title: The Mistress of Clifftop Manor
author:  Lindsay Hall 
description: Lindsay Hall was born in Ohio and has lived in Switzerland, New York City, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, Boston, and Long Island. Her "checkered career" includes stints as a New York City public school teacher, a cigarette girl at the Copacabana, a textbook editor, and a deputy to the Governor of New York. A history major in college, she continues to pursue a love of history and politics, which often provide background to her novels. Ms. Hall and her husband currently live in Virginia.
zlib_text: ![cover](images/cover.png)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **Chapter 6**
  
  
  ![flourish](images/flourish.png)
  
  
  
  
  
  Leander decided it was definitely time to buy Judith a ring, and bury her
  first husband's jewels in the bottom of her jewel box. He was disconcerted by
  just how strongly he felt on the subject. He was disconcerted by a great deal
  these days. He was achieving a practical marriage based on honesty and
  respect, so why was he constantly on edge?
  
  
  The matter of the rings, however, was a simple one to correct. He borrowed
  Lucien's curricle, and drove down to the cottage. He was accustomed by now to
  just walking in, using the back door as everyone seemed to, and so he entered
  the kitchen unannounced—to find his future countess, damn her, stretching
  precariously on a stool to clean a high shelf.
  
  
  He grasped her by the waist, and swung her to the floor.
  
  
  She gave a squeal of alarm, and then collapsed against his chest. "Leander!
  You frightened me to death!"
  
  
  "So I should. I thought I hired a couple t