Page 13 of Lady Elizabeth's Winter Stranger
Now that Elizabeth looked closer, she saw that Bruno, like his guardian, wasn’t fully mature yet.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” the lad muttered, tugging at the lead.“Come on, Bruno.There’s a nice warm kennel waiting for you.Stop annoying this lady and gentleman.”
“He’s not annoying us, but I imagine you want to get back home yourself.”
“Aye, I do.It’s perishing out here.”
“Invigorating,” Tom said.
The footman regarded Tom as if he was mad.He clutched the leash tighter, as Bruno strained to get closer to Tom.“If you say so, sir.”He returned his attention to the dog.“Bruno, stop pulling.”
“Sit,” Tom said in the voice that had evinced instant obedience from the rambunctious Cyril.In comparison, Bruno presented no challenge at all.He sat and directed a mournful brown gaze at Tom.
“I’ll hold him here while you move on, if you don’t mind, sir?”the boy said, reaching forward to clutch Bruno’s collar as well.He obviously expected the dog to take off after his new idol, once Elizabeth and Tom walked away.
“Splendid idea.”Tom leaned forward to give Bruno a final pat.“Goodbye, old man.And be a bit kinder to your keeper.It’s Christmas after all.”
Whether Bruno understood the command or not, he remained with the footman as Tom and Elizabeth continued arm in arm toward the chestnut seller.Although she couldn’t contain another laugh when she saw the animal’s unhidden regret that in life’s lottery, he was left with the boy and didn’t get to go with the man who knew exactly how to treat a dog.
“Are you ready to tell me your name yet?”Tom asked, as their boots crunched over the snow.Behind them, Bruno gave a long whimper of sorrow as if saying a wistful farewell.
Caution made her shake her head.“It’s better I don’t say.”
She waited for him to push, but he nodded.“Very well.But I want you to know that I can keep my mouth shut.”
She believed him, but something about performing introductions would force her back into the real world, where her once-tolerant father acted with such uncharacteristic tyranny.“I appreciate that, but I’d rather that we remain strangers.”
“You don’t feel like a stranger.”
She tried to resist liking that too much.“You don’t either, but I think that’s just Christmas stardust.”
“I like stardust.”
“So do I.”The smile they shared made her unruly heart break into a jubilant jig.
“But what shall I call you?”
Her lips twitched.“Flossie.”
She was fond of her maid, who was diligent and clever and uncomplaining.When she wasn’t suffering the mother of all head colds.And after all, it was thanks to Flossie and her illness that Elizabeth had met Tom in the first place.
His laugh rang with surprise.“You’re never called Flossie.”
“It suits as well as anything else.”The other pet names people used for her – Bess, Eliza, Beth, Lizzie – all led back too easily to Elizabeth.
“I beg to differ.A woman like you should go by Ariadne or Andromeda.”
It was her turn for a giggle.“All too much of a mouthful.”
“Then Flossie you shall be.”
“Thank you.”She frowned.“I know I said I don’t want to learn your full name—”
“Actually you said you didn’t want me to learn your name.”
She ignored that.“But are you married?”
He stopped and regarded her with displeasure.“I kissed you.”
