My Lady Mischief Read Online Free PDF Page A

through the hall and up the stairwell. Just as she reached the landing, he clasped her arm and she whirled about, startled. One of the peacock plumes was dislodged by the sudden motion and it leaned forward over her head, like a fan held over a pharaoh.
    Ignoring the feather, she glared at him and asked haughtily, "Did you require something, your lordship?"
    His jaw tightened. Her arrogant attitude began to grate. Without pausing to consider, he blurted out, "Are you under Lord Steyne's protection?"
    She peered at him uncertainly then drew herself up. "At this moment, I fear I need someone to protect me from Lord Steyne!"
    His gaze fell to her exposed decolletage. She cleared her throat and he realized he'd been staring far too long. Gadzooks, he was behaving like a cawker. Hadn't he seen many women far more scantily clad? Why should she hold such fascination?
    He led her abruptly into a small alcove off the landing. "Are you happy in your situation here?"
    She looked at him in surprise, opening and shutting her mouth without uttering a sound.
    He removed his hand from her arm and brought it to encircle her slim waist. She was the most distracting creature he'd come across in years. Hopefully he'd soon make a propitious arrangement with her. Although he felt a little guilt over the idea of stealing his host's lady bird out from under his nose, Hart simply couldn't resist the appeal of her charm. And she did appear to be unhappy.
    He gently massaged her ribcage and he heard her breath quicken. Reassured by her response, he asked, "Would you consider a change? A change in situation?"
    Recalling the earl's words, Hart tilted his head toward the drawing room. "You would not need to use ploys with me. I would take very good care of you."
    His Botticelli beauty's face infused with color and she jerked from his embrace. "You and my father would like that, wouldn't you?"
    "Your father?" Just what did her father have to do with it, unless he arranged his daughter's liaisons? The poor thing must have had a rough time of it. He resolved to make it up to her, to provide her with every luxury that his income could provide.
    He was brought back to the moment when she jabbed him in the chest with her forefinger.
    "And you, you oaf," she said through clenched teeth. "You neither know nor care about me in the least. Why should you? You men are all alike." She jabbed him again.
    "We women are merely chattel, to be traded or bartered as men deem fit. Well, I won't have it, and you won't have me! I cannot bel—"
    Hartingfield cut her off by clamping his lips upon hers, effectively silencing the vixen's tirade and halting the bruising of his chest in one swift move. At first, she held herself rigidly, but that was not difficult for a man of his experience to overcome. He softened his kiss and she yielded to his entreaty. After a moment of great satisfaction, he relaxed his hold upon her. "I am offering you carte blanche."
    Again she yanked away from him, her eyes lit like an inferno as two more plumes flew out of place, lodging above each shoulder. Another plume dropped to the ground. "When pigs fly, my lord!"
    At the same instant, each bent to retrieve the feather, resulting in a great knocking of heads.
    Thea stood back up and waited, hand outstretched for Hart to deliver the plume. After he handed her the feather, she left the alcove and marched down the passageway, the two plumes prancing behind her with military precision at each step she took.
    "Please stay," coaxed Hart with a laugh in his voice. She did not stop. He didn't follow her, his amused gaze fastening to the trail of glitter drifting in her wake.
    It had been rather surprising when she hadn't jumped at his offer. Possibly she didn't fully understand the ramifications? After all, he'd neglected to sweeten the pot by offering to take her to London to the townhouse that would be her own.
    She didn't behave like any servant or woman he'd ever known, and that was part of her