foyer.
Dulcie hesitated on a bottom step, wondering if she should take Simon outside before going into supper. While she was making up her mind, a deep, male voice captured her attention, and she swiveled her head toward him. “Lady Dulcina?” A tall footman approached her. “Er, milady, may I be of service?”
“Oh, yes,” she said, gifting him with a smile. “I suppose you can.”
Simon sniffed curiously at the liveried servant’s shiny, buckled shoes and white stockings, then sat on his haunches next to Dulcie.
“I’ve been summoned to supper. Can you tell me what door leads…”
“Follow me, milady,” he replied quickly. ”Shall I hold on to your animal for you?”
“No, Simon is coming with me.” Dulcie ignored his surprised expression when he raised his eyebrows at her.
Rearranging his countenance, Joshua, the footman, said, “As you wish, milady. The countess awaits you in the blue parlor.” He threw open the double doors with an air of hesitancy. “Lady Dulcina … er, and her dog ,” he announced and quickly shut the doors behind Dulcie and Simon.
Dulcie started to approach the countess with Simon at her side to greet her stepmother.
“Dog!” The countess screeched from where she sat and rose immediately to face the doorway. “Was it you who brought that dirty animal into this house?” Agina exclaimed, seeing the pair drawing near. “Dulcina, get rid of that animal this minute! I don’t allow dogs in my house.”
At the sound of her strident tone, Simon rumbled deep in his throat.
Dulcie stooped and stroked his head. “Shush. Good boy.” When she straightened, Dulcie held herself ramrod straight as if she had a metal poker up her spine. “Mother, Simon comes with me wherever I go. If you forbid his presence here, then he and I shall simply turn about and return to Bonne Vista.”
“How dare you answer me that way? Have you no manners? Your impertinence is particularly unwise of you, although I seem to recall you’ve always been flippant, unruly, and rag-mannered. You should have learned by now how to behave. I’m not surprised, though,” Agina grumbled. “You have run wild without any real discipline for far too many years.” The countess glowered at her. “Well, we shall see about that. I won’t stand for your tart remarks, Dulcina. I expect an apology from you this very minute.”
Dulcie hadn’t expected such a furious scold from her stepmother upon entering the parlor.
“Keep that filthy animal way from me!” Agina exclaimed louder, hurriedly looking around. “Griff, catch hold of that beast. Don’t let him anywhere near me.”
Dulcie could scarcely suppress the laughter bubbling up into her throat. Simon was the most gentle, trainable dog she knew. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. And he had always been clean. But her stepmother was afraid of him! She wondered if together, she and her dog could manage to get them sent back to Surrey where they belonged, quicker than she had hoped. Holding out a hand for the dog’s leash, the fair-haired stranger strolled toward Dulcie.
Simon wagged his tail when the man came close, sniffing up and down his booted legs from toes to knees. Seeming satisfied, Simon lay down flat, his nose stuck between his big paws.
Dulcie glanced up to meet the man’s eyes. She recognized amusement shimmering in his gray-eyed visage. “I once owned a dog like this one,” he said very low, his melodious baritone tinged with good humor. “Perhaps, that is why he is friendly toward me. I did hear him growling a little earlier, however, and wondered where the sound came from. You must occupy the room next to mine.”
“Simon only growls if he is in strange surroundings. Or, if he is in the company of people he isn’t sure of or doesn’t like,” she whispered, throwing a quick glance toward the countess.
With his back toward Agina, Griff slowly winked at Dulcie and said, almost under his breath, “Ahh. So perhaps he’s not terribly fond of
Dulcie hesitated on a bottom step, wondering if she should take Simon outside before going into supper. While she was making up her mind, a deep, male voice captured her attention, and she swiveled her head toward him. “Lady Dulcina?” A tall footman approached her. “Er, milady, may I be of service?”
“Oh, yes,” she said, gifting him with a smile. “I suppose you can.”
Simon sniffed curiously at the liveried servant’s shiny, buckled shoes and white stockings, then sat on his haunches next to Dulcie.
“I’ve been summoned to supper. Can you tell me what door leads…”
“Follow me, milady,” he replied quickly. ”Shall I hold on to your animal for you?”
“No, Simon is coming with me.” Dulcie ignored his surprised expression when he raised his eyebrows at her.
Rearranging his countenance, Joshua, the footman, said, “As you wish, milady. The countess awaits you in the blue parlor.” He threw open the double doors with an air of hesitancy. “Lady Dulcina … er, and her dog ,” he announced and quickly shut the doors behind Dulcie and Simon.
Dulcie started to approach the countess with Simon at her side to greet her stepmother.
“Dog!” The countess screeched from where she sat and rose immediately to face the doorway. “Was it you who brought that dirty animal into this house?” Agina exclaimed, seeing the pair drawing near. “Dulcina, get rid of that animal this minute! I don’t allow dogs in my house.”
At the sound of her strident tone, Simon rumbled deep in his throat.
Dulcie stooped and stroked his head. “Shush. Good boy.” When she straightened, Dulcie held herself ramrod straight as if she had a metal poker up her spine. “Mother, Simon comes with me wherever I go. If you forbid his presence here, then he and I shall simply turn about and return to Bonne Vista.”
“How dare you answer me that way? Have you no manners? Your impertinence is particularly unwise of you, although I seem to recall you’ve always been flippant, unruly, and rag-mannered. You should have learned by now how to behave. I’m not surprised, though,” Agina grumbled. “You have run wild without any real discipline for far too many years.” The countess glowered at her. “Well, we shall see about that. I won’t stand for your tart remarks, Dulcina. I expect an apology from you this very minute.”
Dulcie hadn’t expected such a furious scold from her stepmother upon entering the parlor.
“Keep that filthy animal way from me!” Agina exclaimed louder, hurriedly looking around. “Griff, catch hold of that beast. Don’t let him anywhere near me.”
Dulcie could scarcely suppress the laughter bubbling up into her throat. Simon was the most gentle, trainable dog she knew. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. And he had always been clean. But her stepmother was afraid of him! She wondered if together, she and her dog could manage to get them sent back to Surrey where they belonged, quicker than she had hoped. Holding out a hand for the dog’s leash, the fair-haired stranger strolled toward Dulcie.
Simon wagged his tail when the man came close, sniffing up and down his booted legs from toes to knees. Seeming satisfied, Simon lay down flat, his nose stuck between his big paws.
Dulcie glanced up to meet the man’s eyes. She recognized amusement shimmering in his gray-eyed visage. “I once owned a dog like this one,” he said very low, his melodious baritone tinged with good humor. “Perhaps, that is why he is friendly toward me. I did hear him growling a little earlier, however, and wondered where the sound came from. You must occupy the room next to mine.”
“Simon only growls if he is in strange surroundings. Or, if he is in the company of people he isn’t sure of or doesn’t like,” she whispered, throwing a quick glance toward the countess.
With his back toward Agina, Griff slowly winked at Dulcie and said, almost under his breath, “Ahh. So perhaps he’s not terribly fond of
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