“So could I,” Matthew remarked, wincing as he eyed his trousers. But he helped her by holding the dog gently and stroking his head. Soulful brown eyes stared into his, and the dog jolted when Lily touched a sensitive place.
The footman returned with their breakfast while a second footman brought the meat broth, the towels, and a basin. Lily dipped the linen cloth into the warm water and wrung it out overthe wound. The dog tried to scramble away, but Matthew held him in place.
“There, lad. You’ll be all right.” He leaned in close and whispered, “You’re a good dog, even if you did piss on me.”
She cleansed the raw skin again, wrapping fresh linen bandages around the animal. But the dog’s flesh was bruised and swollen, and she didn’t doubt that he was feeling the pain. It let out a mournful groan, and she gentled her touch. “You’ll be well, soon enough,” she told the dog. “I suppose I ought to give you a name for now.” She thought a moment and then decided, “I will call you Sebastian.” The dog perked up slightly at the name, his tail thumping. She rubbed his ears, and he leaned back, trying to roll to his back.
Matthew shrugged. “What will you do with him?”
She hadn’t truly thought about that. “I cannot simply throw him back into the streets. It wouldn’t be right.” And yet, she wasn’t quite certain what to do with the dog. He was sniffing at her fingertips, struggling to get up. At first, she tried to hold him down and then it occurred to her what he wanted. “Matthew, will you help me remove the muzzle? I want to give him some more laudanum in the meat broth.”
He reached for the linen cravat and gently untied it. The dog shook his head once it was gone, licking his lips. Lily mixed a few drops of laudanum into the broth and set the bowl down in front of Sebastian. The dog took a tentative lick and then began to drink. He stood, keeping weight off his broken leg, and slurped at the broth as if it would be taken away at any moment.
When he had finished, he licked his chops as if begging for more. “Later,” she promised him, stroking back his ears. Her fingers brushed against Matthew’s, and she froze at the unexpected contact. He took her hand in his and held it for a moment.
The touch unraveled her good sense, but she fought the urge to pull her hand back. Instead, she fumbled for conversation. Anything. “H-how did you sleep last night?”
The moment she asked, she realized what a bad question it was.
“Actually, I did sleep well last night,” he admitted. “I think Sebastian helped.” He rubbed at the animal’s ears again and the dog licked at his fingers.
She softened at the sight of the pair of them. “I am glad to hear it.”
But then, Matthew drew closer. “It has been a long time since I slept for more than a few hours at a time.” His tone was husky, reminding her of what it was to sleep in his arms after a night of lovemaking. A soft rush of desire heightened her sensitivity, making her long to be touched by this man. And for a brief moment, it was as if the man she’d loved was standing before her once again.
James interrupted her wayward thoughts when he returned with a pair of dark trousers. He held them out to Matthew and ordered, “Go upstairs and find a room where you can change into these. I’ll have yours cleaned and sent to your house later.”
Matthew took the trousers and regarded Lily with a look of interest. Her pulse quickened at the sight of his brown eyes watching her.You must not think about him undressing.
She would try not to remember his muscular thighs or the way his body had felt upon hers, skin to skin. Her traitorous body went breathless at the memory.
Matthew gave her a knowing smile before he left her behind with the dog.
“You’re looking flushed, Lily,” her brother remarked. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. It’s just very warm in here.” She picked up another linen cloth and began drying off the dog.
“You haven’t touched your breakfast,” James added. “You should eat.” He regarded the dog and asked, “Can I remove this animal from my desk?”
She nodded. “I suppose so. Be careful, though. He’s quite heavy.”
James lifted the dog back to the floor, setting him near the hearth. Then he pulled a chair beside her, and she picked at a plate of eggs that had gone cold.
“Stay away from Arnsbury,” her brother warned in a quiet voice. “I can see the look in your eyes. Do not forget how dangerous he has become.”
“He’s getting better,” she argued.
“He’s not the same man you knew once. Don’t believe that Arnsbury is safe—he’s not. Just like that dog over there could snarl at you and bite. And you don’t know when his mind will break again.”
She knew he was trying to protect her. “I’ll be careful.” To change the subject, she inquired, “Are you attending the Duchess of Worthingstone’s ball this evening? Evangeline will be there, so I’ve heard.”
A stony look crossed her brother’s face, as if he knew exactly what she was doing to turn the subject. “Stop trying to play matchmaker.”
Lily stabbed a bit of sausage with her fork. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it. Evangeline loathes you.”
“Then why would you mention her name to me?”
“Because I would find it most interesting to watch the pair of you together,” she said. “I wonder why it is that you are at odds right now. After you left for India, she was furious but would not say why.”
