2. Chapter 2 #3
“He is the black sheep of the family, and my father and he were estranged. Yes, he is technically the guardian for us, but he only pops in every once in a while to see we are all right and then disappears again on his many escapades.” She waved a hand around, her lips set in a tight line.
Andrew frowned in disapproval. What sort of man didn’t take his responsibilities seriously? Black sheep or not.
Miss Whittingham seemed to regret her words.
“Oh, he is a dear. He stayed for almost a year after Father passed. He just can’t be in one place for too long, I guess.
” Then she abruptly stood and called out to her brothers.
“Max, Will, come on. We’d best keep going on our adventures today.
Fergus and Lord Pettigrew need to exercise as well.
Remember I promised we would go look at the tall ships?
” She turned back to him and gave a small curtsy.
“Thank you for being so understanding today, Your Grace. I hope next time we meet under more civilized circumstances.”
Andrew tipped his hat. “Thank you for letting your brothers entertain my sons for a while. We have just returned to town, and I hoped that the boys would find some friends.”
“Boys, say goodbye.” After perfunctory goodbyes were said, Miss Whittingham hurried away with her brothers in tow.
Andrew stared after her for a moment. Talking with her had been less of a chore than he first assumed.
Six dogs… He chuckled. For such a young woman—he wouldn’t guess she was more than three and twenty— she had quite a lot of responsibility upon her lovely shoulders.
What a shame this uncle she mentioned had left her high and dry to care for all the children.
The man should be ashamed of himself for shirking his duties as guardian.
Andrew sat down on the bench as his boys threw the ball for their pups once again.
Glancing down, he spied a blue reticule.
She must have forgotten it in her haste to leave their conversation.
He picked up the small beaded purse, turning it over in his hand.
He smiled. This could be the perfect opportunity for him to find out more about the lovely Miss Whittingham.
Emma berated herself as she and the boys continued on their walk through the park. How could you sit and chat with the Duke of Gilchrest like it was an everyday occurrence? The duke that you ogled last night in his bedroom!
Although after her initial fear that he would recognize her had been set aside, she had rather liked him.
He was quiet and a bit reserved, but there was genuine interest in his eyes as he asked her questions about her family.
And like a fool, she kept talking, telling him her whole sad family history.
Ugh! She shouldn’t call attention to herself in any way.
Lucy’s first big ball was a week from today, and Emma didn’t want even a breath of scandal to mar her sister’s chances of finding a good husband.
Emma’s secret life would ruin her sibling’s chance at a decent match.
Fergus paused to sniff under a holly bush, pulling her to a full stop. She tugged the lead to get him moving again, but to no avail, her efforts no match against one hundred pounds of dog. Once Fergus caught a scent, there was no deterring him until he had investigated thoroughly.
Emma smiled, remembering how they had met.
She hadn’t lied to the duke, but she hadn’t told the whole truth either.
She had, in fact, been behind a shop on Bond Street, shimmying down the trellis.
When she hit the bottom, two thugs surrounded her, wanting the bag of trinkets she had just stolen fair and square.
When she refused to take the bag off, one of the men produced a knife and backed her up against the wall.
Truly worried at that point, she began to panic.
But then Fergus had leapt out of the shadows, closing his big jaws down on the knife-wielding man’s arm.
The thug’s friend took one look at Fergus and ran away down the alley.
Releasing the man’s arm, Fergus then stepped in between them, growling.
The man hightailed it after his friend without a backward glance.
Afraid the dog would turn and attack her next, Emma held very still, watching the dog carefully as the ruffians ran away.
Once the men were out of sight, Fergus simply sat down, tongue panting.
She had cautiously held out her hand for him to sniff, and he licked it, giving a sad, low whine.
How had such an unusual dog ended up on the streets of London?
“Thank you, kind sir.” She gave the dog a small bow and turned to leave.
But Fergus followed her home. After getting a good look at his too-thin frame and big sad eyes, she had decided to keep him. That had been three years ago.
“Emma, come on! Look, I can see the sails already!” Will called out from up ahead.
She focused her attention back on the boys. Her brothers and sisters were the main reason she had embraced her nighttime adventures. Her life had not unfolded as she had planned, but she’d be damned sure her siblings would receive a better chance for a happy future.