Lily suspected he was right. She reached out to pet the dog, stroking his damp fur by the hearth. He laid his head down and closed his eyes as she soothed him.
“You did well with the dog, Lily,” Matthew said. “You have a gentle touch.”
She smiled, feeling at ease for the first time in a while. “It feels good to have a sense of purpose. Even if it is only a dog.”
“I am certain he appreciates it, though he can only growl or bark.” Matthew joined her on the floor, reaching out to stroke the dog’s fur. The animal gave a low snore, and Lily started to draw her hand back. Matthew rested his palm atop hers, covering her hand. For a moment, she let him touch her, feeling the heat of his hand on hers.
Her brother cleared his throat, reminding them both of his presence. “Shouldn’t you be going now, Arnsbury?”
Lily gave a sheepish smile, for she had forgotten all about James standing near the fire. “In a moment, he will. Matthew, thank you for your help tonight. And especially with Mother when she ran away.”
Her brother’s gaze narrowed, for she had neglected to tell him of Iris’s attempt to escape. “What happened?”
Lily gave him a short version of the story and said, “I think she gets lonely, and it causes her bad spells to worsen. I was glad Matthew was there to stop her from fleeing.”
Her brother appeared uneasy by it. “Thank you for your help, Arnsbury. Calvert will see you to the door.”
But Matthew kept his hand atop hers, his expression turning amused. “I can stay longer, if you like.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Her brother sent him a pointed look, and Lily understood the silent message.
“Unfortunately, I think James is right,” she said. “It is rather late.”
“Someone should sleep with the dog,” Matthew suggested. “It’s a strange house, and he might awaken in pain.”
“I was planning to keep the door to the study closed,” Lily said. “I believe he will be fine.” But she was quite conscious of Matthew’s touch. Instead of petting the dog, his thumb was stroking her hand.
“Good night, Arnsbury,” James said, opening the door. “I’m certain you can see yourself out.” It was a not-so-subtlereminder of the time. But instead, Matthew grinned at her brother as ifhewere the one leaving. “Goodnight, Penford. Sleep well. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
James tipped his head to the side and regarded him. For a moment, there was a silent battle between them, but Lily could not tell why. Then her brother surprised her by saying, “Do you know, I’ve a mind to let you stay with the dog. It would serve you right to sleep on the floor with a hairy creature who smells terrible.”
“It’s not that far from the truth,” Matthew remarked. “Idospend my nights with a hairy creature, though I cannot say that I sleep very much.”
Lily hid her smile, turning away at his mention of the kitten, Beast. “He can stay if he wants to, James. I see no harm in it.”
“Have you lost your mind, Lily? People will talk. And why on earth would I allow him to stay?”
“Because I am worried about the dog. And because he offered to watch over him for the night.” She made no mention of her own desire for Matthew to stay. “You can lock him in the study if you are worried about my virtue.”
James’s face darkened and his gaze fixed upon Matthew before it turned back to her. “It’s a little late for that, isn’t it, Lily?”
A flush slid over her cheeks, for he already knew of her lost innocence. She had made that mistake years ago, and there was no undoing it.
“I intend to go and see about our mother,” she said, ignoring his remark. To Matthew, she added, “Go or stay. It doesn’t matter to me.”
But as she left them behind, she rather hoped he would remain.
Chapter Ten
Matthew sat on the floor beside the sleeping dog. The coals burned low in the hearth, but it provided a pleasant warmth for both of them. It was a miracle that the animal had not been crushed by the carriage wheels, but somehow, he had survived.
A low whining sound came from the dog’s throat, and he twitched in his sleep. Matthew eased himself to lie down beside the animal and rested his hand upon the black fur, stroking gently. The dog seemed to relax, taking comfort from his presence. The glow from the hearth seemed to cast a peaceful spell over them, and as foolish as it was, Matthew rather enjoyed resting beside the dog.
He knew what it was to be alone and suffering, yearning for someone to take away the pain. And somehow, the dog’s presence seemed to fill up the emptiness that burdened him even now. For this moment, there was only the two of them and the warmth of the fire. He kept one arm over the animal, until its breathing grew deep and even. It was strange to feel thesame weariness passing over him. He stared into the fire, and he relaxed against the furry presence.
Sleep had eluded him for so long, but he closed his eyes and let his mind drift back to more pleasant memories. He thought of the first moment he had met Lily. Her beauty had struck him speechless, and he hadn’t known what to say or do.
She had arrived with her sister, Rose, as well as her parents and her brother James. Although it was her sister’s debut, Matthew had been caught up in the soft dreaminess of Lily’s face. She hung back from the others, drinking in the sight of the ballroom as if she had never imagined to be there. Although he’d seen her on occasion, while visiting James, Matthew had never imagined Lady Lily would transform into such a breathtaking woman.
