Mignon—rather like her mistress—is elderly, somewhat
prickly, but very sweet underneath. Here’s an excerpt
from Notorious Pleasures
featuring her:
“This is Lord Reading, Cousin Bathilda,”
Lady Phoebe murmured. “My lord, this is my cousin,
Miss Bathilda Picklewood.”
Miss Picklewood dipped into a creaking curtsy as he bowed.
“We shall have to tell Panders that there is one more
for luncheon.”
“I’ll try not to eat too much.” Griffin
said lightly. “What a pretty little spaniel.”
“She
is, isn’t she?” Miss Picklewood had actually
pinkened. She stroked the spaniel’s head and it interrupted
its rumbling to lick her fingers. “Would you like
to pet Mignon?”
“Ah.” Griffin examined the dog warily. It hadn’t
started growling again, but then its protuberant brown eyes
didn’t look particularly friendly either.
Beside him, Lady Phoebe’s eyes were positively dancing
behind her spectacles. “Don’t be frightened.
If she bites we’ll send for a doctor, I assure you.”
“Bloodthirsty baggage,” Griffin muttered
under his breath before extending a hand toward the dog’s
nose. If he were going to be bitten he might as well get
it over with. “Mademoiselle Mignon.”
The spaniel sniffed daintily and then
opened her mouth in a doggy grin as he gingerly fondled
her ears. 
“I don’t understand it,” Miss
Picklewood said. “She usually hates gentlemen.”
Griffin’s outraged gaze flew to Lady Phoebe’s
own and she covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.
The girl shrugged. “She’s never actually bitten
a gentleman before. Just threatened to.”
Mignon
is the adored pet of Cousin Bathilda in 