My Lady Mischief by Kathy Carmichael Page A

of farmers, and found her suspicions justified.
    The keeper of her papa's piggery stood nearby, in close conversation with Squire Fossbinder. It was certainly suspicious. Hadn't Papa accused the squire of stealing one of his pigs?
    Prompt action was called for, unless she was willing to sacrifice Uncle Egbert. It was one thing to leave him home at Steyne. But leaving him in the hands of a butcher was another. It was likely that he would be sold to some uncaring farmer who would fatten him up and then, most dire of all calamities, devour him.
    She had asked her father to take especial care of him and he had sworn he would. Egbert was definitely here without his knowledge. She would soon resolve matters to her own liking.
    Checking to see that no one noticed, she took the few steps necessary to reach Uncle Egbert's pen. Then she boldly reached down and grabbed him. Clutching the darling to her chest, she began to run. Jones hadn't noticed her actions, too engrossed in the attentions of her Robert. However, someone did, and that someone warned the pigkeeper.
    Shouts of "Pignapper!" and "Thief!" were raised, and Thea increased her pace. She faced an almost solid mass of bodies. She shifted Egbert's weight, which was much heavier than she'd expected.
    Slowing her pace slightly, she chanced a look to her rear, but couldn't tell if anyone was in pursuit.
    Thea dodged around a large woman wearing a sickly pale green dress, then picked up her pace once more to circle a family group in her path. Intent on searching ahead to catch sight of her groom, she stumbled over a parcel abandoned in the pathway. Thea successfully fought to regain her balance but a stitch in her side made it painful to breathe. She increased her pace before looking ahead, but her forward motion was immediately checked. Her head shot up to discover what blocked her progress. There before her stood an astounded Lord Hartingfield holding her upright.
    He glanced at Thea and her burden, and his lips turned into a frown as he looked more closely at Egbert. Surmising that she'd taken the pig without payingfor him, he swung the wayward girl into his arms and strode to his phaeton. Effortlessly tossing both pig and girl up into the seat, he tossed a coin to the boy who held his horses and took the reins. Snapping his grays into quick motion, Hart hightailed it out of the area. After putting several miles between themselves and the fair, he halted his high-steppers at the side of the road.
    "Thea, I hope I am not abetting a thief. Your explanation, please?"
    "It wasn't my fault, Hart. Truly it wasn't." She smoothed back her hair, which had been greatly disordered by her flight. "It's Egbert, you see."
    Now he was back to the course on which she usually led him—total confusion. Just who was Egbert and what had he to do with her? "Egbert being?"
    Thea lifted up the pig. "I'm sorry. I had forgotten that you hadn't met. Lord Hartingfield, may I present Uncle Egbert? Egbert, this is our savior, Lord Hartingfield." The pig snorted in greeting.
    Hart's lips quivered in suppressed laughter. He had been jealous of a pig, of all things ludicrous.
    "Well, you don't have to laugh at him, my lord," commented Thea, apparently up in the boughs, for fear he might hurt a pig's feelings.
    "Ah, Thea sweet, I wasn't laughing at the...at Egbert, but at the situation. Now tell me, how long have you two been acquainted?"
    "He's been my favorite since his birth. Papa wouldn't let me take him for a pet, although he did promise to take particular care of him while I was gone. I'm certain Egbert's here without my father's knowledge."
    Thea clutched Egbert to her bosom, squeezing the piglet too tightly. The pig grunted his displeasure. "What I do know is that Squire Fossbinder was at the fair, in close conversation with Papa's pigkeeper. For sometime, Papa has been accusing the squire of pignappery and now it looks as though it is true! I had no choice but to take Uncle Egbert. Otherwise, he might