The Earl Claims a Bride (21 page)

She headed confidently down the corridor to the drawing room, determined to ignore those unwanted feelings the earl stirred up inside her. When she walked through the doorway, her breath caught in her throat. Lord Thornwick was on one knee on the floor, laughing and playing with Molly and Mr. Pete.

He looked up at her and smiled and she felt as if her heart flipped. A warm tenderness settled over her and all her anxious feelings drained away. He could disarm her faster than a hummingbird could flap its wings.

“Lord Thornwick, I apologize for being late.”

Harrison rose tall and commanding. The now ever-present butterflies in her stomach started swarming like bees. Would she ever cease to have that sensual awareness when she saw him? He looked devilishly handsome in a fawn-colored coat and dark-brown waistcoat with brown trousers stuffed into shiny black knee boots.

“You’re not late,” he said as Mr. Pete barked and jumped on his leg, trying to regain his attention. Molly yapped, too, but couldn’t be bothered to expend the energy to jump. “There was no time set. Besides, I was enjoying getting better acquainted with your grandmother’s dog and Mr. Pete.”

She looked around. Except for the dogs, he was alone in the room. “Where’s Papa?”

“After I arrived, he left to go tell the members of his club that I agreed to join and become a member. Apparently he didn’t want to wait. He said he’d be back before we returned.”

Another warm feeling washed over her. “It wasn’t necessary for you to join his club, but thank you for doing that. I know it made him very happy.”

“I did it because I may be asking a favor of him soon.”

“My father? Really?”

He nodded. “After the library is rebuilt at Thornwick, I’ll need someone to help me decide what books I need to replace all those that burned.”

“That’s right. I’d heard there was a fire at your home but no one seemed to know how bad it was. Was it very destructive?”

He shrugged and then rubbed the head of the jumping dog. “It will take time to repair all the damage, but it’s begun now.”

“Mr. Pete, stop that and leave Lord Thornwick alone. Sit. Sit.”

The dog didn’t acknowledge her and kept trying to get Harrison’s attention. He rubbed he beagle’s head again. It was her fault for not taking the time to properly train Mr. Pete, but the painting was more important at present.

She tamped down her feelings of appreciation and said, “I’ll take the dogs out back and then we’ll be ready to go.”

“I’ll help you,” he said, scooping up Molly and handing her to Angelina. He then grabbed Mr. Pete and said, “Lead the way.”

A few minutes later they picked up Harrison’s coat, gloves, and hat, along with her things, on the way out the door. The grip of Harrison’s hand was strong against her gloved hand as he helped her step into the curricle. He settled himself beside her and immediately released the brake, picked up the ribbons, and snapped them onto the horses’ rumps. The carriage took off with a jolt and a rumble.

White wispy clouds scattered across a blue sky and the bright glare of the sun. Angelina opened her parasol and relaxed into the softly cushioned seat. It was a glorious day for a ride in the park, but she needed to be painting.

“Do I hear you laughing?” the earl asked.

Was I?

“Laughing? Me? I don’t think so. You must be hearing things.”

“Aren’t you happy?”

“I guess so. I mean, yes, I’m happy. What an odd question. Are you happy?” she countered.

“Very,” he said, turning off her street and maneuvering the horses to fall in line behind a curricle carrying another couple. “You seemed flustered when you walked into the drawing room.”

I was.

“Flustered doesn’t mean unhappy. Not that I’m admitting I was flustered, either, you understand,” she added hastily.

“I suppose I could have given you more notice of my intention to take you for an afternoon ride.”

“That would have been polite,” she agreed. “And even better if you had asked whether I’d like to go rather than just telling my father you were coming to take me.”

“Ah, I see. So as with the dancing—you want to be asked and given the chance to decline.”

“Yes,” she said with a smile. “That would be nice.”

“I’ll try to remember that.” He glanced over at her and offered a roguish grin. “I suppose being told takes some of the charm off the ride.”

Very little
, she wanted to say, but settled for giving him another smile instead.

“Tell me, how are your plans to save your father coming along?”

She had wondered if he would ever ask her about that. “My grandmother and I are working on something.”

“That’s good. What?”

“Nothing I want to talk about with you, Lord Thornwick.”

A wrinkle formed between his eyebrows. “But I’m curious.”

She smiled, feeling quite confident her paintings were going to produce enough money to help them pay down the debts. “I’m sure you are.”

“There aren’t many things two ladies can do.”

“Not many, but some.”

“You’re not going to tell me anything.”

“No.”

“Fair enough. Did you enjoy your afternoon with Captain Maxwell?” he asked after a couple of minutes’ silence.

She glanced at him, but he was keeping his eyes straight ahead on the horses. “Yes, we had a lovely visit,” she said and watched him drive by the road that would have taken them to Hyde Park. “You missed the turn to the park.”

He looked over at her. “I didn’t miss it.”

She twirled her parasol against her shoulder and said, “I’m sure we just passed it. If you look behind you, you’ll see you indeed missed the turn.”

“Did you think we were going to the park?”

Suspicion that all was not right seeped into her mind. “Didn’t you?”

He laughed. “No.”

“What do you mean? Didn’t you invite me to take a ride in the park with you?”

“No, I only told your father I wanted to take you for a ride.”

“You are very mischievous, my lord.”

“Perhaps, but I never said we would be going to a park. I’ve wanted to do this since it first crossed my mind, but I always ended up talking myself out of it.”

His words were like a needle prick. She knew he was only feigning interest in her to fool her father and the Prince, but that he felt the need to talk himself out of an afternoon ride with her stung.

Lord Thornwick will always be a scoundrel!

“But my father made a fair assumption, don’t you think?”

He shrugged. “Yes.”

“Well, no matter,” she said, determined to enjoy the afternoon. “It’s such a beautiful day, it will be nice to just ride and see the sights of London.”

“I didn’t say we didn’t have a destination.”

She looked over at him again, and once again he kept his eyes straight ahead. “So we are going somewhere?”

“Yes.”

A feeling of excitement rose in her. Any normal young lady would be frightened to be in a carriage with a renowned scoundrel, and here she was feeling a delicious thrill of excitement.

“You aren’t going to tell me where you’re taking me, are you?”

“That would spoil the surprise.”

Surprise?

What was the earl up to? She wasn’t sure she could trust him to take her anywhere, but that didn’t stop her nerve endings from tingling or keep her from wanting to go with him.

They had left the familiar part of town, past all the shopping. The houses were getting farther apart and the roads were less traveled and bumpier than the ones she was used to.

“I’m not sure this is a part of Town where I should be, my lord.”

“It’s not. But you are safe with me.”

“I was speaking of my reputation, not my personal safety.”

He laughed. “And you are right. Your reputation is always in danger when you are with me, Angelina.”

“How well I know.”

“And it’s nice to know you still remember our kiss.”

She would never forget it.

They took another turn and started down a long lane that was more two ruts in a path than a road. There were no houses on either side of the trail, but plenty of tall bushy shrubs and scrub trees showing new growth lining the way. A large dwelling came into view at the end of the lane. Unlike the drive up to the house, its spacious lawn was well tended with precision-cut yew and shrubs outlining it.

“Do the people who live here know we are coming?” she asked.

“No, but you don’t have to make an appointment to visit.”

It didn’t surprise her for a moment that he would take her someplace where no prearrangements were necessary.

“I have to say I’m quite curious about why we are here.”

He stopped in front of the house and set the brake. He jumped down and reached back for her. “Take my hand. You’re about to find out.”

Leaving her parasol in the carriage, she walked with him up to the door. He rapped the door knocker. After a short time a well-dressed woman opened the door, looked at them curiously, and said, “May I help you?”

“We’re here to see Mrs. Vaughan.”

“Come in. I’ll get her.”

Entering an unknown house with Lord Thornwick was definitely against the rules of polite Society, but Angelina wasn’t about to object without finding out why they were there.

The servant led them into a drawing room and said, “Wait here.”

“Would you like to sit down?” Lord Thornwick asked.

“I’ll stand for now,” Angelina answered. She glanced around the room, noting a large, impressive portrait of a beautiful woman sitting in an upholstered chair, holding a Pomeranian. A stately-looking Pyrenees stood by her legs and a spaniel lay at her feet.

“Lord Thornwick.”

Angelina turned to see the tall, beautiful lady in the portrait rising from a curtsy. She looked to be about the age of Angelina’s grandmother. She wore a dark-lavender dress trimmed with black lace. The neckline of the bodice was cut low. A diamond-and-amethyst necklace that seemed more appropriate for evening wear than daytime hung around her neck.

Lord Thornwick introduced her as Mrs. Olivia Vaughan. Angelina thought the woman had one of the sweetest smiles she’d ever seen.

“Thank you for coming to see what I’ve done, Miss Rule.’’

“I didn’t tell Miss Rule why we are here.”

Mrs. Vaughan’s eyes rounded. “Oh, well, then let’s get right to our tour and show her. Follow me.”

Angelina looked at Lord Thornwick and mouthed,
Tour what?

You’ll see
, he mouthed back to her and motioned for her to fall in step behind Mrs. Vaughan.

They walked out the back door and down the steps. As soon as they were outside, Angelina heard dogs. Some barked and some yelped, but none of them sounded as if they were hurt or in pain. They started across a spacious lawn toward a huge building. Over the entrance was a large sign that read
THE ANIMAL SHELTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF HYDROPHOBIA
.

“You’re not the only one who takes in wounded and starving dogs,” Harrison said.

Angelina turned to Mrs. Vaughan and asked, “You help rescue injured dogs, too?”

“I do. Maybe on a little grander scale than you, but no matter how little one can do, it is all important. Lord Thornwick thought you might like to see what I do.”

“Yes, thank you. I’d love to.”

Harrison opened the door and they stepped inside a large barnlike structure. Around the perimeter were cages with dogs of varying sizes and breeds. Angelina guessed there were close to fifty cages. The dogs barked, yelped, scratched, and clawed, trying to get out and garner the attention of the friendly faces who entered their domain.

“I’ve never seen a place that has so many dogs,” Angelina said walking farther into the building.

“We’ve been here less than a year,” she said. “When my life became less complicated last year, I knew what I wanted to do. I opened a shelter to help those poor little creatures who have no home.”

Angelina felt her chest swell. “That is so kind of you. That is something I would like to do one day.”

“And perhaps you shall. I can’t help them all but as you can see, I help all I can. I call it my dog sanctuary. By calling it a shelter for the prevention of the spread of rabies, I receive a lot of generous donations from friends and even strangers who have a fear of rabid dogs. Two gamekeepers look after the dogs for me. They feed them, exercise them, and tend their wounds if necessary.”

“I don’t know what to say. This is such a wonderful idea. I wish I could do something on a grand scale like this.”

“If you’ve saved one, Miss Rule, you’ve helped.”

“I wanted you to know this place was here,” Harrison told her. “If you find a dog that needs help, send a note to Mrs. Vaughan and she will send someone to your house and bring him here.”

“I only wish we could take all the street dogs,” she added to Lord Thornwick’s words. “Alas, we have to limit it to those who are starving or hurt and can no longer take care of themselves. I can’t bear to see a wounded animal in pain and not do something.”

“Neither can I,” Angelina echoed.

Lord Thornwick remained quiet and let Angelina talk with Mrs. Vaughan about her shelter, about how she went about trying to find homes for some of the dogs. Angelina could have stayed the rest of the afternoon, but all too soon the earl said it was time to go.

Once good-byes were said, and they were settled back on the curricle, Angelina reached over and kissed Lord Thornwick on his clean-shaven cheek. She caught a whiff of shaving soap. His eyes brightened. His gaze swept up and down her face. Finally she’d done something to surprise him. That pleased her.

“That was quite unexpected, Angelina, but appreciated.”

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

He released the brake and gave the horses the command to move. “I’m glad I finally decided it was all right to bring you here.”

“Why would you not want to? This is a wonderful place. And Mrs. Vaughan said I could bring dogs here anytime and she would see that they are taken care of.”

“No,” he said quickly. “She said for you to send her a message and she would send someone for the dog. And that is the way it must be handled.”