She smiled at him. “Well, you get changed out of your court robes. It’s time for Miss Hope’s nap.”
“But Pa . . . Pa-Papa just came home.”
He knelt on one knee. “I’m not in good mood, but I promise that once you have your nap, we will play. We’ll have a good time of it, just you and me.”
“You promise, Pa-Papa? You’ve been sad all week.”
He hugged his girl. “I promise. You make me happy.”
With a kiss to his cheek, he gave Hope’s hand to Mrs. Gallick’s.
“Sir, I have to be out this evening, in an hour.”
He yanked off his collar frill. “I truly have no plans.”
“Why don’t you change and see if Max might need some attention? He’s barking a lot today. Come on, Hope.”
Her bottom lip stuck out, but she went up the stairs.
His girl wobbled but took each step like a knight charging a hill. She was fearless.
Daniel felt proud. She wasn’t going to let anything stop her.
Fingering his watch fob, he thought about getting Max and riding. That might relieve his tension and give his sandy pug some needed exercise. Why else would he be yelping?
When he entered his room, Daniel noticed the door to his closet ajar. That was odd. His valet always closed it up tight.
He scratched his head and went inside. Taking off his robe and ebony tailcoat, he put them on the proper shelves and hooks in his closet.
Tugging on his hunting jacket and boots, Daniel heard Max’s heavy barking.
His pug wailed at something.
The bark became more insistent. When he went out onto his balcony, Daniel found a rope and hook wedged onto it. Then he saw Max chasing someone . . . some widow . . . some Jemina St. Maur.
He tugged on the rope and thought about using it to leap down, but he wasn’t ready to fall. He had a widow to catch.
In a blink, he crossed the hall, jumped down the stairs, and tore out the rear door. “Get her, Max.”
At top speed, he flew across the field.
Even at a distance he could feel the panic in her. That made him run faster.
Veering a sharp left, he went into his stables. Heaving, breathing furiously, he found the horse Mr. Anthon always had ready.
Daniel hopped on his mare.
Thunder warbled as he peeled out and headed straight for the best pug in the world and that wicked widow. “Give up, woman.”
Max had her cape in his teeth. His boy was strong and kept Jemina from moving forward.
She untied her cloak and his dog became a tumble of emerald cloth.
“Stay where you are, Mrs. St. Maur!”
Her fearful grimace turned to a smile. She charged into the woods and climbed onto a horse.
No side saddle for her. She rode like a man and rode well.
