My Lady Mischief by Kathy Carmichael Page B

have been sold."
    "But what will you do with him?"
    "Do you think Aunt Prunella..." Thea stopped speaking when she saw the negative shake of Hart's head. "No, I suppose not. A London townhouse isn't the healthiest place for livestock. Perhaps I might hire a carriage to convey him back to Papa?" Again, Hart shook his head. "Well, my lord, what do you suggest?"
    It was his own fault. Having saved her, it now fell on his shoulders to play hero to a pig. He addressed the animal, "How would you like to come live in my mews until such time that we may arrange proper transit back to Steyne, Egbert?"
    Egbert appeared to acquiesce, as did Thea. "I knew I could depend on you, Hart!" Thea grinned at him. "But you didn't say what brought you here, so luckily close to hand."
    "Luck had nothing to do with it," Hart growled. "Mack and I met up with Miss Rawlings at Hatchard's this morning. To my great surprise, she mentioned your scheme to attend the fair today." He rubbed at his forehead as if trying to erase its worry lines."You do know how dangerous it was, don't you? I deserted Mack, jumped into my phaeton, and rode hide to leather. And it was a good thing, too. Why didn't you accost your pigkeeper and demand he hand the pig over?"
    "I didn't think of that, my lord," she uttered in a low voice.
    "Oh no, you don't. It's Hart. And if you ever forget it again or do anything so featherheaded, I'll...I'll be tempted to throttle you!"
    She trained wide eyes on him. Far too innocent eyes. Falsely innocent. "Why, your face has turned red and the veins are sticking out in your neck, Hart. You must calm down. If I promise to be more careful in future, will you forgive me?" She curled an arm around his, and began to flutter her long lashes at him.
    She was handling him again! Blast the chit, he just couldn't stay angry with her. "For a price."
    "Price?" Thea's voice squeaked on the word.
    He turned and embraced both girl and pig. He then delivered her a most justified set-down in the form of a lingering kiss.
    When at last he broke away, Thea couldn't help but sigh. Hart said, "You're forgiven."
    *
    The next week seemed like a hurried blur to Thea. Her court presentation had been a tremendous success. At the crowded Drawing Room, the Queen had gone so far as to reach out a hand and acknowledge her by saying, "Lovely. So like your mother. Her presence is dearly missed."  
    Savoring the success, the household was busy making preparations for the comeout ball for the two young women. While morning mists clung to the air, Thea and Emma were in the midst of their final ballgown fittings at Madame Brandt's popular establishment.
    Emma, a model of decorum, remained perfectly still for the dressmaker to place the last pin. Thea, however, squirmed and fidgeted.
    Madame Brandt scurried to her side. "Chérie, you must remain in place. Oui. Let me perform this one little adjustement" Her black mop of curls disappeared among the folds of Thea's gown.
    Standing motionless, in fear of puncture or worse, Thea asked her friend, "Do we have Sir Oswald on our list, Emma?"
    "I believe so. Isn't he the one who has an addiction to high-stakes gaming?"
    "Oh, dear. That's right. Well, there's always Lord Phillingim to fall back on. If only his corset didn't creak."
    "You still have many other potential suitors, Thea."
    Thea turned her head to address Lady Prunella and received a pinprick for her efforts. A muffled voice called out, "Sacre bleu! Hold still, petite, I am almost complete!"
    Again taking the pose of a statue, she asked, "Aunt? Don't you have a nephew?" She recalled her aunt's late husband had an heir in the form of his brother's son.
    "Yes..."
    "Do you think he might do for me?"
    "If you favor silly young puppies, certainly. Just now, he has taken up Byron and does his best to stand around appearing melancholy. I have no doubt that with one look at you in the seafoam you are wearing, he'll decide to throw caution to the winds and immediately declare his