Her words jarred him to reality. Good Heavens, would she never learn? He strode over, conscious of the boys on his heels. “Is there a problem?”
“May I present the Duke of Ryleigh. Your Grace, the stingy proprietor of this”—her eyes surveyed the space, stopping back on the man— “charmingestablishment”—Rebecca did sarcasm better than anyone he knew—“insists Duke sleep in the stables.”
A whimper sounded from Percy Sebastian found encouraging.
“Your Grace?” The proprietor squealed, turning purple, and sputtered in Sebastian’s direction. “Of course, Your Grace. Certainly we have two chambers at your disposal. We are humbly at your service.”
Rebecca turned to the man. “Do not forget the bath. Hot water and soap if you please. We shall also require dinner for our party,” she said sweetly. “Seven of the clock should suit our purposes perfectly well. Now. Is there someone to direct us to our lodgings?”
He bowed quickly in Rebecca’s direction. “Of course, Your Grace.”
Biting the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning, Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest, curious as to how she would react to the man’s erroneous assumption.
A woman appeared, wiping her hands on a towel. “This way, Your Grace.”
Of course, Rebecca disregarded the proprietor, taking his words as her due, even with a stinking, filthy dog in her arms. “Come along, boys.”
Sebastian stood back and watched, grinning as she disappeared up the first flight of stairs with her nose in the air, holding a not-so-special, mixed breed animal with two blond tykes on her heel—then it hit him—she had the proprietor believing Lady Rebecca Thatcher washisduchess.
A thought that wiped the grin from his face.
Seven
Oliver rushed to the door and flung it back. Serena stood in the farthest corner of the chamber, trembling, Duke stood in another, also trembling.
Rebecca let out a sigh. “I keep telling you, Serena, Duke is the gentlest of pets. He won’t bite. Are you sure you don’t wish to become more acquainted with him?” Rebecca had been doing her best to convince Serena to assist in bathing the dog to no avail.
“Thank you, my lady, but”—she wrinkled her nose—“he smells frightful.”
“I’ll help, milady.” Oliver spoke but Owen was at his side, their hopeful expressions identical.
“Of course, you will help. In fact, I am here in a guiding capacity only.” Rebecca turned to the young men hoisting a copper tub. A line of girls followed, carrying pails of steaming water. The owner’s wife followed last with a stack of towels and soap.
“I brung ye a cup to dip the water,” the woman said. She had a kind smile, and Rebecca hoped her husband would not retaliate against her. There were some that did. She would let Ryleigh know to watch for anything suspicious.
Rebecca accepted her offerings with a grateful smile. “I know washing a dog inside is an unusual request, so I thank you for your tolerance. My sons saved him from a dire fate.”
“Not a’tall, yer grace. ’Tis our pleasure to serve ye.”
“Could we trouble you for some tea?”
“Of course, ma’am. I’ll send it right up. Yer dinner will be awaiting at seven.” She bowed herself out of the room.”
Stunned, Rebecca stared at the closing door on her departure.Your Grace?“Oh, dear. Ryleigh won’t be happy with that.” The whimpering dog snapped her attention and she spun around. “I’ll pick him up, Owen.”
Giving a dog an unwanted bath was messy business, Rebecca soon learned. She was on her knees with a boy on each side of her. And water everywhere. The laughter was so loud and so infectious, Rebecca almost missed the knock at the door. “We have the beast secured, Serena. That will be the tea,” she called out over the racket. She didn’t bother restraining her grin as Serena skirted by, her eye on Duke. He looked like an adorable, drowned rat, if a drowned rat could look adorable.
Slowly, the room went quiet and Rebecca glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, hello, Your Grace. Is there a problem?”
“The inn is being inundated with water-logged travelers. I’ve brought your luggage.”
“Heavens, how utterly… mundane of you,” she said.
“And, admittedly, I was curious at all the noise,” he said as if she hadn’t spoken. He stepped over the threshold and deposited hers and Serena’s portmanteaus and two knapsacks in a chair by the window. He pointed to Duke. “Why, itisa dog. I hardly recognize him.”
“Hmm, a jest from his grace.Ihardly recognizehim,” Rebecca said under her breath.
Oliver giggled, an engaging sound as she’d ever heard.
