Page 3 of The Lyon Whisperer
Had she more important things to do, then?
A low whine sounded from the vicinity of the puppies he’d halted. He glanced over his shoulder at them and caught the eye—literally,oneeye of a pup who had only the one, poor bugger.Thump, thump, thump.
The pup’s tail whacked the floor with barely restrained excitement. He seemed on the verge of launching himself toward Chase.
Abruptly Lady Amelia grinned at the two, and they rolled onto their backs as if in invitation to have their bellies rubbed.
She seemed to have forgotten both his and her father’s presence. Her face softened and lit up all at once. He’d thought her merely beautiful?Try stunning.
“Roddy seems to like you, Lord Culver. Father…” She sucked her plump lower lip in between straight white teeth.
His groin tightened as instant—and wholly unwelcome—awareness pulsed through him, as if he contemplated his next lover and not the Earl of Fallsgate’s daughter. Thank God he’d long ago mastered the art of concealing his reactions.
“I hate to ask, but now that Sally’s…er…been called away, I can’t manage all five of them without either closing the door, or another set of hands to help corral them back into the drying room. Would you mind terribly…” She lifted her chin in the direction of the door.
By God, the chit had just dismissed them.
“Oh, for pity’s sake.” Fallsgate stormed toward the door. “I don’t know what they’re doing here to begin with, much lessinside the manse.”
When he reached the opening, he shouted into the corridor. “Baxter, I require a footman to assist my daughter in my cellar, immediately.” He shot a glare in her direction, then shifted his focus to Chase. “Lord Culver, if you’ll join me? We can leave my daughter to her—” He broke off, eyeing the puppies, evidently at a loss for words.
“Certainly, my lord. Lady Duval, it was a pleasure meeting you.”
Their eyes met.
“Lord Culver.” She sent him, then her father, a brilliant smile, evidently unmoved by her father’s evident disapproval—or so he first assumed.
Was it his imagination, or did her brave smile dim ever-so-slightly when the older man merely grunted and exited the room?
Chase nodded politely and followed Fallsgate out.
A footman hustled past him, entering the cellar. The servant wore a decidedly besotted expression when his gaze fell on the mistress of the house.
With all his wealth, all his acclaim, and all his enviable lineage, Fallsgate had Chase’s pity. Somewhere along the way he’d ceded control over his household to his daughter. When the rank in file ran the campaign, it was never a good thing.
The moment theheavy door closed behind Lord Culver and her father, Amelia released her mask of bravado. She pressed her lips together, fighting tears. She’d done it again. She’d embarrassed and disappointed her father.
“Madam? Should I…” Alfred, the footman, gestured toward the puppies on the floor. The two had begun darting about the cellar the moment Lord Culver exited.
The tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed man had assumed command of them in one second flat.
She had the distinct impression taking charge came to him as naturally as drawing breath. Certainly she could not imagine challenging an order issued by him.
But she was being fanciful. He was in no position to order her about, and Alfred awaited an answer.
She summoned a breezy smile. “Good afternoon, Alfred. I would be much obliged if you could help me gather them. I was about to sneak them,er, that is…” she cleared her throat, “…deliverthem to my chambers.”
Alfred grinned and hastened toward Flora, who instantly rolled onto her back in submission. “Yes, ma’am.”
“And what are you about, young man?” Amelia demanded of Roderick.
He ignored her, choosing instead to paw at the closed door.
She shook her head. “Take these three, will you, Alfred? There’s a basket in the drying room.”
Flora held in the crook of one arm, he crossed through the opening behind the bookshelf and retrieved the basket.
“Ah.” She breathed a sigh of relief as she relinquished the three puppies she’d held for far too long thanks to the unfortunate encounter with her father and his guest.
