At the very mention of the word walk, Sebastian perked up, his tail wagging. Though his broken leg now seemed to be healed,she had not attempted much in the way of exercising him. Lily bent down. “Would you like a walk, Sebastian?”
The dog’s excitement grew, and he danced in a circle, as if he understood their conversation. Lily smiled at his antics. “Well, then. I suppose that’s my answer.” She rang for Calvert and when the footman arrived, she gave orders for the carriage to be brought around. “Sebastian will be coming with me. I will need his collar and leash.”
“Do you and Evangeline need someone to accompany you on the walk?” Matthew offered.
Lily shook her head. “I’m certain that Evangeline will want to gossip freely, so not this time. We will take our footmen with us, though.”
“I will bid you good day,” he said, kissing her hand. But he held it a moment longer. “Your mother’s idea of a Christmas wedding is a good one, Lily.”
She blushed and smiled. “I will think upon it, Matthew.”
“Thank you for coming over to look at my dog,” Evangeline said, leading Lily inside their townhouse. Sebastian appeared delighted to visit, and he sniffed at the carpet, his tail wagging furiously. “I’ve been wondering if Annabelle is ill. She’s hardly moved from the fireplace in a week.”
“I am glad to look at her for you,” Lily said. Though her studies had only a little information about dogs, she was beginning to see the similarities among the animals.
From the moment she entered the sitting room, Sebastian’s demeanor transformed. He pulled hard on the leash, struggling to reach Annabelle. The plump cocker spaniel eyed him withsuspicion, and her dog crouched low with his tail in the air, desperate to play.
“I think we should take them both for a walk now, don’t you?” Evangeline suggested. She reached for a leash and slid it over her dog’s head. “Annabelle is quite fat, and I’ve no doubt it was caused by sitting and eating all day long.”
Lily wasn’t so certain, but before she could get a closer look at the dog, Evangeline’s father, Cain Sinclair, blocked the doorway. “And just where d’ye think you’re going, Evangeline?”
“Lily and I are taking Sebastian and Anabelle for a walk.” She spoke with such an innocent air, it suggested that she was up to something.
Sebastian sniffed at Anabelle’s backside, his tail wagging. Then he trotted over to Evangeline’s father and rolled to his back, exposing his belly.
A faint smile creased the man’s mouth. “You’re a braw lad, aren’t you, dog? A fine animal indeed.” Then he turned back to his daughter. “Your mother told me that Thomas Kingford, Viscount Burkham, intends to pay a call on you this afternoon. She’s wanting you to stay.”
Evangeline’s face turned pained. “Lord Burkham was once betrothed to Rose, have you forgotten? He abandoned her when she was ill.”
“Aye. But your mother said he isn’t so bad.”
“He’s a fortune-hunter, and I will not let him court me,” Evangeline insisted. “Not to mention, Mrs. Everett has sunk her claws into him. She intends for him to wed her daughter. Good riddance, I say.”
Mr. Sinclair did not seem at all disappointed in his daughter’s reluctance. “If you wish to never marry, that’s all right with me, lass.” Her friend only rolled her eyes and said nothing. Then Mr. Sinclair added, “What of you, Lily? Have you decided upon a husband as of yet?”
She decided to tease her friend. “I’ve had an offer from Lord Arnsbury,” she confessed with a smile. “I am thinking about it.”
Evangeline’s mouth dropped open. “Do you mean to say that Matthew asked you to wed, and you didn’t tell me? You let me go on about dogs when your life is about to change?” She appeared aghast at the idea.
“I haven’t said yes, Evangeline.” Because it wasn’t a true offer, but her friend didn’t know that.
“Oh, but you will.” She looped her arm in Lily’s and smiled at her father. “Please give Mother my excuses. Lily and I must be off now so I can learn everything and talk her into the marriage.” She tugged upon the leash, but her dog planted herself firmly upon the floor and refused to budge. In exasperation, Evangeline picked up the dog.
“Take a footman with you,” her father warned. “And be back within two hours, or I will come to collect you.” Although his words were spoken calmly, Lily was well aware that Mr. Sinclair was an overprotective father.
“So we shall.” Evangeline kissed him on the cheek. “Though we both know you will send three men to guard us. Goodbye, Father.”
Lily gave a slight tug on the leash for Sebastian to join them, and the dog followed behind.
“Thank you so much for coming to call,” Evangeline breathed. “I know Mother means well, but I have no desire to let Lord Burkham court me. The man is empty-headed and not at all suited to me.” Her friend stepped inside the carriage, arranging Annabelle at her feet. “Now tell me everything about Lord Arnsbury. Leave nothing out.”
While Lily filled her in, Sebastian leaned his head outside the carriage, his enormous tongue lolling out. His ears flapped in the wind, and she held on to him to ensure that he didn’t go leaping out.
When they reached Rotten Row, the carriage slowed to a stop. Evangeline disembarked with the help of a footman, but when she set Annabelle down upon the pathway, the dog lay down on the ground and did nothing. Sebastian, in contrast, was anxious to be off, after being confined indoors for so long.
“Would you care to trade your dog for mine?” her friend suggested. “Mine has become terribly lazy.”
In answer, Lily held out her leash. Evangeline traded with her, and Lily picked up the cocker spaniel for a closer look. She was indeed plump, but the reason for her excess flesh was exactly the reason she suspected. The dog was quite pregnant.
