“Excellent choice,” Michael agreed. “Let’s see if we can make that happen.”
They decided to walk home, and he found his eyes scanning every face they passed. From what direction would Ombrage strike?
“You can’t go out alone, Gabe.”
“Yes, I can, and I will. I know there is no point in asking you to keep this from the others, but I’m going to tell them what I’m telling you. I am not changing my life because of this threat. He will come at me no matter the precautions I take.”
Michael exhaled loudly through his teeth, which was a particularly annoying habit he’d had since childhood, but thankfully remained silent.
They cut through the park that would take them on a more direct route to their town house. Two children ran past, shrieking as they chased each other.
Did he want those? Children were a burden, but surely if you loved or at least respected the woman you had them with, you would love your children?
Their parents had loved them, but Gabe wasn’t sure he wanted to put the responsibilities he’d had from a young age on any son he had. But if did not sire a son, then one of his nephews would have the burden.
“Lost your horse, Raine?”
“I like to walk, Ryder. It ensures I do not grow flabby,” he said to the man trotting by.
“Are you suggesting I’m flabby?” Lord Ryder asked. “I’ll tell my wife on you.” Lifting his hat, he rode off.
“Good God, is that Walter?”
Gabe searched and found the large dog. He was running away from them with what looked to be a bonnet in his mouth.
“God’s blood, when is that woman going to control that bloody dog?” Gabe muttered. Resigned, he started in the dog’s direction.
Michael was laughing as he followed. They heard shrieks and found a group of young ladies twittering seconds later.
“You’ll pardon him, ladies, he has no manners.” Gabe gave them a wide smile as he sprinted by.
“They will think you are interested in them now,” Michael wheezed from beside him.
“Because I smiled?”
“Exactly. You know better than to show interest.”
“Silly me.” Gabe looked for the dog.
“Which way did he go?” Michael asked.
“I don’t know. You take the left path, and I’ll take the right.”
Gabe hurried along the path that led through the bushes and came out beside a pond. Walter was in the water swimming. Gabe also found Dimity. She was on the ground pulling off her boots.
“What the hell are you about, woman?”
“I’m getting him out,” she snapped, not even sparing him a glance.
He admired the length of the stocking-clad leg she flashed him briefly, and then she was removing that also.
“You are not going into the water. And why has he no lead on him?” His voice was testy. “You know he runs off; you need to take more care that he cannot do so.”
“I do take care!” She got to her feet glaring at him. “He was riding in the carriage and saw a bird. It flew off, and he leapt from it to chase it.”
“If you had a lead on him, he wouldn’t have been able to,” Gabe ground out.
“Go away,” she muttered, walking to the water.
