“Stop!” He rapped on the roof and was out the door before the carriage had stopped.
Gabe ran into the park and was soon in pursuit of Dimity, who was just about to disappear into the trees. His legs were longer, but she was surprisingly swift. Still, as he rounded the curve, he found she’d managed to grab the necktie—his necktie—attached to Walter’s collar.
“Stop it, Walter!” she scolded the dog. “And as for you, you little troublemaker.” Gabe watched her bend and scoop up a little black ball of fluff. “You need to mind your manners, Romulus.”
“Romulus?”
She turned, eyes wide, and looked at him as he approached. The flash of annoyance made him want to smile. Dimity never hid the way she felt.
“H-How did you find me?”
“I saw Walter and thought it likely you would be nearby.” She looked like a sweet, crisp apple, her cheeks pink, luscious, and tasty enough to nibble on. However, he knew that was a facade. The woman could slice him to ribbons with her tongue.
“You did not say goodbye, Dimity.”
“Do all the servants in your house say goodbye when they go about their business each day, my lord?”
She had a sharp mind and wit, and talking with her invigorated him, a thought that should have disturbed him way more than it did.
“Not all, no, just the ones who sleep in my sister’s bed and eat their morning meal with my family.”
Two bands of color appeared on her cheeks.
“Yes, well, I needed to go. I must secure myself employment and lodgings.”
“Both of which I said I’d help you with.”
“I don’t want your help. I can do this myself, and I am no concern of yours. Tell Abby I am well, and we need never see each other again.” The little dog licked her chin.
“Who does that belong to, and why do you have it?” he said as something stabbed hard in his chest at the thought of not seeing her again.
“The Duchess of Yardly.”
“Good Lord, really?” Gabe looked around him. The woman had been terrorizing members of society for years. He rather liked her and often battled verbally with the woman when others slunk off to lick their wounds in dark corners.
“Romulus nipped Walter. He took exception and chased her. I am retrieving the dog for her.” Dimity’s words were clipped. “Now, if you will excuse me, I will return her, as the day is not getting any younger and I have needs to attend to.”
“Seems a weighty name for a dog like that,” Gabe said.
“Very.”
“Dimity, let me help you. If not for me, then for Abby.”
“I would rather do it alone,” she said stiffly. “You have helped me enough, done your duty to Abby. Now go away.”
“Don’t dismiss me, you little baggage. I am offering help, so you’ll take it.”
“I won’t.” She backed away. “Goodbye, Lord Raine. I hope you achieve your goal.”
“Which is?” he snapped.
She forced her lips upward into what he guessed was a fake smile.
“Why, to find the perfect countess of course. Well bred, docile, someone who will give you your heir but be happy to sit in the background and bask in your magnificence!”
“You ungrateful shrew.” He stepped closer, and whatever she saw in his eyes had her fleeing. In seconds, she’d skirted him and fled back down the path, leaving him swamped with an anger and lust.
He followed, taking several deep, steadying breaths as he did.
