A Little Mischief Read Online Free Page A

house, and as soon as they stepped inside, Isabella told Mrs. Dawson to take the rest of the afternoon off and to dismiss the servants as well as Isabella’s maid. The housekeeper was surprised but pleased to do this because it gave her an opportunity to visit her ailing sister. Isabella met Auntie Pith as she was walking into the foyer.
    “Oh, I see you found Gretchen.” Auntie Pith glared at the young lady. “Dear girl, you shouldn’t wander off that way. We’ve been searching the house for you. Why, you’re pale as a ghost. And you’re shivering. Are you unwell?”
    “Yes, Auntie Pith, she is feeling poorly. I think I should see her safely home. If you don’t mind, I need you to run an errand for me.”
    Auntie Pith questioned Isabella with her eyes. “What’s that, dear?”
    “I told Mrs. Hollyfield I’d collect the new gown she made for me today, and I forgot about it until just now. Would you take the coach and get it for me? I fear I won’t have the time.”
    Her aunt hesitated. “Well, I’m not sure. I hadn’t planned on going out this afternoon with it being so cold and so late in the day.”
    Using a ploy she’d learned from her aunt, Isabella walked over to the stand where Auntie Pith’s cloak hung and took it down.
    “Oh, I know, and I’m sorry to ask it of you on such a dreadful day, but I do so want to wear the gown to the parties tonight.” She draped the cloak over her aunt’s shoulders and began tying its ribbons into a bow under her chin.
    “Mrs. Hollyfield is on the other side of Town, dear. It will take me the rest of the afternoon to get over there and back.”
    Isabella let go of the ribbons and stood back. She clasped her hands together under her chin. “Of course, you are right. It is too much trouble. I shouldn’t have asked.” She started to remove the cloak from her aunt’s shoulders.
    Auntie Pith touched Isabella’s hand and hesitated again. Suddenly she smiled. “I suppose if you have your heart set on the gown, I can go and get it for you.”
    “Thank you, Auntie Pith. You are such a dear to do this for me.”
    Isabella smiled at her aunt while taking a deep breath of relief. She disliked deceiving her only remaining relative, but what else could she do? The fewer people who knew about Mr. Throckmorten, the better. “Now, while Susan gets your bonnet and gloves, I’ll summon Milton to bring the carriage around for you. It won’t take that long, and you’ll be home before you know it.”
    Isabella waited until her aunt was gone before she and Gretchen climbed into the Colebrooke coach. The earl’s town house wasn’t far away, but in the chilling silence it seemed to take forever for them to arrive.
    The house was the largest and most impressive on its exclusive street in Mayfair. An elaborate iron arch framed the entrance. Isabella was not accustomed to succumbing to fits of the vapors, but that was exactly how she felt as she walked with Lady Gretchen and her maid up the limestone steps to the door of the earl’s London town home. After all, it wasn’t everyday she told an earl that his sister had struck a man and killed him.
    Apparently Lord Colebrooke had just returned to London after more than a year’s absence. Some of the gossip she’d heard about him characterized him as a dashing rogue who set out to break as many young ladies’ hearts as possible. Others considered him devilishly handsome and charming, and put him at the top of their guest lists.
    Everyone in the ton had been disappointed he hadn’t stayed for any of last Season’s parties. And that he hadn’t returned for the first parties of this Season was an outrage. Isabella would find out for herself, in a matter of moments, what kind of man the earl of Colebrooke was.
    From Gretchen she knew that their father and older brother had been killed two years ago in a carriage accident. Upon inheriting the title, Daniel had to prepare himself to take on the duties of being an earl and the first