Page 30 of The Secret of the Dashing Detective
“It is just fine, Pru,” Juliana said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Abigail is accompanying us as well, so we will have plenty of hands. But yours are always welcome.”
Prudence shook her head, looking pained by the thought as she looked sympathetically at Abigail, who waited against the wall. “I would be more likely to have my hand bitten off by one of the creatures.”
Juliana rolled her eyes. Prudence enjoyed animals in her own way, but she was also much more timid when it came to trusting them.
“I shall bring you home a stray of your own.”
“Please don’t. Giles will have an apoplexy, to say nothing of what Mother would think.”
“What would Mother think?” Their mother appeared in the doorway and Juliana nearly groaned aloud. If only Matthew had been on time, they could have been out of here before her mother had noticed anything.
“Mother would think that it is a fine day to take to the outdoors,” Juliana said, forcing a smile. “I had better go!”
“What in heaven’s name are you wearing?” her mother said, her eyes wide as she must have caught sight of the attire Juliana tried to hide beneath her cloak.
“I am going to take a turn about the gardens, and thought I best not wear anything that might get snagged on an errant branch,” Juliana said, which was true. Shewasfirst going to go feed her animals. She had her bag of kitchen scraps tucked beneath her cloak. Today, however, she was going to walk around the outside of the fence to see if she could entice any of them to come closer to her. She was well aware just how filthy her garments would likely become.
“I shall see you soon. Good afternoon!”
As she caught sight of Matthew’s profile, she slipped through the door, nearly forgetting Abigail in the process, but the girl, ever vigilant since Juliana had been abducted while she had been watching, quickly followed her out the door and down the steps. Juliana wished she could jump over the last step and into Matthew’s arms, greeting him with the kiss she had dreamed about last night, but it would have to remain a dream for now. Taking her fill of him with her eyes would have to suffice.
Sometimes she nearly couldn’t believe that she found a connection with such a man. She knew he was right when he said that there could never be anything more between them besides stolen kisses and gazes of longing, but the impulsiveness within her just couldn’t turn away from him. When they were apart, she wanted nothing more than for them to be together again. She looked forward to their meeting each day with indescribable anticipation, and as much as she had no wish for her family to be in danger, she couldn’t help that small part of herself that was grateful there was a reason for them to continue to see one another.
She just had to be certain that her family never discovered any of this or she knew her mother would very quickly put a quick stop to it.
Juliana looked Matthew up and down, delighting in the fact that he had obviously not worn his best clothing for the day.
“You are going to help with our efforts!”
He eyed her with some reluctance.
“I couldn’t shake this feeling that you might need rescuing today, so I dressed accordingly.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at that as the carriage rolled around to the front of the house. She allowed Matthew to help first her and then Abigail into the carriage, and then she reached out the door and placed a hand on Matthew’s chest before he joined James up top.
“Will you ask James to circle behind Warwick House first, please?”
“Behind?” he frowned. “Why?”
“I haven’t yet fed the dogs today, and I was hoping to get closer to them first – to see if they will come to me without bars between us and if there is anything else that I can do for them before we continue on to Cheapside. How can I offer help to strange dogs when I haven’t done more for those I consider like my own?”
“Very well,” Matthew said before climbing atop. Juliana had previously suggested he ride in the carriage with her, but he always refused, telling her that he had a better view of any impending threats when he sat up with James, the coachman. She also suspected he was reluctant to go where he felt he didn’t belong, which she didn’t quite understand. If she – and Abigail – were the only ones in the carriage, then what did it matter what anyone else thought?
She didn’t push him any further on it, however, figuring that he had his own reasons for making such decisions.
The carriage turned around the corner and Juliana smiled when she looked out the window and saw that her dogs were already lined up along the fence, waiting for her. James pulled the carriage to a stop a few paces away, and Matthew helped Juliana out of the carriage. She passed him a few pieces of tough chicken, which he took without comment and she considered his silence his acceptance in following along with her.
They approached the dogs slowly, and Juliana reached out an arm to halt Matthew’s progress before they came too close.
“We don’t want to scare them,” she whispered.
He nodded his assent and Juliana lightly clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Lucy turned first, her right ear lifting as it usually did while her left remained where it was. She tilted her head in confused recognition when she saw Juliana was standing on the same side of the fence as she was. Juliana knelt and held her hand out, hoping that Lucy would understand that she wasn’t a threat.
“Here, girl,” she said softly. “Would you like some?”
Lucy took one hesitant step forward and then another, but before she could make it all the way to Juliana, another dog – a big shaggy brute who Juliana had named Max – came bounding along beside her to Matthew. Matthew, unfortunately, was not holding the food out before him, but instead still had it clenched in his hand held near his chest. Max took one look at him and then pounced on Matthew, knocking him down and placing his paws on Matthew’s shoulders before he began nuzzling his hands in search of the food.
Once Juliana became aware that Matthew wasn’t hurt, she couldn’t help but let out a giggle at his plight – but when she turned around to look for Lucy and found her gone, her smile instantly fled.
