Page 48 of An Earl Like You
Henrietta nodded, and rushed back up to fetch her. Edith ran to her mother, and Hugh closed his eyes as his sister’s shoulders shuddered with silent sobs. After a few moments the dowager smoothed back Edith’s hair and made a gentle shushing sound. “What happened, dearest?”
Edith looked at Hugh with red eyes. “I called on Lady Harlow and Millicent,” she said, naming a neighbor across the square and her daughter, one of Edith’s good friends. “I came into the house and took off my bonnet and that—that dog attacked me!”
“Attacked!”
Hugh pinched his nose at his mother’s horrified exclamation. “What did he do, Edith?”
“He ran into the hall and jumped on me,” she said, her voice trembling. “He seized my reticule and tried to rip it from my arm. He tried to bite me.”
“He wasn’t trying to bite you,” said Eliza. Hugh looked up to see her standing at the back of the hall, pale but composed. “He would never bite anyone.”
Edith’s eyes filled with tears. “He did! He bit at my clothes and he barked like a hound from hell!”
“Did he bite you?” Hugh interrupted. If the dog had bitten someone, he would have to go, no matter how dearly Eliza loved him.
“He tried!”
“I am so sorry,” said Eliza softly. She looked as if she would cry.
“Of course, dear,” said Rose, embracing Edith a little tighter. “Edith was bitten by a dog when she was young. Your dog may not have harmed her, but she was very frightened.”
“Eliza and I will find a way to keep the dog away, Edith,” said Hugh. “Are you really not hurt?”
She gave him a look of betrayal, but shook her head. Their mother led Edith upstairs, Henrietta following in cowed silence. Hugh looked at his wife, and held out one hand.
She came to him without a word. He pulled her into the morning room and shut the door before wrapping his arms around her. She shuddered and clutched at his jacket, and he realized she’d been frightened, too.
“Willy wasnottrying to bite her,” she repeated, her voice muffled against his chest. “Her reticule teased him.” She stepped back and showed him Edith’s reticule, a frivolous little work of blue brocade with fringe along the bottom and a charm dangling from the drawstring. Some of the fringe had been torn off by Willy’s eager teeth.
“That doesn’t justify it.”
Eliza’s mouth opened in indignation. “Of course not! He was a very bad dog! I only meant to prove that he wasn’t trying to bite her and he didn’t attack her! He only wanted this.” She shook the reticule.
Hugh sighed. “I know.” He dropped onto the sofa and propped his elbows on his knees. She stood stiffly for a moment, hands in fists about the reticule, but then came and sat beside him. She put her arms around his neck. He turned his head to rest his cheek against her plump bosom and heaved a silent moan of pleasure as her fingers combed gently through his hair.
“What happened today?” she murmured. “You’re upset.”
Without opening his eyes, he smiled. “How can you tell that?”
She laughed, sounding embarrassed. “I just can. I’m so sorry Willy made things worse. I didn’t realize the door was unlatched, and he got out unexpectedly.”
“I should have warned Edith, and explained to you that Willy should be kept away from her.”
“I wasn’t letting him run wild. Henrietta told me a large dog bit Edith when she was a child.”
He sighed again in pleasure. She was digging her fingertips into the tight muscles at the back of his neck, and it felt divine. “She told you that?”
“Mmm-hmm. She came in to meet Willy earlier. Henrietta likes dogs, she’s simply never been around one. She saw how well-behaved Willy can be.”
“He must be even better behaved when my mother and Edith are about.”
“Why does your mother dislike dogs?” she asked softly. He felt her lips press lightly against his temple.
Hugh leaned his head back and regarded her. There was so much concern and compassion in her face. “Because of what happened to Edith. The dog who bit her left a scar on her leg—not a large one, but my mother was terrified Edith would get an infection. It took a long time to heal.”
“And that’s why your father banished all dogs from the estate,” Eliza murmured. “What parent would not?”
He was mildly surprised. “Henrietta told you that, too?”
