Chapter Eleven
M atthew had come to call upon Lily, only to find her leaving her brother’s house, a footman assisting her into the landau. He thought about calling out to her, but decided to simply follow. Presumably she was going out shopping, and he could speak with her there. He ordered his driver to follow, but was surprised to see that the carriage did not bring Lily toward the linen-drapers in Mayfair. Instead, the vehicle took a northeastern path.
Soon enough, they stopped outside the Royal Veterinary College. Now what was Lily doing there? He suspected it might be related to Sebastian but couldn’t be certain. Instead, he kept a discreet distance and watched.
Lily entered the college with her maid shadowing her. They disappeared inside the entrance, and Matthew ordered his driver to bring the vehicle closer. Nearly half an hour passed before she strode out. From her posture, she appeared furious. He waited until her carriage drove away and then disembarked from his own vehicle, with his footman trailing behind.
When he reached the entrance to the college, the footman opened the door on his behalf. Matthew walked inside and he studied the registrar with mild interest. “I saw a lady leaving just now, who seemed in some distress. Was there a reason for it?”
The gentleman sighed. “She wanted to enquire about books and papers regarding the treatment of dogs. I told her that we do not offer such reading materials to ladies.”
“Because you specialize in horses and cattle, I presume.”
The registrar shook his head. “No, because it would be inappropriate for women. She ought to spend her time reading about poetry, not material such as this.”
Matthew resisted the urge to argue, for he doubted he could convince the man of anything. “Because you believe she would not be intelligent enough to understand it?”
Far from it. Lily was indeed a bright young woman, and Matthew didn’t doubt she could easily grasp the material.
But the registrar nodded in agreement. “Precisely. It would be quite a waste.”
Matthew could only imagine what the man had said to Lily. But he had another idea in mind. “I wish to purchase a set of books for the first year of veterinary studies. And I require any books and materials you have regarding the care of hunting dogs, and all other animals.”
“Do you wish to seek admission to the college?” the registrar inquired.
“A correspondence course,” Matthew corrected. “I am Matthew Larkspur, Earl Arnsbury.” He gave the registrar an imperious look. “I have an interest in reading about veterinary medicine, but my duties would never permit me to attend classes. Nor would I want to engage in such pursuits.” He looked down at the man, making his point clear. “If my requirements are met, I will bestow additional funds upon the college to assist with further research studies.”
The registrar’s eyes gleamed as he caught Matthew’s meaning. “Of course, my lord. We should be glad to provide you with all the materials you desire. Particularly for your hunting dogs, if that is your interest.”
Matthew nodded. “Give the materials to my servant, and I will await them in my carriage.”
“At once, my lord. And I bid you a good day.” The registrar appeared delighted with the prospect.
And as Matthew departed the college, he looked forward to seeing Lily’s reaction to his gift.
He found Lily at home with Sebastian later that day, sitting on the floor by the dog. The animal’s head rested in her lap, his paw draped over one of her legs. The sight of them together made him smile, and the moment he entered James’s study, the dog’s tail began to wag. Her mother was standing by the window, her expression frozen as she stared. Likely, it was not a good day for Lady Penford.
“Hello, Matthew,” Lily greeted him. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of all the parcels in his hands. “Were you out shopping today?”
“In a manner of speaking.” He set the wrapped books down on the desk and went to sit beside her. Sebastian tried to roll to his back, exposing his stomach. Matthew rubbed the dog’s belly, and his tail thumped with delight. “He seems in good spirits.”
“I don’t like the look of some of his cuts. They seem quite red and swollen.” She rubbed the animal’s ears, and the dog appeared delighted with the attention.
He nodded in acknowledgement, and then asked in a low voice, “How is your mother today?”
Lily only shook her head. “It’s as if she isn’t there. She doesn’t know me at all.”
He reached out to squeeze her hand out of sympathy. “I’m sorry.”
Her face grew pained, but there was nothing either of them could do. Sebastian rolled over and trotted toward Iris, sniffing at her skirts. The matron jolted backward and demanded, “What is that wolf doing here?”
Lily exchanged a glance with Matthew, and they both stood. “It’s all right, Mother.”
“I won’t stay here and be eaten by a wolf,” Iris insisted. She twisted her hands together and backed away. Lily pushed Sebastian back, but her mother hurried to the door and left, closing it behind her.
She was about to follow, but Matthew said, “Let her be. It might upset her more.”
Lily paused, but then nodded. “I suppose. I will check on her in a few minutes.”
“Go on and open the parcels,” he suggested. “See if they are what you wanted.”
“I didn’t need any gifts,” Lily said, but she went to unwrap them. She touched the brown paper and guessed, “Are they books?”
When he did not answer, she tore the first one open. It was a copy of From Farriery to Veterinary Medicine . He waited to hear a response from her, but she had gone utterly silent. Her back was turned to him, and he could not gauge her reaction.
Lily was holding the book with both hands, and her expression held tears. “You followed me to the college, didn’t you?”
“I came to pay a call and saw you leaving. I was curious,” he admitted.
“They refused to even speak with me,” she confessed. “That arrogant man told me I should go home and tend to my embroidery. Or perhaps I should put my time to better use in finding a husband.”
She turned to face him, and Matthew could not quite read her reaction to the gift. Had he offended her somehow? “Was I wrong to ask for the books? Are they not what you wanted?”
She shook her head and clutched the volume to her chest. “They are everything I wanted.” A brilliant smile spread across her face, and she set the book down. “Help me open the others.”
It was like Christmas morning, watching her unwrap the books and pamphlets. When she found one on the care of hunting dogs, she threw her arms around him. “Matthew, this is perfect!”
Her reaction warmed him, and he drew his arms around her waist, holding her a moment, before she could turn back to the books. She rested her palms upon his heart, her face shining with happiness. “Thank you.”
“There’s more,” he murmured, framing her face with his hands.
“What else?” There was a note of excitement in her voice.
Matthew was not going to waste this chance, and he bent in to rest his forehead against hers. Her hands moved to his shoulders, and he murmured, “A correspondence course. If you want to complete the written assignments under my name, that is. They would not allow you to take the lessons in person, but you could learn whatever you wanted to, in this manner.”
Her eyes widened, and she drew her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. “I do want to try.”
He remained close to her, drinking in the comfort of her touch. And when she raised her mouth to his, he kissed her back.
The moment she kissed him, Lily felt the heat pouring through her skin. She could not resist the urge, and Matthew’s gift had touched her deeply. No other man would have done this for her.
His kiss was coaxing, reminding her of the way he had tempted her last night. She lost herself to the man she once loved, and when his tongue slid inside her mouth, her fingers dug into his shoulders. Though he did nothing more than kiss her, she could feel herself rising to his call, needing more from him.
He drew back, staring at her. His eyes were dark with desire, his mouth firm. “I missed this. I missed you, Lily.”
She rose up on tiptoe, kissing him again. “I feel the same way.”
Matthew broke the kiss and went to lock the door. Then he lifted her up, bringing her to a wingback chair where he sat down and kept her upon his lap. Then he kissed her again, and she felt the ridge of his erection straining at his trousers. The memory drew her back to the night he had first made love to her. Lily remembered how it had felt with their bodies joined together, and a moan escaped her as he kissed her over and over.
“I will stop any time you want me to,” he swore. His voice was husky with restrained need, and she knew he meant it.
“I don’t want you stop,” she whispered. “Not just yet.”
For now, she wanted to touch this man, to remember what it had been like between them. She wanted to erase the years of loneliness and fear, returning to a time when she had loved him. Her own needs pushed away any doubts she might have had.
He kissed her roughly, and she felt the need to be closer. She changed her position so that she was kneeling astride him, her skirts cascading over the chair. It was scandalous, utterly improper, but she hardly cared. He gripped her hips and sat forward in the chair, bringing them even closer.
This is sinful and wrong, she told herself. Someone could walk in on us.
But she silenced the voice of reason and loosened his cravat and his shirt, sliding her hand against his bare chest. His skin was hot to the touch, and his heart was beating as wildly as her own.
“Lily,” he breathed, drawing his palms beneath her skirts. “What I wouldn’t give to touch you right now.” He spoke against her mouth softly, tasting her lips. “If you were naked in my bed, I would lean down to your breasts and take a nipple into my mouth. I would swirl my tongue over your flesh and watch you unravel.”
The words evoked her imagination, and she felt her body growing aroused. Her breasts were tight beneath her chemise, and she felt her breathing hasten.
Matthew palmed her spine, arching against her. She felt every hard inch of him thrusting with only a thin layer of linen between them. In her mind, she could imagine him freeing himself from his trousers, finding the slit between her undergarments, and sliding in deep. She closed her eyes, afraid of the wild thoughts that conjured within her mind.
“I want to touch you intimately,” he said, slipping his tongue inside her mouth. He entered and withdrew, and she ached for this man.
Lily pulled back from his kiss, trying to gather her sanity from this madness. But she remembered too well the ecstasy of his hands upon her. He drew his hand lower, down to her right ankle, and she bit her lip at the silent question.
He didn’t move, and she understood he would not push her too far. But she wanted this man, and her body was eager for him.
She reached down to his hand and guided it higher, over her stockings to her pantalettes. He brought his other hand there and palmed her bottom, kneading it gently. She rocked against him, his shaft pressing her until she felt a shimmering sensation building. When Matthew’s bare hand touched her womanhood, she let out a half-sob of wrenching need. He had found the slit, and now his fingers were against her intimate flesh.
She shouldn’t allow this—not after all that had happened. But he bent forward and took her ear lobe in his mouth, just as he stroked the cleft of her.
“You’re wet for me, Lily.” His voice held years’ worth of frustration, but he found the center of her pleasure and caressed it gently. “Do you want me to pleasure you?”
“Y-yes,” she gasped. And though it was wanton, she was caught up beneath his spell. He delved two fingers inside her, stroking the hooded flesh with his thumb. She began to tremble, her nails digging into his shoulders. Without shame, she sat against him, burying his fingers inside her before rising up. It was an exquisite torture, and her mind fantasized that his shaft was buried within her body.
“That’s it,” he murmured in her ear. “Imagine you are riding me, Lily.”
She moved her hips in counterpoint, and the rise of sensation overtook her, spiraling higher and higher. She was arching against him, her body trembling. He pressed against the pearl of her, and she felt the intensity gather into a ball of white-hot pleasure, spearing through her senses, until she sobbed against him.
“More,” he demanded, stroking and touching her until the shuddering broke over her, and she erupted in a breathtaking release. She was so wet against his fingers, her body spasming as he thrust and withdrew his hand.
Lily came a second time when he captured her mouth, kissing her hard as he penetrated her with his fingers and pressed against her center. A gasp escaped her, but he silenced her cries with his mouth, letting her ride out the storm of the orgasm.
Lily had forgotten the reckless pleasure of being in his arms. Right now, she felt as if every muscle had gone fluid within her. If she tried to move, her knees would buckle beneath her.
Drawing back, she looked into his brown eyes and saw only desire. He spoke no promises, but only held her.
And she wondered exactly what she had started between them.
Two days later
“You have a caller, my lord.”
Matthew glanced up from his ledgers, wondering if it was Lily who had come to visit. He yearned to have her back in his life, at his side. They belonged together. Somehow, she had managed to forgive him for his sins, making him want to be a better man for her sake.
“Who is it?” he asked the footman.
“A lady who calls herself Miss Carlisle. She said she had sent you several letters, and there was no reply. Should I tell her you are not at home?”
He tensed at the mention of the blackmailer’s name. It seemed that ignoring her actions had not silenced her. It was best to meet the problem face to face.
“Show her in,” he told the servant.
He stood from his chair, fully prepared to throw the woman out, once he reassured her that he would not pay anything for her silence. If his father had indulged in an affair, it was over. He refused to have anything to do with a mistress.
But the woman who entered his study was not at all the sort he’d expected. She was dressed in a black serge gown, and she appeared to be in her mid-fifties. The lines of her face held weariness and suffering, and he half expected her to drop to her knees in prayer. And there was a familiarity about her, as if he had seen this woman somewhere before.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me, my lord,” Miss Carlisle began. “I understand that you may not have received my letters.”
“I received them,” he said curtly. “That does not mean I intend to pay you any blackmail money. Whatever secrets my father was trying to keep do not matter. He is dead, and we have gone on with our lives. As must you.”
Her brown eyes held sadness. “I did know Lord Arnsbury well, long ago. I was young and foolish and fancied myself in love with him. I thought he would marry me after I was caught in a compromising position, but he refused.” Shame darkened her cheeks. “He decided to wed Charlotte instead.”
A sudden uneasiness caught his gut, though he could not understand why. He had already guessed that this woman was one of his father’s old paramours. But why would she return now, believing he would pay her anything?
“Have you never wondered why your eyes are brown, like mine?” she murmured. “Neither Lord Arnsbury nor Lady Arnsbury has the same color as ours. We look like one another, do we not?”
A coldness flooded through him, and he said nothing. It was as if her words were a razor, slashing through him. Never, in all his life, had he allowed himself to consider that Charlotte was not his mother. It was unthinkable.
Miss Carlisle took a step forward. “It is well known that Lady Arnsbury was barren for at least ten years. She went away for nearly a year and returned with you, claiming you as her child. And then Lord Arnsbury raised you as his heir.”
“Get out,” he said. He had no wish to hear any more of these insinuations. “I will pay you nothing. But I will have you arrested on charges of blackmail, unless you cease these accusations.”
“Your father ruined me,” she said softly. “And he knew it. He was also willing to pay a yearly sum so that I could live in comfort.”
“I am not willing to pay it.” He took her by the elbow and guided her to the door. “You will leave now, before I have you removed.”
“The Earl of Strathland was my brother,” she said. “I have hidden myself from society over the years, because of his misdeeds. But if you ask Lady Arnsbury about our family, she will tell you what truly happened.”
He started to open the door, but she touched his hand with hers. “How much is your good name worth?” she asked. “All I ask is a small amount to live on. And in return, no one need ever know you are a bastard.”
In response, he closed the door to his study, shutting her out. His hands were shaking from fury and denial. All his life, he had been the beloved only son of his parents. He had never wanted for anything, and his mother had treated him like a precious gift.
There could be no truth to Sarah Carlisle’s words. She was only trying to solicit money from him, and he would not consider it.
Have you never wondered why your eyes are brown, like mine? God help him, there was indeed a similarity between them. That was why she had appeared so familiar. He saw bits and pieces of himself in her face.
She is not my mother, he swore to himself. He would not allow such thoughts to take root. But he could not dispute the fact that his father had indeed paid this woman a great deal of money over the years. Whether it was guilt over having ruined her…or the price for secrecy, he could not say.
And God help him, he didn’t want to know the answers.
As the weeks passed, Matthew pushed the matter to the back of his mind, keeping his attention on courting Lily. Ever since he had nearly seduced her, she had shied away from him, ensuring that James was always there to chaperone. Although she never once turned him away when he came to call, it was clear that she was uneasy about being alone with him.
And so, he took a step back, giving her time to grow adjusted to the idea that he wanted to be with her.
Some men might use flowers or jewelry to court a woman. Instead, Matthew brought Lily books and pamphlets on veterinary medicine. He considered it a challenge to find new gifts for her, and it pleased him to see her smile.
The dog’s wounds had healed, and today Matthew saw Sebastian curled up at her feet while Lily studied. She wore a dove-gray gown, and her brown hair was caught up in an updo with two curls hanging down to her throat. Her fingers were ink-stained, but she continued to write.
Her footman cleared his throat, announcing his presence. “Lord Arnsbury has come to pay a call, Lady Lily.”
“Show him in, Calvert. And tell James that he has come.” She glanced up from her work and smiled.
“I regret that your brother is not here just now. Shall I send for your mother to chaperone?”
“Yes, please.” Lily set her pen down and stood from her chair. The dog rolled over and the moment he spied Matthew, his tail began to wag. Sebastian stood and stretched, trotting over to sniff his shoes.
Lily gripped her hands together and nodded in greeting. “Hello, Matthew.”
He moved forward and lifted her hand to his lips. “Good afternoon, Lily.” With a glance toward the papers scattered around her, he asked, “How do you find the correspondence course?”
She smiled and answered honestly, “It is unfortunate that I have to lie about my name and pretend I’m a man. But they seem pleased with my progress. I’m learning about rabies in dogs at the moment.” She reached down to ruffle Sebastian’s ears, and he licked her fingers.
Matthew offered her a package wrapped in brown paper, and she smiled at him. “Another book?”
“If it were, I would need to bring you a bookcase as your next gift. But no, it’s something different this time.”
She unwrapped the parcel and found a box inside. He watched her expression while she opened it. Lily withdrew a silver bracelet with a dog charm hanging from the chain, and her face softened. “Oh, Matthew. It’s as if you captured the image of Sebastian.” She raised shining eyes to him, and her happiness filled him up with satisfaction. He helped her put on the bracelet, and her hand rested upon his. “It’s wonderful.”
When he held her fingers captive, she hesitated. “I fear I will stain your hands with my ink.” Her face flushed, but he didn’t let go.
Instead, he rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “I’m hardly worried about ink, Lily.” He cupped her cheek, tilting her face up as he kissed her lightly. “I am very glad we don’t have a chaperone yet,” he murmured against her mouth. “I’ve missed kissing you.” He started to deepen the embrace, but she pulled back.
Lily’s cheeks were flushed, and she rested her hands on his shoulders. “I—I don’t know where my mother is,” she stammered. “I wonder if she’s feeling well today.”
Matthew didn’t know whether he’d frightened her or overwhelmed her. But he relaxed his hold, not wanting to pressure her. “Am I making you uncomfortable?” He guessed he had pushed her too far when he’d touched her the last time.
She rested her hands upon his chest, meeting his gaze. “I feel a bit like I’ve been tossed through a storm. I hardly know what to think.”
He stroked back a fallen strand of her hair. “I am courting you, Lily. I want to start again and rebuild what we once had.”
She hesitated and covered his hand with her own. “I do want you to be well and whole again, however long it takes.”
He understood then, that this was about trust. She didn’t know if he would fall back into the darkness in which he was imprisoned. “I was a different man when I was taking those medicines,” he admitted. “I haven’t touched any since then, and it has helped.”
“It wasn’t the medicine that wounded your spirit and your mind,” she reminded him.
“No. But I have shut out that part of my life. It needs to stay in the past, and I won’t think of it again.” He believed that it was the best way to move on and let the nightmares remain where they belonged.
She was silent for a time, but her hand moved across his heart. “A part of me wants to agree and pretend that everything is back to the way it was before you left.” She raised her eyes to his. “But neither of us is the same person. And I don’t believe locking away bad memories will make them go away. I’d rather face them with you.”
“I’m not going to ever speak of what happened in India.” It was easier to behave as if that time had never existed.
She studied him with a pensive expression. “It might help you. But I will not ask it of you. I’m only afraid of what will happen if you lose yourself again.”
“It will not happen,” he swore. “I have no reason to take laudanum or opium anymore.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly. “All I want is to spend time with you, Lily. I feel more like myself when you are near.”
Her hazel eyes softened, and she answered, “I am glad of it. And I hope that each day grows easier.”
Matthew wanted to ask her to marry him, but sensed that they were still rebuilding trust. Before he could say anything more, Lady Penford entered the drawing room. She smiled at the sight of him and said, “Lord Arnsbury, you are looking well.”
The dog went up to Lily’s mother and sniffed her skirts, his tail wagging. Matthew nudged him aside and kissed Iris’s hand. “As are you, Lady Penford.” And she did appear to be having a lucid day. She wore a light blue day dress and a rope of pearls around her neck.
“Have you asked my daughter to marry you yet?” she inquired, smiling at him.
Matthew returned the smile and saw Lily’s hesitant expression. “Not yet. I need to be certain she will agree before I ask her.”
“Nonsense. You were nearly married once before.” Iris turned to her daughter. “Don’t you want to marry Matthew again?”
“I—I might. I don’t know.” She seemed to be grasping at reasons to delay her answer. “I should finish this correspondence course for now.”
Matthew reached for her hand. “I see no reason why you could not finish it after the wedding.” He squeezed her hand lightly and leaned in to her ear. “Play along, Lily. Let her have a little joy.” Her face relaxed when she realized he had no intention of pressuring her into marriage.
“I quite agree,” Iris said. “Perhaps you could wed next month. That would give you enough time to have the banns read.”
He winked at Lily and asked, “What do you think?”
She looked at her mother, and a slight smile spread over her face. “It might be better to have a Christmas wedding. It’s rather cold and rainy just now.”
“Oh, I do like that idea.” Her mother beamed. “We could have a wonderful party with holly and a fir tree lit with candles.”
Matthew released Lily’s hand and bowed to her mother. “And dancing.” He offered his hand, and Iris took it. He led her in a country dance to the end of the room, and as he spun her, the older woman laughed with delight. Sebastian barked, his tail furiously wagging as if he wanted to join them.
But it was the gentle understanding in Lily’s eyes that caught his attention. She knew he was trying to bring a bit of light into Iris’s life, a moment of happiness. And when he bowed to Iris at the end of their dance, she sank into a chair, still laughing.
“Oh my. I haven’t danced in years, I don’t think.” She reached for a fan on a side table and opened it, fluttering it in front of her face. Sebastian trotted toward her and rested his face in her lap. Lady Penford rubbed his ears, still smiling. Then she reached into a fold of her skirt. “I’d nearly forgotten. Calvert asked me to give you this note. It’s from Evangeline Sinclair.” She held it out to her daughter.
Lily stepped back and tore open the note. She read aloud:
Dear Lily,
I fear my dog is dying, perhaps of boredom. Annabelle lies next to the hearth all day, doing absolutely nothing. Will you bring Sebastian and perhaps we could take them both on a walk?
Warmly,
Evangeline
At the very mention of the word walk, Sebastian perked up, his tail wagging. Though his broken leg now seemed to be healed, she had not attempted much in the way of exercising him. Lily bent down. “Would you like a walk, Sebastian?”
The dog’s excitement grew, and he danced in a circle, as if he understood their conversation. Lily smiled at his antics. “Well, then. I suppose that’s my answer.” She rang for Calvert and when the footman arrived, she gave orders for the carriage to be brought around. “Sebastian will be coming with me. I will need his collar and leash.”
“Do you and Evangeline need someone to accompany you on the walk?” Matthew offered.
Lily shook her head. “I’m certain that Evangeline will want to gossip freely, so not this time. We will take our footmen with us, though.”
“I will bid you good day,” he said, kissing her hand. But he held it a moment longer. “Your mother’s idea of a Christmas wedding is a good one, Lily.”
She blushed and smiled. “I will think upon it, Matthew.”
“Thank you for coming over to look at my dog,” Evangeline said, leading Lily inside their townhouse. Sebastian appeared delighted to visit, and he sniffed at the carpet, his tail wagging furiously. “I’ve been wondering if Annabelle is ill. She’s hardly moved from the fireplace in a week.”
“I am glad to look at her for you,” Lily said. Though her studies had only a little information about dogs, she was beginning to see the similarities among the animals.
From the moment she entered the sitting room, Sebastian’s demeanor transformed. He pulled hard on the leash, struggling to reach Annabelle. The plump cocker spaniel eyed him with suspicion, and her dog crouched low with his tail in the air, desperate to play.
“I think we should take them both for a walk now, don’t you?” Evangeline suggested. She reached for a leash and slid it over her dog’s head. “Annabelle is quite fat, and I’ve no doubt it was caused by sitting and eating all day long.”
Lily wasn’t so certain, but before she could get a closer look at the dog, Evangeline’s father, Cain Sinclair, blocked the doorway. “And just where d’ye think you’re going, Evangeline?”
“Lily and I are taking Sebastian and Anabelle for a walk.” She spoke with such an innocent air, it suggested that she was up to something.
Sebastian sniffed at Anabelle’s backside, his tail wagging. Then he trotted over to Evangeline’s father and rolled to his back, exposing his belly.
A faint smile creased the man’s mouth. “You’re a braw lad, aren’t you, dog? A fine animal indeed.” Then he turned back to his daughter. “Your mother told me that Thomas Kingford, Viscount Burkham, intends to pay a call on you this afternoon. She’s wanting you to stay.”
Evangeline’s face turned pained. “Lord Burkham was once betrothed to Rose, have you forgotten? He abandoned her when she was ill.”
“Aye. But your mother said he isn’t so bad.”
“He’s a fortune-hunter, and I will not let him court me,” Evangeline insisted. “Not to mention, Mrs. Everett has sunk her claws into him. She intends for him to wed her daughter. Good riddance, I say.”
Mr. Sinclair did not seem at all disappointed in his daughter’s reluctance. “If you wish to never marry, that’s all right with me, lass.” Her friend only rolled her eyes and said nothing. Then Mr. Sinclair added, “What of you, Lily? Have you decided upon a husband as of yet?”
She decided to tease her friend. “I’ve had an offer from Lord Arnsbury,” she confessed with a smile. “I am thinking about it.”
Evangeline’s mouth dropped open. “Do you mean to say that Matthew asked you to wed, and you didn’t tell me? You let me go on about dogs when your life is about to change?” She appeared aghast at the idea.
“I haven’t said yes, Evangeline.” Because it wasn’t a true offer, but her friend didn’t know that.
“Oh, but you will.” She looped her arm in Lily’s and smiled at her father. “Please give Mother my excuses. Lily and I must be off now so I can learn everything and talk her into the marriage.” She tugged upon the leash, but her dog planted herself firmly upon the floor and refused to budge. In exasperation, Evangeline picked up the dog.
“Take a footman with you,” her father warned. “And be back within two hours, or I will come to collect you.” Although his words were spoken calmly, Lily was well aware that Mr. Sinclair was an overprotective father.
“So we shall.” Evangeline kissed him on the cheek. “Though we both know you will send three men to guard us. Goodbye, Father.”
Lily gave a slight tug on the leash for Sebastian to join them, and the dog followed behind.
“Thank you so much for coming to call,” Evangeline breathed. “I know Mother means well, but I have no desire to let Lord Burkham court me. The man is empty-headed and not at all suited to me.” Her friend stepped inside the carriage, arranging Annabelle at her feet. “Now tell me everything about Lord Arnsbury. Leave nothing out.”
While Lily filled her in, Sebastian leaned his head outside the carriage, his enormous tongue lolling out. His ears flapped in the wind, and she held on to him to ensure that he didn’t go leaping out.
When they reached Rotten Row, the carriage slowed to a stop. Evangeline disembarked with the help of a footman, but when she set Annabelle down upon the pathway, the dog lay down on the ground and did nothing. Sebastian, in contrast, was anxious to be off, after being confined indoors for so long.
“Would you care to trade your dog for mine?” her friend suggested. “Mine has become terribly lazy.”
In answer, Lily held out her leash. Evangeline traded with her, and Lily picked up the cocker spaniel for a closer look. She was indeed plump, but the reason for her excess flesh was exactly the reason she suspected. The dog was quite pregnant.
“Evangeline, I believe Annabelle—” Before she could finish her sentence, Sebastian perked up and began sniffing the ground. He pulled hard on the lead before he made his way toward a gentleman. Then he tore his way free of Evangeline and jumped up with his paws on the man’s shoulders.
“Oh, dear!” Her friend seized her skirts and hurried to retrieve Sebastian. Lily kept Annabelle in her arms and joined her, praying her dog wouldn’t hurt the stranger.
“Stop it, Sebastian!” she called out.
But then she saw that the dog was licking the hands of a tall blond gentleman. “My goodness,” Evangeline breathed. She stopped running and touched her heart.
When Lily drew nearer, the man was laughing and petting Sebastian’s head. He gave the dog something from his pocket and then turned to smile at the women. “Now there’s a good boy.”
The moment she recognized him, Lily’s face fell. It was John Wilson, the Earl of Davonshire. It had been months since she’d spoken to him last, and then, only in passing. For a moment, she wondered what to say to him. Finally, she offered, “I’m terribly sorry, Lord Davonshire. The dog got away from us.”
The gentleman’s smile tightened and he tipped his hat. “Lady Lily.” The awkwardness seemed to fill the space between them. “I am glad to see you again.”
But all Lily could think was the heartbreaking notion that Sebastian knew Lord Davonshire. He was petting her dog and behaving as if he were the true owner.
“It has been a long time,” she managed. Then she handed Evangeline’s dog back to her. Sebastian was still licking Lord Davonshire’s fingers, utterly delighted with himself. And the earl appeared just as happy to see the dog. That didn’t bode well at all.
“Have you met Sebastian before?” she asked. “You seem to know one another.” The dog continued to circle the gentleman, his tail wagging furiously.
The man snapped his fingers, and her dog instantly lay down. “Louis, be still.”
Louis? Was that his true name?
“I beg your pardon. What did you call him?” Lily ventured.
Lord Davonshire turned back to her. “Louis ran off weeks ago and was lost. We could not find him anywhere until now.” He offered her a grateful smile. “I believe I am in your debt for taking such good care of him.” He leaned down and gave the dog another treat from his pocket.
A harsh lump rose up within her throat, for Lily had never considered the possibility of losing Sebastian. She bit her lip to hold back tears, feeling bereft.
He glanced over toward the place where Evangeline had been standing. “Was I mistaken, or didn’t you have a companion with you?”
It was then that Lily realized Evangeline had disappeared. She was no longer standing on the pathway—instead, she was hiding behind a willow tree.
“Miss Sinclair is rather shy,” Lily explained. She thought about calling Evangeline to come and meet Lord Davonshire, but then again, her friend might be humiliated by all of this. She returned her attention to Sebastian, kneeling beside him. When she ruffled his ears, he rolled to his back, exposing his stomach for her to rub.
“You know his favorite spot to be touched,” Lord Davonshire remarked. “And I can see that you’ve taken good care of Louis. I am eternally thankful for it.”
She tried to hold back her tears, but she had grown attached to the dog in the past two months. The lovable Sebastian had stolen a piece of her heart, and frankly, she didn’t want to give him back, even if he did belong to Lord Davonshire.
“How long have you had him?” she ventured.
“Three years. Ever since he was weaned as a pup,” he answered. “He was large, even then.”
But something about his words rang false. She could not recall her father ever mentioning a dog when he went to the residence of the Marquess of Chesham. Then, too, Sebastian’s leg had healed quickly—suggesting that he was younger in age. He behaved like a dog of one year instead of three.
Yet there was no denying that Sebastian was sniffing Davonshire’s pockets and seemed excited around the man. It was indeed possible that he was the dog’s true owner.
“I am sorry,” Lily said, feeling foolish. “It’s just that I rescued Sebastian from the streets when he was hit by a carriage. I’ve grown very fond of him.”
“He is a favorite of mine. I have two other dogs, but none so fine as Louis.” His blue eyes warmed as he spoke of them. “I am so glad to have him back again.”
She leaned down to study the dog, trying to decide what to do. The earl gently pressed the dog down and gave him another treat.
“I will miss him desperately,” Lily admitted. “I can’t bear the thought of going home without him.” Her heart was shattered at the thought of losing this animal who snuggled at her feet. He was the first creature she had ever saved, and she loved him. But she understood that Sebastian was not hers.
With regret, she remained standing in place while Lord Davonshire approached. His expression was somber, and he bowed to her. “Lady Lily, I am most thankful for your good care of my Louis. If I may pay a call upon you from time to time, perhaps I might bring him to visit?”
“Yes, of course.” But her voice broke with emotion. The earl removed Sebastian’s leash and handed it back to her. She knelt down and hugged the dog, unable to stop her tears when he licked her face. She ruffled his furry ears and stood, feeling utterly bereft. “I would like to see him to know that he is well.”
Lord Davonshire took her gloved hand and held it for a moment. “And I would like to know that you are well.” With a slight smile, he added, “Our fathers were such good friends, after all.”
From behind her, she heard Evangeline’s intake of breath. Although her friend was fascinated by the earl, Lily didn’t feel the same way at all. She had been so frustrated by her father’s attempts at a betrothal, she had no interest whatsoever in Davonshire. Not like her feelings for Matthew.
“Until we meet again.” Lord Davonshire released her fingers and turned back on the pathway with Sebastian trotting at his side. The dog obeyed his master without question. Although Lily she knew she had made the right choice for him, it hurt so badly to let him go.
Evangeline emerged from the trees and returned to her side. “I’m so sorry, Lily.”
She blinked back her tears. “So am I.”