Lady Incognita by Nina Coombs Pykare Read Free Book Online

miss. A lucky day it was when we chose that name. They say the ton is all agog trying to figure out who she is.”
    “They ... they won’t, will they?” Louisa asked anxiously.
    “Indeed not,” replied Mr. Grimstead. “Nobody knows what I don’t want known.”
    “I said,” repeated his lordship, bringing Louisa back to the present. “You still have not told me why such heroes are detrimental to the minds of young maidens.”
    In spite of herself Louisa answered. “Because they begin to wish for such a man.”
    “And?” urged Atherton, a strange gleam in his eye.
    “And they do not exist,” whispered Louisa, wishing that his lordship were well on his way home.
    “I must admit,” said his lordship dryly and in a drawling way that she supposed was the style affected by the beaux, “I must admit that it does seem a trifle unfair to blond men and short men and ugly men. But on the other hand, for us tall, dark ones...”
    His words hung in the air and his eyes seemed to hold the suggestion of an invitation.
    It was only as the color flooded her cheeks that Louisa caught the merriment in the heavily lidded eyes and realized that he was teasing her.
    “Precisely so, milord,” she replied pertly. “It makes the tall, dark ones so insufferably puffed up.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth she was horrified at her temerity, but Atherton burst into hearty laughter.
    “A hit, a palpable hit,” he cried. “It’s a shame you’ve not come out. You’d take admirably the way you can give a beau a set-down.”
    Louisa found this compliment even more flustering than that strange look in his eyes, but fortunately she was spared from replying by the arrival of Betsy and Harry, dragging a timid little old woman between them.
    “There he is, Winky,” declared Betsy. “A real live Viscount. Aren’t you, sir?”
    To this his lordship gave a pleasant nod.
    “Winky wouldn’t believe us,” explained Harry. “She said it’s only in romances that you meet a lord in a deserted abbey.”
      Louisa perceived the quick glance of merriment that his lordship shot her way, but except for her slightly heightened color, she ignored it.
    “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Winky, if I may call you so,” said his lordship.
    “Oh, to be sure you may, milord,” replied an awestruck Winky. “I didn’t mean harm, milord, truly I didn’t. And it’s plain as the nose on my face, sir, that you are a lord, sir. It’s just that the children, milord, sometimes they tell me tales. And well, sir ... it is a bit unusual.”
    “Of course it is,” said his lordship kindly.
    Winky, her face bearing an expression of amazement, backed herself out of the room, leaving the Viscount, thought Louisa, to the tender mercies of the children. But before they could descend on him, Aunt Caroline appeared in the doorway, in her arms a squirming, bundle.
    “Ah,” said she. “There he is.” And without another word she crossed the room and deposited the squirming bundle on his lordship’s impeccably cream kerseymere breeches. “You take your pick now, milord,” she said. “It’s the least we can do after all your kindness.”
      Louisa, choking on a hysterical giggle, realized that Aunt Caroline truly meant her words. She thought that giving Atherton the pick of Ginger’s litter was an honor.
    The bundle being thrown open, six active kittens began to crawl about, sticking their claws in his lordship’s breeches, climbing his waistcoat, and generally attacking his person.
    “Really Aunt,” began Louisa, but his lordship cut her off.
    “They are admirable, madam, an admirable brood,” said he, pulling one back to safety just as it was about to tumble headlong to the floor. “But I believe they are presently a little young to leave their mother. I shall take mine when they have attained enough growth.”
    “Indeed, I suspect you are right,” agreed Aunt Caroline happily. “Several more weeks with their mother will