“Harsh but true,” Lord Sumner said, eating the last scone on the plate that Sophie had offered him with one hand while patting the dog with the other. “He’s a lovely fellow.”
“His name is Doddy, and the clever boy found the countess and her son in the park and followed them, which suggests to me they are his new owners.”
“Well, he looks in need of new owners,” Lord Sumner said, running a hand down the dog’s flanks.
“Yes, well, thank you,” Sophie said, rising. “Now we must leave. Please stay, my lords. I can walk home alone.”
“We are leaving anyway,” Lord Coulter said, regaining his feet.
“Are we?” Lord Sumner looked at his friend. Sophie wasn’t sure what passed between them, but he added, “We are,” and got to his feet.
“Come along, Timothy.” Lord Coulter lifted him out of his chair.
“I have him,” Sophie said, but he’d already held out his hand, and man and boy were walking out of the tea shop with the dogon their heels. The sight was completely at odds to the man she knew.
“He is good with children—it’s just adults he doesn’t like,” Lord Sumner said, holding the door for her as they followed. “Come along, Countess.”
She could do nothing but follow his lead, as Timmy and Lord Coulter were already up ahead.
“You will have a loyal pet there, I think. Your son and he will become firm friends.”
“I’m not sure my sister-in-law wishes to have a dog in her town house.”
“Which is also your town house,” Lord Sumner said.
“Of course.” Yet another slipup; she really needed to think before speaking.
Lord Sumner chatted about the weather and how she was enjoying the season. Easy conversation she was used to now, but Sophie was relieved when the Monmouth town house came into view.
“Thank you both for walking us home,” Sophie said, dropping into a curtsy. “Come along now, Timmy.”
“Goodbye, Countess, Timothy.” Lord Coulter held out his hand, and Timmy shook it. He then did the same with Lord Sumner. They both then patted the dog.
Sophie walked up the stairs and turned at the top. Both men waved, and she and Timmy returned the gesture.
“That was all very odd,” Sophie said as they entered the house. “Odd and unnerving.”
“Well now, who do we have here?”
“Buford, this is Doddy, and he found us in the park. To be honest, I am unsure what to do with him, as he has attached himself to us,” Sophie said.
“Lady Carstairs used to have a dog, you know,” the butler said, clicking his fingers.
The animal trotted over to let him pat his head.
“I think we shall wash and feed him, and you can go and speak to Lady Carstairs on the matter of dog ownership. If she is not agreeable, we will find another home for him,” Buford said.
“Is there anything that unsettles you, Buford?” Sophie asked.
“Rats,” he said. “I cannot abide them.”
“It has been an odd day, Timmy, and it is yet early. One hopes the rest of it will run smoother.” It was a faint hope at best, she thought, taking the stairs up to talk to Letty.
CHAPTER 7
As it turned out, Letty was happy with the idea of a dog but did say she had no wish for hair to be all over the place. Buford, who had brought in the dog that Sophie thought had been brushed, nodded solemnly and assured her that would not be the case.
After she’d handed Timmy over to his nanny for a nap, Jenny arrived with a note for her.
