Lord and Master by Rosemary Stevens Page B

took it out of the room while Daphne spoke soothingly to Mihos.
    The cat began to relax under the gentle massage of Daphne’s fingers, but then suddenly lifted his head and looked expectantly toward the drawing room door.
    “Miss,” Cramble said from the doorway, “Lord Ravenswood.”
    “Grraow,” Mihos cried joyfully.
    Daphne immediately tightened her grip on the cat, fearful he would try to run to the earl and end up on the floor with a reopened wound.
    Attired in a beautifully cut burgundy-colored coat and dove-gray pantaloons, Lord Ravenswood crossed the threshold of the room and stopped at the picture presented by Miss Kendall seated on the sofa next to Mihos.
    Her gown of pale blue muslin with deeper blue dots fell about her gracefully. A pretty long-sleeved spencer in the same shade of blue as the gown’s dots flattered her figure. Her eyes sparkled a welcome, and her dark auburn hair gleamed under a fashionable bonnet of dark blue.
    He bowed to her. “Miss Kendall, you enchant me. Few are the ladies of my acquaintance who do me the honor of being ready to leave upon the designated hour.”
    “Thank you, my lord,” Daphne responded, pleased. “But how tiresome for you that you only know females so sadly lacking in manners.”
    Lord Ravenswood’s dark eyes twinkled in appreciation of this sally. “I daresay you are correct. I hope you may care for roses,” he said, referring to the dewy-blossomed bouquet he held. Often gentlemen gifted their dancing partners from the evening before with floral tributes. For some reason he had taken special pleasure in selecting this offering for Mihos’s lovely caretaker.
    “I do indeed, and yellow roses are my favorite.” Daphne smiled at him, then felt the cat under her hand strain toward his lordship. “No, Mihos, you must stay where you are.”
    To the earl she said, “Mihos spent a restful night and is refreshed enough to have become a difficult patient.”
    Lord Ravenswood removed his gaze from Miss Kendall with a seeming effort. He saw that the cat looked ready to spring from his place, and at that moment the animal stretched a paw out to him.
    The earl placed the flowers on a side table. He closed the few steps between himself and the sofa, and bent to stroke the cat, who purred contentedly. “I am grateful for your efforts on Mihos’s behalf, Miss Kendall. But I must say, we are in a coil now.”
    Daphne raised a questioning eyebrow at him. She felt her pulse quicken at his nearness, and when he turned to look at her, she felt more drawn to him than ever. “What is that, my lord?” she inquired softly.
    Anthony experienced an urge to transfer his hand from the feline to trace a line along Miss Kendall’s jaw. He did no such thing, however, but said in a low voice, “Now that I am here, I wonder how I can leave.”
    As she looked into his dark eyes, Daphne told herself Lord Ravenswood surely meant it was because Mihos would likely cause a commotion at his departure. But perhaps he was implying something else—
    A cough sounded from the direction of the doorway.
    “Yes, James,” Daphne said, feeling an unexplainable wave of frustration at the footman’s presence.
    Lord Ravenswood straightened and moved away.
    “Excuse me, miss,” James said, coloring up at what Daphne knew must appear to be an intimate scene. “I wanted to tell you Hamish wouldn’t hold with having the dogs’ bed in the kitchen. I took it upon myself to move it to the library.”
    Daphne felt her cheeks grow hot. Here was James looking uncomfortable at having interrupted her and the earl. And most embarrassing, for a moment, she had believed Lord Ravenswood was forming a tendre for her. She must have taken leave of her senses.
    She pulled herself out of these ruminations, realizing the footman was waiting for her response. “An excellent scheme, James. Thank you.”
    But her troubles were not over. Miss Shelby could be heard fretting to herself in the hallway. “Oh, dear, and I