Page 10 of Once Upon a Winter's Tale
Clover issued a loud bleat from her stall, and the duke stood and peered over the wall, taking in the doe and her baby before turning back and chuckling. “Miss Brianna Thomas, I had envisioned horses, but you truly have a menagerie of animals in the stable.”
Brianna nibbled her lower lip, unsure of how to respond. Her mother had never said much about the duke, even though Brianna knew she was good friends with his mother. She could not imagine having a powerful duchess for a friend.
“Yes, Your Grace. I can understand that, but I could never see an animal injured and not help. Benson has been teaching me what he knows about animal care.”
“What do you intend to do with all of that knowledge?” he asked.
“Use it to heal,” she returned.Keeping it to oneself helps no one. “I realize it’s most unusual to find a woman tending to animals needing medical help, but it is my passion. I love animals and have been doing it my entire life. It’s something I’m good at it. Benson tells me he hasn’t had to call a farrier to care for any of the horses, cows, or sheep in several years.”
“That’s probably saved the estate lives and money,” the duke replied thoughtfully.
“Cook loves the cats and kittens, although she would say otherwise,” she said, raising her chin a little as she answered. “She would tell you she is afraid of mice, but I’ve seen her crying when she loses one. That’s one reason I asked Roy to build me the large cages. The stable is large enough for lots of horses and still has room for the other small animals. Cats benefit from the warm straw, and they keep the mice population away. If I can help mend their injuries, I want to do that.”
“I confess, I know nothing about medicine, but admire anyone that wants to learn it. Have you always had this passion?” he asked.
“My love is for the animals, and I hate to see them in pain,” she replied. “I want to help.”
“The dogs may have smelled the doe. They would not have smelled the fawn. They don’t have any real scent until they are older. That and the white spots protect them from predators. It’s not perfect, of course, but it helps.” He looked around at the stalls that held various animals she had rescued. “Is there anything wilder than the deer?” he asked, clearly amused.
“No, not today,” she said, feeling a warm blush move up her neck. The duke was patient and kind, and genuine. He seemed sincerely interested in her pursuit of healing animals, which secretly thrilled her.
She could like him—except he could never be interested in her. It was just Brianna and her mother, and they relied on the generosity of his family, according to her mother.
“I hope you and your mother will join me for dinner tonight. This trip here was long, and it will be wonderful to have pleasant company instead of sitting at an almost empty table in a small room in the tavern. You said you live here, in the manor house. Correct?” he asked, jarring her from her thoughts.
“Yes, Your Grace. We liveatthe manor, but notinthe manor house. At least, not anymore. We moved to the small dowager house behind the manor house when they completed repairs several years ago.”
“I had forgotten it was here. I need to spend some time seeing all the property. Perhaps you will consent to accompany me to the village tomorrow?”
“I would have to ask Mama, but she may allow it,” Brianna said. She would love to go to the village with him.
“And show me around. My mother told me it’s grown considerably over the years, but I have nothing to even compare it to, having never been here. Perhaps you can tell me about the changes. Will I see you at dinner?”
“I’m going to say yes. We often eat our meals here, since it’s just us and the staff. Cook prefers it unless we are ill and need to eat at the smaller house,” she said with a grin. “And Mama enjoys it.”
He clasped his hands together. “Good. I will look forward to seeing you at dinner. It’ll be wonderful to have company. Until then, Miss Thomas.”
She watched him accept his waistcoat and jacket from his footman and walk toward the manor house.
She looked forward to dinner. What she didn’t look forward to was telling her mother of the tragic dog fight. She clung to hope that Roy found no bites when he bathed the dog. She thought Nero had done an admirable job holding off the pack, but she had closed her eyes when she fired the old gun.
When she returned to the house, her mother was just waking from an afternoon nap.
“I’m so glad you are back. How is your small fawn, my dear?” her mother asked.
“Clover’s mother came for her,” Brianna began.
“That’s great, darling.” Her mother seemed distracted.
“Well, it would be, except I would guess she will leave him for a little longer,” Brianna replied.
“What do you mean, a little longer? I don’t understand.” Her mother sat up a little taller.
“There were wild dogs that must have heard the fawn calling to his mother. They came to the stable while I was there. And things happened.” Brianna gulped. Nothing about this story would sound acceptable to her mother, she realized. As she related the story, amid her mother’s gasps, she cringed inside. Until she described the shot she took with the gun she found, she had not realized the unbelievable amount of luck that had been required.
“You found a fifty-year-old gun, and it was loaded?” Her mother crossed her hands over her heart. “Do you know what I would have done if something had happened to you? I would have never gotten over that loss. I could not lose another child, my darling girl,” she said, swiping at tears.
“Mama, I admit when I thought about what had happened, I dreaded telling you. I assure you, I acted purely on impulse. Surely Providence was watching over me,” Brianna said. “But that’s not all of it.”
