“Oh, yes!” said Dinah. “Please!”
In the end, Hannah and Rosalind broke away to attend their own business for the day, while Vix, Dinah, and Mae took Bear withthem to a small park between the modiste and the path back to the townhouse.
“What have you been feeding him, by the by?” Mae inquired, watching Dinah trot ahead, the lead wrapped around her fist.
“Offal, mostly,” said Vix. “Our butler cared for dogs in the Prussian army and seems an expert on such things. I’m sure he will enjoy a bone, though.”
“Do not cook the bones you give him,” Mae instructed, sounding more serious than usual. “They splinter when you cook them. The raw ones do not.”
Vix blinked. “All right. Thank you, Mae.”
Mae grimaced. “Yes, good. Shall we talk about this charity ball you’re throwing? Or your husband? Which would distress you more?”
“Neither would distress me,” Vix replied, narrowing her eyes.
“The husband, then,” Mae decided. “Did you not want my insight on preventing babies before you want them?”
Vix frowned, the urge to snipe giving an odd little lurch in her chest against something else. She must have hesitated for longer than usual, because Mae stopped walking, her hand coming out and taking Vix’s arm, stopping her too.
“What?” Mae demanded.
Vix made a noise, gesturing ahead at Dinah and Bear, and pulled her to keep walking, shaking her head. “It isn’t a concern,” she muttered. “Yet.”
“What in God’s name do you mean?” Mae gasped, sounding outraged. “He hasn’t … why not?!”
Vix groaned, a little flicker of pressure fluttering at her temples. “Because I have notaskedhim to. He won’t until Iask.”
Mae snorted, her hand coming up to cover her mouth.
It made Vix whip around in outrage, coming to a full halt this time of her own accord. “What is funny?”
“You haven’t simply given him your leave?” Mae asked, pulling her hand down and pressing her lips together. “Why not? He’s very attractive.”
“Ididgive him my leave,” she snapped. “He said that wasn’t the same thing. He wants to beasked.”
Mae blinked several times. “Oh,” she said. “I like him.”
“Of course you do,” Vix said with disgust, turning back on her heel and rapidly resuming her pace to catch up to Dinah.
They crossed into the park, Bear bounding with a joy that looked positively drunken into the grassy embrace of the central green as Dinah dug the ball out of her pocket. Vix chose a bench and dropped onto it to watch.
“So, nothing at all?” Mae said, appearing at her back like a damned flea that would not be flicked away. “Kissing?”
“I thought you were going to go get a bone from the butcher,” Vix muttered, tossing her a glare out of the corner of her eye.
“I was. This is better,” Mae said, scooting closer. “Kissing?”
“Yes, kissing,” Vix spat, whipping her skirt away and crossing her arms. She seethed and then frowned, sagging a little. “Quite a bit of kissing that first night, actually.”
“Ohh?” Mae said, needling. “And?”
“And some other things,” Vix said tightly. “Which I enjoyed.”
“Then just ask him!” Mae exploded, throwing her hands up. “I’d send him an engraved invitation if it were me.”
“I don’twantto ask him,” Vix said, half shouting. “I want him to just do it! Why is he being so difficult?!”
Mae paused, dropping her hands on Vix’s knees, the apples of her cheeks rounding. “Because,” she said, “he is your match.”
