The greyhound, who was sitting on the seat, stretched down with his long snout and sniffed Walter. They touched noses, and Walter’s tail wagged.
“If only it were that simple with people,” Gabe said.
“Agreed,” Dimity said. “Without the bottom sniffing, of course.”
Her husband snorted.
“Will he bite?” Iris asked.
“No,” Monty said, hoping again he was right.
“Ella, come out of the carriage, my sweet,” Dimity said, removing her daughter. “Walter, you too.”
They all climbed out, and lastly, Oscar tentatively joined them. He moved to Monty’s side and leaned on his thigh.
“He seems quite taken with you,” Gabe said.
“La, I have little time for dogs,” Monty said. Was that a touch of panic in his voice?
“Where did you find him?” Ella asked. She was crouched before Oscar. Her pink dress dragged in the dust and dirt as she stroked the greyhound’s long snout.
“Well.” Monty shot Gabe a look. “Ah, well, he found me actually….” The words trailed off, as he wasn’t sure how to continue. Did someone just find a dog and decide to keep it?
The life he’d chosen to live now felt like the wrong fit for him, and suddenly he was struggling to keep up with his story and personas.
“Hello, Oscar.”
Henry moved closer. Iris reached for him, but he stepped away from her and joined Ella. The surprise on her face told him the boy rarely rebelled.
Holding out a hand, he then crouched down in the dirt. Oscar stretched his long snout again and sniffed the hand.
“Hello, Oscar,” Henry whispered.
The dog moved from leaning on Monty and sat in front of the boy.
“I believe you said the dog needs a new home, Lord Plunge?” Gabe asked. “Due to the owner being unable to care for him anymore,” he added, giving Monty a look.
“Oh indeed, that is exactly what happened.”
“So you didn’t just find him then?” Ella asked him accusingly. No one could give you the eye quite like a child.
“No, Lord Raine is right. My memory, you know.” He waved a hand about. “And of course, I can’t have a dog. All that hair everywhere.” Monty shuddered and waved a handkerchief about.
“Do you want a dog, Iris?” Dimity asked.
“Pardon?” She looked shocked.
“Yes,” Henry said at the same time.
“Oh well… I…” Iris’s words fell away as her son turned to look at her. “We had thought to get one, but….” Her words trailed off as she looked at Henry.
“Please, can we take Oscar home with us, Mother?” the boy said. “I’ll look after him.”
Monty had little experience with children, but the few he had met were exuberant. Even on such a brief acquaintance, he could see Iris’s son was not that. She’d been full of life as a child. Was that bastard Challoner responsible for Henry’s behavior?
Looking at the tears in her eyes as she studied her boy, he felt the surge of heat that came with rage at the thought that Challoner had hurt her. In some way beaten down the spirit she’d shown as a child.
“Are you sure he needs a home?” Iris asked Monty.
