Read Online Lord and Master by Rosemary Stevens - Free Book Online

glanced over at Mihos. “The cat does not want to be left alone, master.”
    “Good God, you hardly think I am going to be swayed by a cat’s feelings, do you?” Anthony asked, making a final adjustment to his cravat. “Besides, he will not be alone in a house full of servants. You know as well as I, he has only to walk into the kitchen, and Mrs. Ware has a treat ready for him.”
    “She is a good woman,” Eugene acknowledged. “But Mihos wishes your companionship. It is a shame you must go to this dinner at the Blenkinsops’ before Almack’s.”
    Anthony looked at the manservant incredulously. “Eugene, you go too far. It has been obvious all evening that you have tried to delay my going to the Blenkinsops’. Indeed, I must hurry now, or I shall be late.”
    Eugene silently handed him his hat and stick.
    Lord Ravenswood took the articles impatiently. “You do not have to accompany me, you know, if that is what is bothering you. Following me around while we were in Egypt was one thing, but here in England I am quite safe.”
    Eugene heaved a sigh. “I go where you go, master.” Under his breath he added, “Even if it is to the nest of a drab little mouse.”
    The manservant only received a black look for a reply before Lord Ravenswood walked quickly from the room.
    Descending the steps that led to the hall, the earl nearly tripped when Mihos raced in front of him. “Devil take that cat! Is he trying to cause me to fall and break my neck?”
    The feline in question had reached the bottom of the stairs and was standing guard at the front door. Lord Ravenswood’s butler, Pomfret, tried to dislodge the cat with the toe of his shoe, but received a scratch from a sharp claw that penetrated his white stockings for his trouble.
    Seeing the red line on his butler’s leg, the earl’s temper snapped. “Now what have you done, you feline fiend! Pomfret, go belowstairs and tend your leg.”
    “Thank you, my lord,” the butler replied, and motioned the second footman to take his place. The young man stepped carefully around the cat and prepared to open the door at any cost when his lordship indicated he was ready to leave.
    “Eugene, take Mihos to the kitchen and tell Mrs. Ware she must find a way to keep him there,” the earl ordered.
    “Grraow!” Mihos protested loudly.
    His lordship’s jaw twitched.
    Eugene bent and lifted the cat into his arms. “Of course, it shall be as you wish, master, but Mihos will be most unhappy and so will Mrs. Ware. Although she likes Mihos, when she tries to contain him in the kitchen, he finds ways of getting into things and making a nuisance of himself,” Eugene warned. “Hard as it is to believe of such a good-natured animal.”
    From the cradle of Eugene’s arms, Mihos stretched a paw out toward Lord Ravenswood’s chin. He added a pitiful shadow of his usual “Grraow” for effect.
    The earl shook his head in defeat. “Oh, very well. Put the animal down and let us take our leave.”
    Eugene placed Mihos on the floor and stroked his back soothingly. “Do not worry, little tiger, I shall take care of everything.”
    A stubborn expression remained on the cat’s face despite this reassurance.
    His lordship drew on his gloves and nodded to the second footman, who promptly swung open the heavy door.
    Lord Ravenswood exited the house and walked down the stone steps to where another footman stood, holding open the door to his closed carriage.
    Eugene followed him, and after the two entered the vehicle, the footman slammed the door shut and called to the driver to be off.
    Inside the town house the second footman was closing the front door. At the last minute Mihos darted past him and ran down the steps toward the earl’s coach.
    Lord Ravenswood chanced to look out of the window and saw the cat coming. But it was too late. At the very moment he banged his stick on the roof and shouted for the driver to stop, the cat flung himself at the coach.
    A loud thud, followed by a