Page 12 of A Scoundrel All the Way
“Iam so sorry you had to be cooped up as we rode here, but it was for your own good.Thatsnowstorm came out of nowhere.”She’dfelt the small creature whimper and shiver in the satchel throughout the short ride toScarborough’sestate, and her heart had seized with worry.Betweenher worry over the fox and riding through the snowstorm, she’d all but forgotten her sprained ankle.Butnow that she was sitting by a warm fire, quite literally thawing out, she’d begun to feel a throbbing pain in her right ankle.
Lucyplaced the tapestry valise where she could find it later.She’dneed it when they returned toLatham’smanor house.Hiscook had loaned her an awl—ostensibly to better open a hole in a shoe buckle.ButLucyhad used it to pierce holes in the tapestry bag.Ofcourse, she had ruined the bag, but her efforts had helped save this creature, so the sacrifice was worth it.
Howcould she have been so clumsy as to twist her ankle?Thepain made it difficult to discern whether it was from potential frostbite or simply the injury itself. “Everypart of my body feels frozen,” she murmured.Kissingthe earl would warm them up, she thought.GoodGod!Wherehad that thought come from?
“Ihear you.Believeme…my hands and feet concur,”Rowansaid, entering the room and brushing snow from his hair. “Thetemperature must’ve dropped a good bit today.It’svery cold out there.I’dsay this is quite an adventure, isn’t it?Inoticed more tinder in a corner of the barn, soI’llgo out later and bring more in so we’ll have it for the fireplace.”
Thefox burrowed against her chest as she cuddled it, and it promptly fell asleep.
Lucycaught herself watching the earl as he moved around the room, and her thoughts ventured to the man who’d brought them here.Shewould never have predicted she’d find herself alone in a snowstorm with this exquisitely handsome man,in his manor house.
“I’llcheck the rooms around us to see if there’s anything else we can use.I’llbe back in a few minutes.”Withoutwaiting for a reply, he left the room.
Lucywaited and waited, then decided to explore a little.Shestood, and using the wall for balance, she hobbled into the hallway.Shewondered how long it had been since anyone had cleaned in here and was amazed the floor was not thick with dust.Still, as she glanced around, she noticed footprints of a man’s boots.Largeboots.Whatwas the saying about large feet on men?SherecalledFrankieandKatiewhispering about it and had asked them.They’dsmiled and said she would find out soon enough.
“Whatare you doing in the hallway?”Rowangrowled.Heswung her up into his arms again and carried her back to the parlor, plunking her back down on the armchair.
“Myankle hurts, andIwanted to find a distraction,” she said, glancing atRowan’sboots—large boots.Isuppose that will be a mystery for a while longer.
“Ifyou’re ankle hurts, that means you should stay off it.Areyou always this stubborn?”
“Possibly.”Shesmiled.
Rowanshook his head as he grabbed a white sheet, uncovering a velvet settee in front of the fireplace, and then helped her move to the settee.
Thesmall fox stirred restlessly against her chest.Iknow just how you feel, little one.“Thefox needs water.Andfood.”
“Yes.Weall do.Myman of business engaged a groundskeeper.Hiscottage is behind the stables.I’llhead over soon to see if he’s there.Perhapshe has some supplies we can use.Istopped in yesterday on my way toLatham’sand looked around but saw no sign of him.Ithought perhaps he hadn’t officially started yet, given it’s so close toChristmas.However, the fresh oats and hay in the stable indicate otherwise.Hecould be here somewhere.First,I’llensure you have heat and water.Inever checked the larder, butIdoubt there’s anything here.Thisplace has been neglected for a long time.”
“It’sahe,”Lucysaid, studying the small fox.
“Thegroundskeeper?”Rowanasked, stooping to stoke the fire.
“No, silly.Thefox.AndI’vebeen thinking…”
“Youpeeked?”Heglanced over his shoulder, his brow arched.
Shenodded as heat crawled up her neck.
Hechortled and stoked the fire, building it up until it began to give off a generous amount of heat.
“I’mgoing to fill the bucket and melt the snow,” she suggested. “Thepoor thing needs some water.Ifyou think there’s a pan that might be better, we can use that.”
“You’lldo no such thing.I’llget a bucket of water from the well.It’snot frozen.Youstay there,” he ordered.Hereturned a few minutes later with water and poured a small amount into a pan he’d likely grabbed on his way back from the kitchen.
Thefox ambled to the fireplace and lay down on a small mat in front of it.Hetucked his head down and closed his eyes.
“Doyou think we should name him?”Lucysuggested in a whisper.
“Youwant to name the fox?”Rowanasked, quirking a half-smile.
“Well…yes.It’sonly right.Ithink he seems to like me…”
“Yousaved his life.I’msure the fox has picked up on that by now.”
“No…wesaved his life.”Shesmiled at him. “Ifyou were to name him, what would that be?”
“He’sred, so what aboutRusty?” he asked, giving a hesitant smile.
