He returned a few moments later with her books and her bag. “These look interesting,” he said, holding upThe Botanist’s Companion, a book about herbs and spices.
“Yes, something I’m studying at the moment.”
“Well, now you must allow me to escort you home by carriage,” he said as he waved to a small black lacquered coach that was parked nearby. “The coach came with my rented townhouse,” he explained. “Allow me to take you and the puppy and your books to the duchesses’ home.”
She glanced down at the dog. “I should walk. Or rather, we can walk—or I can walk, and I’ll carry the puppy.” There she went again, rambling. It seemed to happen when she was nervous. She hoped she could convince them to let her keep her, at least until she could speak with Uncle Carlton and Aunt Catherine. Maybe the Golden Duchesses wouldn’t be home. Then again, they hadn’t told her they had plans this morning. Besides, it would be better if they were home. She needed to get the sweet puppy squared away. It needed a home, and its leg needed to be tended.
“Given the dog’s injury, wouldn’t it be best that I drive you?” he offered again. “It will be faster and more comfortable for her.” He gently touched his finger to the wet little nose of the small dog.
“You’re right, of course. Thank you, I accept,” Serafina said with a smile. Mr. Kerr helped her into the carriage and asked for the address, which he then told the driver, and they set off toward the home of the Golden Duchesses.
Serafina had some idea how the GDs would react when they saw her carrying the pup, but she could only imagine what outrageous things they might say when they met the tall, blue-eyed, handsome Mr. Kerr with a dimple in each cheek and a very charming Scottish brogue. She hadn’t even mentioned a man’s name around the duchesses or her guardian and his wife, Catherine. Not for two years—ever since her near-disastrous marriage to Edward, Catherine’s younger brother.
Two years ago, she had foolishly agreed to elope to Gretna Green with Edward Campbell, the newly minted Earl of Landon. Thankfully, Carlton and Catherine had pursued them and convinced them that they were too young and should wait to marry.
After the initial excitement of racing off to Gretna Green wore off, it didn’t take long for Serafina and Edward to realize that what they thought was love was merely youthful infatuation between two people who’d both experienced turmoil in their young lives.
Their infatuation had rightly turned into friendship over the past two years as Serafina and Edward had matured. Of course, Serafina readily agreed to attend the Judith Allen School for Young Ladies, where she’d boarded and attended finishing school for one year while Edward had returned to his family estate to learn estate management.
Ironically, Carlton and Catherine fell in love with each other on their madcap chase to stop Serafina and Edward from getting married. They’d been happily married for almost two years.
After she graduated from the finishing school, Serafina went to live with Uncle Carlton and Aunt Catherine. Over the course of the past year, she’d become engrossed in creating new recipes for biscuits, scones, and other baked goods as well as specialty teas. She’d always enjoyed baking and crafting recipes. Andwhen her uncle suggested they open a tearoom in town as part of the area’s expansion, Serafina was thrilled with the notion.
But her guardian lived ten miles away at Coleman Manor. With less than two months to the grand opening ofTheLavender and Cream Tearoom, Serafina was very happy staying with the duchesses, while Uncle Carlton commuted to Bath from his manor estate in Bradford-on-Avon, in Wiltshire—a three-hour trip in the best weather, whether traveling on horse or in carriage.
“Forgive me, Miss Davies,” Mr. Kerr said, nudging her back from her musings. “I believe I have ascertained the breed of your dog,”
“Really?” she asked, looking up at the man seated across from her. She was having trouble believing she was actually sitting in the same carriage as this handsome and intriguing man, whom she’d only just met.
He nodded. “I think it’s a variation of the Jack Russell terrier, a new breed that fox hunters have made very popular. The breed is known for having an agreeable temperament.”
“I’ll be sure to mention that to my aunts, so they might consent to allowing me to keep her until I can take her home to Coleman Manor. I’m certain Uncle Carlton will welcome her. But her leg needs to heal.” The little dog had fallen asleep, but Serafina could sense she was in distress by her ragged breathing.
“This poor little girl may have been turned loose to find her way on her own,” he said, anger flashing in his eyes. “Unfortunately, her coloring isn’t ideal in the hunting world. She is a mix of black, gray, and white, whereas hunters prefer solid white terriers because it makes them more visible and helps them tell the difference between the fox and the hound on a hunt.”
Serafina gently stroked the puppy’s silky head. She was filled with dismay at the thought of the poor young pupbeing abandoned to fend for herself. “I find the sport of fox hunting abhorrent. Thankfully, my guardian doesn’t allow it on his grounds,” Serafina said. “Which is a quality that I much appreciate. At least the little creatures have some refuge.”
“I agree with you and your uncle,” Mr. Kerr said. “Hunting dogs are often mistreated by their owners as they are trained to hunt for the fox’s scent, and it certainly can’t be enjoyable for the fox to be chased by a pack of hounds, followed by the thundering hooves of a dozen horses.”
The puppy whimpered as though it understood what Mr. Kerr had just said.
Maybe she was holding the puppy too tightly. She gently shifted the dog to her other side, gaining two licks of approval. “I think you’re right about naming her. I should come up with a name before we arrive at my aunts’ home. They might be more amenable to her if they knew her name.”
“I agree,” he said. “What were you thinking of?”
“What do you think of the name, Willow?”
The puppy gave a soft whoof. “She seems to like it,” he said, grinning. “And that’s the important thing.”
Serafina looked down at the puppy, who was looking up at her adoringly. “You will need a good soaking and lots of soap and water to make you presentable. But we might not have time for that before you meet the duchesses. Besides, your leg needs attention.” Serafina tapped Willow’s endearing button nose. “You are so cute.”
“Miss Davies?”
“Yes,” she looked up, and her breath caught at the blue of his eyes.
“You still have a little…” Smiling, he leaned over and plucked another piece of wilted lettuce from her hair. “Lettuce poking up from behind your ear.”
He accidentally brushed her neck when removing the lettuce, sending those delicious butterflies back to do somersaults in her belly. She noticed he seemed to stare overlong into her eyes and wondered if he was feeling what she did. Then, she chastised herself.He is just being kind to you, ninny.
