It Takes a Scandal Read Online Free Page B

a week later, baggage in tow, there was a surprise waiting in her new dressing room. Abigail and Penelope came running when they heard their mother cry out, but when they burst into the room, they saw it had been an exclamation of delight. Mrs. Weston held a wriggling ball of black and brown fur up to her cheek. From the tiny pink tongue flicking frantically toward her face, the girls deduced how their father had schemed to win her over.
    “Isn’t he darling?” cried their mother, holding up the puppy. He was a tiny thing, easily held in one hand. Penelope gasped in excitement and ran forward to see.
    “A country lady needs a dog,” said Papa from the other side of the room. He stood in the doorway to the adjoining bedchamber looking very pleased with himself.
    “Oh, Thomas, you shouldn’t have,” replied his wife, her beaming smile negating her words. “What a darling little creature!”
    “I hope the sight of him gamboling about the lawn makes you more fond of Hart House.” Papa winked.
    “You’re a shocking manipulator, Thomas Weston.” Mama let the puppy lick her face once more before handing him to Penelope, who cooed over the animal as much as her mother had done. “But for once I wholeheartedly thank you.” She crossed the room and kissed his cheek.
    “For once!” Papa threw up his hands in mock exasperation. “If I’d known a little vermin catcher would steal your heart, I’d have got one years ago.”
    “Vermin catcher! No,” protested his wife, hurrying back to stroke her pet’s ears.
    “He’s too adorable for that,” added Penelope, laughing as the dog nipped at the ribbon on her dress.
    Papa just shook his head. “What shall you call him, my dear?”
    Mama gazed lovingly at her new baby. “Milo.”
    Milo quickly became the center of life in Hart House, for better and for worse. Mrs. Weston took him with her everywhere, but he was as wily as an otter and needed only a moment to escape her sight and vanish into some dark cupboard or closet. More than once a day, a cry would go up to find Milo. After the first frantic search, Mr. Weston declared it was a dog’s duty to find his own way home and he refused to lift a finger to hunt for him. James seemed to develop sudden hearing difficulties whenever Milo was mentioned at all. Penelope doted on Milo almost as much as their mother did, but somehow she was never around when Milo went missing and had to be found. Abigail, as usual, was caught in the middle, reluctantly drawn into every search by her mother’s pleas. The puppy was a sweet little dog, but he was also a great deal of trouble, in her opinion.
    That trouble came to a head the night of the ball. Papa had planned it for a week after their arrival, which was a shockingly short time to pull together such an event. Mama managed it, as she always did, but at great expense to household peace and harmony. And sure enough, in the confusion, Milo disappeared.
    “Where’s he gone?” fretted Mrs. Weston, meeting her elder daughter in the front hall, now decorated with all manner of greenery and silk ribbons. “I told Marie to lock him in my room but she let him get out. Have you seen him, Abigail?”
    “Not since this afternoon.”
    “Oh dear.” Mama put one hand to her lips. “I hope he hasn’t got outside. He’s so small, he could be crushed by the horses or the carriage wheels.”
    “I’ll go have a look,” Abigail offered. “I’m already dressed, and you have other things to see to.” Like getting Penelope out of her sulks; Abigail wanted no part of that. She’d had quite enough of her sister’s bad humor since they arrived in Richmond, and for some reason Penelope was in an especially cross mood today.
    “Thank you, dear.” Mama pressed her hand gratefully. “Don’t go far, though. If he’s not to be found near the house, I’ll get James to go after him, since he refuses to attend the ball,” she finished darkly. “What I ever did to deserve these men in my