The sound held so much tenderness that Emmeline’s chest squeezed.
“Carefully,” she murmured, lowering herself beside him. “It may be frightened.”
The puppy whined again, but when Aaron held out his hand, it sniffed his fingers instead of retreating.
“He is cold,” Aaron said, and the stammer had almost vanished. “And dirty.”
“He may have wandered from somewhere,” Emmeline said, though she could not stop herself from softening as the puppy pressed its nose into Aaron’s palm. “His mother may be searching for him.”
Aaron looked at her, stricken. “Then we must find her.”
“Yes,” Emmeline said, though something in her already feared there would be no mother to find. “We shall look.”
And so, they searched the hollow. Miss Harrow called toward the path. Emmeline walked the edge of the trees, scanning the bracken and roots for movement, listening for answering barks. Aaron remained near the puppy, speaking softly to it in a voice so clear and gentle that Emmeline felt her throat tighten.
“You are s-safe,” he whispered. “We are looking. Do not be af-afraid.”
The words seemed to open something inside her.
After a quarter of an hour, there was nothing. No larger dog. No rustle in the brush. No sound but birds and the soft panting of the puppy, who had begun to inch closer to Aaron.
Miss Harrow’s mouth tightened. “Your Grace, it may have been abandoned.”
Aaron heard. His face changed at once. “No.”
Emmeline turned to him.
He had lifted the puppy into his arms. The little creature was pressed against his chest, muddy paws marking his coat, its head tucked beneath his chin.
“Please,” he said, looking at Emmeline. “We cannot leave him.”
His stammer had disappeared entirely. The realization struck Emmeline so hard that for a moment she could only look at him.
His eyes were bright, frightened, hopeful. He did not seem to notice that the words had come clearly, as if love had outrun fear. But Emmeline saw the warmth Rowan kept frighteningback into corners. The life still there, waiting for someone not to command it smaller.
“No,” Emmeline said softly. “We cannot leave him.”
Aaron’s breath left him in a rush. “Truly?”
“Truly. We shall take him back to the house. If he belongs to someone, we shall find out. Perhaps His Grace will know whether any neighboring estate has hounds.”
Aaron’s face fell slightly at the mention of Rowan. “Father may say n-no.”
Emmeline felt a familiar heat sharpen in her chest. “Then we shall ask very politely.”
“He says no of-often.”
“Yes,” she replied, unable to help herself. “I have noticed.”
Aaron smiled faintly and the puppy licked his chin.
Aaron gasped, delighted. “He k-kissed me!”
“So he did. That may strengthen your petition considerably.”
Miss Harrow looked as though she was doing her utmost not to smile.
By the time they returned to the house, Aaron had already named the puppy three times and discarded each name as inadequate. The creature dozed against his chest, exhausted, while Aaron walked more carefully than Emmeline had ever seen him move, every step taken with solemn purpose.
