“It’s likely he had to fend for himself in the streets.” Matthew closed the door to the carriage and reached for her hand before she could pet the dog. “Be careful. A hurt dog might bite you, and we don’t know anything about him.”
“Oh dear,” Iris muttered. “Oh dear, oh dear. It’s a wolf you’ve brought.” She edged backward against the seat, but Matthew blocked the door with his leg. Lily met his gaze, trusting that he would prevent her mother from fleeing.
“It’s not a wolf, Iris. It’s a dog who has been hurt. Lily wants to try to heal him.”
“But he’s so big,” Iris whispered. “I don’t know. He could be a wolf.”
“He’s not, I assure you. And I will not allow him to harm you,” Matthew promised. Then he turned to Lily. “Do you think it’s all right that I brought him here to you?”
“I would be more upset if you had left him to die.” She looked up at him. “I don’t know if we can heal him, but I want to try.”
They rode through the streets, back to the Penford townhouse. Lily started thinking back to the books she had read and remembered that she should not give him any food or water—at least, not until she was certain there were no serious injuries. This dog needed their help, and she was going to do everything she could to save him.
When they arrived home, Matthew carried the dog inside. Lily guided her mother into the house and gave orders for hot tea. She also requested a blanket, water, bandages, and salve for the animal’s wounds. “Oh, and bring me the laudanum, Hattie.” She didn’t know if it would help the dog, but it was all she had.
“Where do you want me to take the dog?”
“Into the study. We can lay him upon James’s desk.” She told Hattie to take her mother into the parlor and give her tea. “Mother, will you be all right?”
“Yes.” Iris paled at the sight of the dog. “I would rather not be in the presence of a wolf just now.”
“He’s only a large dog who has been badly hurt,” she repeated. “I am going to take care of him. But Hattie will bring you some tea and see that you’re feeling better.”
“Yes…I…that would be fine,” her mother murmured. It did seem that she was still frightened of the dog. She took several steps away from them. “I’ll just have my tea now while you look after him.”
Lily didn’t like the way the dog appeared so still and quiet. He was hanging in Matthew’s arms like a dead weight. “Follow me. I want to see his injuries right away.” It was too difficult to tell how wounded the animal was, but his flesh was scraped raw in several places.
Matthew walked down the hallway with her until they reached her brother’s study. She was surprised to find James seated inside, surrounded by papers. “I need your desk, James.”
Her brother stood, eyeing the bundle in Matthew’s arms. “What have you there?”
“It’s a dog,” Lily answered. “I am going to tend his injuries, and I need a large clean surface for that. Clear off your desk, if you would. I don’t want to get blood on your ledgers.”
Her brother’s expression was a blend of amusement and fascination, but he obeyed. “Lily, what do you know about tending wounded dogs? He’ll bite your hand off.”
“No, he won’t. Matthew will hold him for me.” She wished she knew how to put the dog to sleep, but how? The laudanum might work, but she wasn’t certain of the dose.
“Oh, so you’re going to have him bite Matthew’s hand off, is that it? That’s all right, then.” Her brother cleared off his desk, and Matthew set him down on the surface. Now that they had more light, she saw that the dog was larger than she’d realized.It must have been an enormous strain to carry him this far, but Matthew appeared indifferent to the weight.
The dog’s black fur was matted and coated in blood, and his head was large with a rounded snout. She had not seen a dog like him before, but it was his soulful eyes that caught her heart. He stared at her, trembling with pain, and she murmured, “I’m going to fix you, Dog. Just hold still, and I’ll make it better. I promise.”
“Keep your hands away from his mouth, Arnsbury,” her brother warned.
“Indeed.” Matthew used his coat to restrain the forelegs and head of the dog. The moment he held down the animal, it frantically tried to twist and buck against him.
“I need to sedate him,” Lily said. “When Hattie comes, we’ll do that first. And I think it would be wise to muzzle him gently. Perhaps with your cravat.”
Matthew nodded in agreement and rested his hand upon the dog’s head. “Easy, there.”
“What sort of dog is he?” Lily asked. She had never before seen a dog so large.
“I believe he’s a Newfoundland breed. They are usually quite calm and gentle.”
The dog’s whimpering grew louder into cries of pain. It bothered her deeply to see the animal in such agony, and Lily vowed to herself that she would heal him to the best of her ability.
Hattie arrived at last with the bandages, blankets, and a basin of water. She set them down upon the desk and then pulled out the laudanum and salve from her apron pocket. “Is this all you’ll be needing, Lady Lily?”
“Yes, thank you.” Her mind was spinning with what to do. First, she needed to take the edge off the dog’s pain.
