The Virtuous Ward - By Karla Darcy Page 0,70

transfixed were they by the unexpected apparition. Ginger swung her head, eyeing the tarts topped with cream. The tip of her rough tongue shown between her teeth and she lowered her head toward the plate. The slight movement broke the spell. Max rose to his feet at the same time that Amity made a desperate lunge for the animal, knocking the pitcher of cream over on the tray. The clattering sound upset the cat and she sprang from the table, clearing the teapot by inches and landing in Ophelia's lap.

"Oh! Oh!" Ophelia shrieked, making frantic flailing motions at the animal. "Get this beast away from me!"

At the sudden commotion, the recumbent Muffin raised his shaggy head. The sight of the bristling cat started an ominous growling rumble deep in his throat and he lumbered to his feet. When the dog attempted to bound into the fray, Amity threw her arms around his neck, holding him by sheer strength against her legs.

"Oh help!" Ophelia cried, her spine pressed to the back of the settee and her face set in a grimace of loathing.

"Allow me, Lady Paige," Max said, his voice coaxing as he reached for the ginger cat. "Naughty puss. Not you, Lady Paige. I was referring to the cat."

At Max's words, Amity felt a bubble of hysteria rising to her throat and buried her face in Muffin's coat. As if things weren't bad enough already, the dog decided he would enter the melee, and let loose with a chorus of deep barks. Amity patted his back, trying to calm him.

Looking around the room she was surprised to see that Max was the only one attempting to help. He was trying to pry the cat's claws from the fabric of Ophelia's dress. Bancroft who might have made some push to be of assistance, stood unmoving beside the settee as if he had been turned to stone. Lady Grassmere had dropped her needlework in her lap and was watching the whole proceedings, with the same interest she might have given to a stage play.

"Ah, that's got it," Max said as he released the last claw from Ophelia's skirt. As he picked up the cat, Muffin subsided, dropping once more to the floor where he emitted low growling noises to show his disapproval. "Here, Putnam. Remove Ginger to some other place, if you please."

He handed the cat to the red-faced butler who had come running at the sound of the uproar. Holding the cat warily between his gloved hands, Putnam extended his arms straight from the shoulder and retreated into the hall with great solemnity.

"There. I think that will be the end of that. My heartfelt apologies," Max said as he turned back to the room. "I can't imagine how that dreadful animal managed to get into the basket. No harm done. Allow me, my dear," he said leaning over to wipe the spilled cream from the silver tray.

Amity snatched the white handkerchief from her guardian's hand, her eyes narrowed in speculation. Turning to Lady Paige, she blotted a few spots on the woman's dress. Ophelia was breathing with great gasps and Amity wondered if she would be wise to offer her smelling salts. Aside from the heavy breathing, the tense silence in the room was almost palpable but she was too embarrassed to think of anything to say that might mitigate the disaster.

"A cat! Such a sly nasty creature. Can't abide them. It is inconceivable why anyone would permit animals to run tame in one's house," Ophelia snapped. "In the country there is some excuse for their presence but in town their existence is beneath notice."

"Again I apologize, Lady Paige," Max said, hovering over the distraught woman. "That you should have been so discomposed by the cat, I find quite unforgivable. Amity and I rescued her several days ago from a watery grave in the Thames. My ward has such compassion for the plight of animals in distress. You would barely recognize that feisty creature for the sodden feline we brought home. It must gladden your heart to see it so restored to health."

"I find its return to health no cause for celebration. Neither Bancroft or I approve of house pets," Ophelia said dampeningly. "Isn't that right, brother?"

"Sister feels. That is, I feel," he said looking somewhat harried as he brushed the golden curls away from his forehead, "that animals breed all sorts of diseases and by and large are quite filthy. I was never permitted to have a pet in the