The Marriage Bargain by Michelle McMaster

hair was the least of her concerns.
    The heavy door creaked as she slowly opened it, and Isobel almost tripped over the dog lying in the doorway. The shaggy brown shepherd bounded to his feet, tail wagging furiously, and turned around to pant up at Isobel.
    “I remember you,” she said, patting his big furry head. “You certainly gave me a fright when we first met.
    But now I see you’re really a pussy-cat. Pardon the comparison.”
    The dog didn’t seem to mind. He regarded her through half-lidded eyes, his pink tongue hanging from the side of his mouth.
    “Where’s your master? Can you take me to him, boy?”
    The dog barked, then trotted down the hallway to the top of the staircase. He stopped to look back at Isobel, then headed down.
    As Isobel tried to keep up, she heard loud male voices coming from one of the front rooms. Her heart beat a little nervously at the laughter and cursing. Was she confident in the story she had given Lord Thornby earlier? She had better stay true to it.
    As the dog led her to a doorway, Isobel heard more of what seemed to be a strange conversation between three people.
    “Caesar want treat. Caesar want treat,” a strange, high-pitched voice said.
    “No, Caesar. No treat,” Lord Thornby’s voice came in reply.
    “Caesar good boy. Caesar want treat.”
    “I said no, Caesar.”

    Did Lord Thornby have a child he hadn’t mentioned?
    “Caesar want treat. Caesar want treat. Ahhkk!”
    A loud flapping sound filled the air, and curiosity made Isobel rush around the door. Her eyes widened as she saw a large gray bird sitting on Lord Thornby’s head, flapping its wings and screeching like a banshee.
    Thornby turned, the bird still on his head. When he saw her, he smiled brightly. A dark-haired man stood beside him and chuckled at the scene.
    Isobel covered her mouth as she giggled.
    “Pretty bird. Ahhkk! Pretty bird,” squawked Caesar.
    “That’s right, Caesar. She is a pretty bird,” Lord Thornby said.
    Caesar took flight in a flurry of pale gray wings. Isobel squealed in shock as the creature landed on her shoulder and fluffed its feathers.
    “Oh!” she squeaked, fearfully looking sideways at the big parrot who was studying her with a yellow eye.
    “Hello. Ahhkk! Hello.”
    “Caesar! Get off Miss Hampton’s shoulder at once, you silly bird!” Lord Thornby admonished, coming to her rescue. “My apologies, Miss Hampton,” he continued, putting the loudly protesting beast back in its cage. “Caesar becomes excited when he sees new people.”
    “Oh, no harm done,” she replied. “What kind of bird is he?”
    “An African Gray parrot. I found him sitting in a tree in Hyde Park one morning. He flew down to see me, and I brought him home to join the menagerie.”
    “You mean there are more?” Isobel asked.
    “Beckett’s been taking in stray animals since we were boys,” the man next to her fiancé answered.
    “Oh, do forgive me, Miss Hampton. Allow me to introduce Lord Weston, who assisted me in bringing you home. Alfred, Miss Isobel Hampton. Soon to be the Viscountess Thornby and countess of Ravenwood.”
    Lord Weston took her hand and gallantly pressed it to his lips.
    “I am honored to make your acquaintance, Miss Hampton, and very pleased to see you recovered from your ordeal.”
    Isobel smiled gratefully. “I owe you a great debt, Lord Weston. I can only thank you and Lord Thornby again for helping me. I’m afraid most men would have left such a bedraggled creature to her fate.”
    “Think nothing of it, Miss Hampton. It is the duty of all gentlemen to protect the fairer sex. I am only thankful that we happened along when we did.”
    He kissed her hand again, and Isobel saw a flirtatious sparkle in Lord Weston’s dark brown eyes. She felt like a lamb in a lion’s den.
    “Ahem!” Lord Thornby noisily cleared his throat and glared at Lord Weston, who released her hand and smirked at his friend. Isobel’s soon-to-be-husband then turned to her. “I am glad