon which to unleash her wrath.
    “Good morning.” Ice dripped from her words.
    Mrs. Treadway did that odd little bob again. “Ma’am.” Mr. Treadway dipped his head.
    “As you probably know, this house is now mine. If you are in any doubt, I can refer you to the legal firm handling the disposition of this particular DeVere property. In my capacity as owner and mistress here, it is correct for you to address me as Lady DeVere.”
    She walked calmly to the table and picked up a plate. “I would like my china back sometime today, and also the crystal. I hesitate to even enquire about some of this house’s other possessions. I can only hope you have not thought about selling them.”
    “ My Lady .” Mrs. Treadway clasped a hand to her bosom. “We ain’t thieves… ”
    “Really?” Amelia lifted her eyebrow just so , and the couple crumpled.
    “Ma’am—my Lady—we lives here. Have done since we was married. Barely enough in wages to live on at the best of times, so when the last Master left us, we did what we had to do an’ kept the house going as best we could.”
    Treadway nodded, agreeing with his wife’s words. “It wasn’t easy, my Lady. We couldn’t keep the fields going, but there’s still chickens and a good vegetable patch. But the house…well, we couldn’t fix what age and weather did to it.”
    She paused. “How long have you been without a master?”
    They glanced at each other. “I’d say going on fifteen years?” Treadway looked at his wife.
    She nodded. “Fifteen years come Michaelmas. Which is comin’ right up too. Yes, fifteen years.”
    Fifteen years ? If Rigsby had been there at that moment, Amelia would have cheerfully slit his throat.
    “Very well. Let us see if we can work out this situation. I have a stipend for household maintenance. I shall speak with you about the house itself later this morning, and also the possibility of acquiring a maid. I can’t possibly manage by myself. In the meantime…” she looked at the table. “I would like breakfast. A decent cup of tea, some of that fresh bread, and whatever else you have that is edible.” She turned toward the stairs. “Treadway, if you would show me something resembling a morning parlor and get a fire started to shake off the chill, I’ll take my breakfast there.”
    She walked away, trusting that Treadway would take the lead. Her instincts didn’t fail her…he was already several respectful steps ahead and ready to hold the door for her.
    For the next few weeks, Amelia left her Society persona in her trunk and became Lady