Jack glanced at him. “That’s interesting. So, money would be his motivation?”
“Money generally is.”
The cacophony from the hound’s enclosure reached them as they approached.
“Our prize bitch recently whelped a fine litter,” Grant said. “You can have your pick, but there’s one I’m willing to bet you will choose.”
Jack grinned. “You know me that well?”
Grant laughed. “I ought to. And he is also the one I would choose. Has a good deal of spirit.”
Excited barking rent the air as Grant surveyed the boisterous litter.
“Well?” Grant asked.
One pup tried to climb up the wire.
“This one,” Jack said, poking a finger through the wire. The pup promptly licked it.
Grant smiled. “Then I’ve won the bet.”
“I believe you,” Jack said with a laugh.
Once Grant had instructed the gamekeeper, Mr. Manners went inside the enclosure and grabbed the pup. He returned with the small animal in his arms and held the pup out. Jack took the squirming body, feeling the delicate bones through silky fur the color of a fine French cognac and spotted with rich cream. He held him up, the rangy legs dangling. Showing no fear, the dog’s long snout dived at him, trying to lick his face.
“He’ll do.” Jack laughed and held him away to escape his puppy breath. “I’ll return for Brandy as soon as I can.”
“It’s to be Brandy, is it?” Grant grinned. “So, you’ve decided not to wander about the country?” Grant asked.
“My plans haven’t changed.” To his own ears, he sounded so confident, yet he’d never been so unsure his instincts were right.
“Do you want the pup to remain here until you return?”
“No. I have something in mind for him. I’ll let you know.”
Grant nodded but made no attempt to probe him further.
Jack returned Brandy to Mr. Manners, and he and Grant walked back along the road toward the house.
“So Feather is to be wed, eh? Please pass on my felicitations to the bride, and my congratulations to Harry,” Grant said. “And tell himwhat a poor show it is not to have invited me.”
“Sir Ambrose and Lady Erina’s father wished for a discreet affair,” Jack explained. “Don’t be offended.”
“Oh? Is there a need for haste?”
“No, nothing like that. But their unescorted journey to Ireland would raise many eyebrows if it were discovered.”
“Their secret is safe with me.” Grant laughed. “Harry must have fallen hard to act in such an uncharacteristic manner.”
“One might think so.”
“How fortunate he is to have found his love,” Grant said lyrically.
Jack grinned at his cousin. Grant was a confirmed cynic.“For love, all love of other sights controls, / And makes one little room, an everywhere.”
Grant raised an eyebrow. “Never expected to hear you quoting Donne’s love poetry. Are you suffering from the same condition as Harry? Might marriage be on the cards?”
Jack’s neck prickled, and he rubbed it, annoyed with himself for giving his cousin a reason to suspect he was in love. It seemed like daring fate to talk of his hopes and dreams. Especially when he wasn’t sure why she’d withheld information from him. She must have had a good reason, which he would learn in time, but even so, a future for him and Althea seemed improbable, as marrying him would isolate her from thetonand the life she’d always known. He could never be the reason her friends turned away from her. “Have I given you any reason to suspect it would be?”
