She pushed the thought from her mind as she entered the gardens, her eyes searching for Oliver. She saw him running through the grass. His dark hair was tousled with a few leaves in it. There were grass stains on his clothes, and his cheeks wereflushed. His arms and legs moved quickly as he ran in circles. His stone slate and chalk lay nearby, temporarily left behind.
A small yip rang out, and Catherine saw why Oliver was so happy. A tiny puppy was chasing after and being chased by Oliver, yapping happily as it slipped and rolled while trying to keep up.
A little way from Oliver and the puppy was Alaric. Catherine’s heart swelled when she saw his smile. It softened his chiseled features, adding warmth to his strong jaw and clever eyes. He looked up as she approached.
Her breath caught, her muscles tensed. His smile made the corners of his green eyes crinkle as he walked toward her.
“I take it this is your doing?” Catherine gestured to Oliver, who was now throwing a stick for the puppy.
Alaric nodded, stopping a few steps away from her as the wind caught his familiar scent of amber and cedar. She inhaled instinctively.
“He asked for a puppy, and I thought a companion would do him good.” Alaric’s eyes left Catherine’s, and she felt like she could breathe again. “I found her near the stables the day before yesterday. I searched for some trace of the mother or her litter, but found nothing.”
“They probably got separated in the storm.” Catherine thought of the howling winds that had ripped through the estate earlier in the week.
“That was my thought.” Alaric nodded as he watched Oliver and the puppy. “I have kept her with me since I found her. She was very weak, and I wanted to be sure she would survive before I gave her to Oliver. He does not need more loss in his life.”
The image of Alaric holding the tiny puppy in his large hands sprang into Catherine’s mind. “You cared for her yourself?”
“It seemed the most sensible thing to do. If she survived, it would give me a better understanding of her temperament. And if she did not, only I would have to manage the loss.” His smile faltered slightly, and Catherine realized she had been reaching to lay a hand on his arm.
Hastily, she pulled her hand back and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Is that why you have such circles beneath your eyes?”
“Last night, she decided that exploring my bedchambers was not exciting enough and managed to chew her way through my favorite pair of riding boots. I suggest that you move anything you value out of the puppy’s reach.” Alaric gave Catherine an amused smile that made her heart flutter treacherously.
“I shall inform Mrs. Danvers.” Catherine laughed. “I suspect the puppy will follow Oliver wherever he goes, which means thehouse will have to be proofed against her antics. I am not sure you realize just how much chaos you have invited into our lives.”
Alaric grimaced. “Perhaps a more sensible man would have found her another place. But I could not. It seemed serendipitous to the point of divinity. A boy who has lost his father, a duke who has lost his memories, and a puppy who has lost her pack.”
Alaric paused, and Catherine felt his eyes flicker toward her and then away. She sensed the next part of the sentence lingering, but the thought of Alaric sharing what he believed she had lost was like a dagger in her heart. She broke the silence before he could voice the thought, even as a part of her ached to know what he was going to say.
“Perhaps you will all find something in each other.” Catherine gestured between the three of them as the ache in her chest grew. “I wonder what he will name her.”
Catherine could feel Alaric’s eyes on her even as she forced herself to keep watching Oliver play. She felt him shift his weight, the hairs on her body relaxing as he focused elsewhere. “I have no idea. It will be an interesting guessing game to see what he draws on that slate of his. I do not think he knows how to write.”
“Not that I have seen.” Catherine suspected it would not be difficult to teach him.
“I have told Oliver that he is responsible for the puppy. Her name is just part of it. He must ensure her care.” Alaric’s words made Catherine frown, and she turned to him, ready to point out that Oliver was still a child, but he continued before she could speak, “Do not worry, the staff will help him, and I have already spoken to the kennel master about it. I want Oliver to understand responsibility, not drown in it.”
“How very... paternal of you.” Catherine watched Alaric’s face, expecting the warm smile to be replaced by the frown that usually accompanied her mentioning Oliver’s parentage.
To her surprise, he shrugged. “One can act paternal without claiming paternity, Catherine. There are fathers who hold the title but do not act the part. It stands to reason that there would be men who act the part but bear not the title. After all, you certainly treat him maternally, yet you are not his mother.”
Catherine opened her mouth, about to object, but the words caught in her throat. He was right. She had been mothering Oliver. Without meaning to, her heart had opened to him, and he had slipped inside.
Her heart was open and full of hope, and it sent a thrill of terror through her. Warmth fought with fear as she saw the pride in Alaric’s face while his eyes followed Oliver and the puppy, and she felt the warmth drown out the fear. She felt the gravel shift as Alaric’s weight moved, ready to spring into action if Oliver might stumble.
Her chest ached as she watched him observe Oliver. The little boy’s joyful giggles mingled with the puppy’s barking and the birdsong. The sunlight shone through the clouds, highlighting the red in the puppy’s fur and reflecting off the shiny hair of Alaric and Oliver.
Something small and hard collided with her leg, and she looked down to see the puppy rolling away from her, a stick in its mouth. She laughed as it shook itself off and put the stick down on the ground, barking expectantly.
She reached for it at the same time as Alaric. Her fingertips brushed his, and a jolt shot through her. She jerked her hand back as though she had been burned, her cheeks flushing.
She got to her feet, shaking her head, trying to clear it of the haze that had settled over her.
What am I doing?She could hear Alaric as though from a distance, asking if she was well.
He abandoned his son. He abandoned his son.None of this was real. He had lost most of his memories, but once they all returned, the real Alaric would too.
