Slade chuckled. “Come see this. Isabella brought her in a few minutes ago.” He stepped aside and revealed a small basket lined with a thick blanket and the sleeping dog tucked inside. “Baines just came in to check on her. Maggie may have to battle Baines if she has her sights set on the dog.”
They both laughed, but it didn’t seem to stir the dog, who continued to snore.
“She likes the warmth of the fireplace. You should have seen how the servants all huddled around, bathing her, cuddling her, feeding her like a baby. I asked Dr. Spencer if he could examine her when he’s finished upstairs.”
Thomas grinned. “Sounds like Baines isn’t the only one this dog has captivated.”
“Yes, well. There is something about a dog that delights the heart. Baines thinks she must have been someone’s pet because she’s well-trained. As they were bathing her, she hopped out of the basin and scratched at the door to go out. When she finished her business, she marched back in to finish her bath.”
Slade poured Thomas a snifter of brandy and handed it to him. “You look like you could use another one.”
“Thanks, friend.” Thomas took a sip and then stared at the golden amber liquid in the glass.
“Something is bothering you. You never could hide it from me. What’s going on?”
“Frankie never received my note. Five years ago, at the Duke’s ball. I’d paid a footman to deliver it, and I thought she had ignored it all this time. I cannot imagine what happened to it.”
“That explains a lot. It wouldn’t be hard to find the footman and ask him why it wasn’t delivered. I’m certain, the dowager duchess would take that on, judging from her interest in the two of you. But that doesn’t answer why Frankie married Gallwey. I know about the scandal, but why didn’t her Aunt Daphne and Uncle Richard speak up for her?”
“Her father dismissed them as being inattentive.”
“That’s madness!” Slade said.
The dog awoke, leaning down on her front paws and stretching. When she finished, she trotted over to Thomas and gave a short bark.
“I think she wants you to pick her up.”
Thomas leaned down and picked up the small dog and she immediately made herself comfortable and fell back asleep, evoking chuckles from them. “Frankie’s father pressured her to marry Gallwey because of the scandal, but she found out later, it was to settle his debts.”
“God’s teeth! The blackguard did that to his daughter?” Slade asked.
“Apparently so,” Thomas agreed. He felt an overwhelming impulse to wring her father’s neck for selling his daughter, but nothing could turn back time. He would focus on the future. If things went the way he hoped, she’d never have to worry about her future again.
Slade walked to his desk and turned over a card. “I’m going to suggest to Isabella that she put her dinner off a little longer,” he murmured. “I had forgotten about the Duke of Clarence’s Charity Garden Fete. Isabella usually throws herself into the duke’s charity event, along with several other well-placed ladies. And I believe this is the same weekend she was considering our dinner party.”
“Another event at the duke's residence? I don’t think I can take a third. The first two I attended did not end well for me.” He reached into his pocket and fingered the small ring box, glad it had survived the dip in the lake.
Slade laughed. “Well, they say the third time is the charm, my friend. Plus, you now know much more than you did last evening.”
Isabella walked into the room. “Did I hear you received the duke’s charity garden party invitation?”
“We did,” Slade replied.
“That’ll mean a little tweaking for my dinner engagement. But I’ll find the right date.” She winked at her husband and gave a subtle nod in Thomas’ direction. “In the meantime,” she said, taking the dog from Thomas. “Doctor Spencer asked me to bring this one upstairs for him to examine. And a certain young lady would love to see her.” She blew her husband a kiss and left.
“Damn, I love that woman,” Slade said.
Thomas couldn’t help but envy what Slade and Isabella had. He realized how much he wanted that kind of love too. And he wanted it with Frankie.
CHAPTER5
The next day
“You have a dog?”
His mother’s voice sounded almost shrill.
“Yes. I rescued it from certain death yesterday. I found it after the near disaster with Frankie’s child slipping into the Serpentine.” He related the incident but saved mention of the dog until the end. Not because he didn’t want the animal. “She’s a sweet creature. Everyone at Hertford’s that encountered her wanted to cuddle her.” Devilishly, he wondered if his mother would entertain that reaction.
