Ice Angel (7 page)

‘W
ELL
, you troublesome cub,’ began Hal with a rueful laugh, ‘this is how I am rewarded for taking you to Kensington Gardens this morning – a muddy coat and paw prints over my right boot, both of which will reduce my valet to tears.’

Dominic grinned broadly in response. ‘We had fun so a little dirt does not matter. Tell your valet that it was necessary or Aesop would have been taken away and punished.’ He sat in Hal’s curricle as they travelled back to Curzon Street and squeezed between them, flicking an adoring gaze between his two rescuers, sat a pitiful looking black and white dog, a dubious cross between a collie and a terrier.

‘Aesop?’ queried Hal, puzzled.

Dominic patted their canine companion. ‘The dog, of course! I thought I would call him Aesop because he must know lots of tales from the scrapes he’s been in. You know, I think he likes you almost as much as he likes me.’

‘Hmm,’ said Hal, looking askance at Aesop, ‘so I observe, although our friendship was sealed because I purchased the ham he had stolen from the butcher and allowed him to finish it.’

‘That butcher had a very red face; he was annoyed until you offered to pay and then he became polite – he even offered to send a sirloin of beef around to your house – but I didn’t like him for beating Aesop.’

‘The dog didn’t approve of him either,’ observed Hal in a dry voice. ‘He snarled and barked at Mr Butcher in the most appallingly ill-mannered way that I was forced to reprimand him.’

‘But Aesop stopped barking as soon as you commanded him to, so he must be a well-behaved dog if he is not provoked,’ said Dominic. ‘Poor thing! He looks like he has been starved.’

‘A shabby specimen indeed, but some good meals and a bath will soon address that.’

Aesop barked as if to agree and Dominic observed appreciatively, ‘You see, he is clever – I’m sure he understands every word we are saying.’

‘In that case, I hope he will understand that I cannot take him to Berkeley Square. I have a houseful of family and servants, and a ball planned for the near future. To place a dog, even one as charming as Aesop, into such a cauldron of activity could be disastrous.’

‘But I don’t want you to take him there,’ said Dominic. ‘I want to take him home; Mama already said I could have a puppy, so she won’t mind if I arrive with a dog.’

Hal raised an eyebrow. ‘Won’t there be objections in view of your existing menagerie?’

‘My what?’ asked Dominic, mystified.

‘Your collection of pets,’ explained Hal with a smile.

‘Oh, that!’ Dominic’s brow cleared and he said confidently, ‘Well, Mama never breaks a promise. Aunt Harriet is the only person who complains about my menag, menager … my animals, and she never means it. Of course, if Mama really does not wish it then I would not keep him.’

‘You are a credit to your mother, Dominic.’

‘I don’t like upsetting her,’ he replied gravely. ‘Mama used to be unhappy all the time because my father was cross with everyone, especially Mama, but now she smiles and hardly ever cries – I didn’t like it when she cried.’

Hal digested this in silence. Dominic’s artless words seemed to confirm that Isabella’s marriage had been unhappy and he wondered again what bitter memories she held. He knew that he needed to be patient and that Isabella needed time – time to know him better and to trust him. At least she had grown more accepting of his visits now, and befriended Julia, but Hal dared to hope he had detected a more profound change recently. The deep glow of affection – no, more than affection: desire – lurked in Isabella’s eyes when she looked at him, but she always turned away quickly and the moment was lost. It was as if she was afraid that he would see what was written there.

Giving his attention back to Dominic, he replied, ‘Very well, let us see if your mama is prepared to house Aesop temporarily. I suppose I will step into the breach if necessary, although having Aesop as a companion would ruin my reputation,’ Hal observed with a grin. ‘Several of my acquaintances stared in astonishment as they passed us by this morning.’

They reached Curzon Street and were followed into the entrance by Aesop, who pressed his thin body against Dominic’s legs under Silwood’s disapproving glare.

Lord Bramwell, passing his driving gloves and hat towards the bemused butler, said, ‘Where is Lady Vane?’

‘In the yellow saloon, my lord, but—’

‘Then we will announce ourselves,’ interjected Hal. Looking down at the dog beside him, he remarked severely, ‘Try to behave, Aesop. It will not do to show your rag manners here.’ Aesop wagged his tail in response and trotted after Dominic, who was already bounding up the stairs.

‘Mama!’ cried Dominic, bursting into the saloon, ‘Look what we have found! He is the dearest thing, and you must let me keep him because you said that I might have a puppy, except I don’t wish for a puppy anymore, just Aesop. An angry butcher hit him with a broom for stealing his ham, and then a crowd gathered around to see what the fuss was for, but Lord Bramwell saved him, and bought the ham, and gave the butcher some money for his trouble! Everyone was most obliging when they discovered Hal was a lord—’

‘Stop, Dominic!’ said Isabella, laughing at this tumbled, breathless speech. ‘Who is Aesop?’

The forlorn-looking canine padded over to Isabella, Harriet and their companion, Sir Seymour.

‘What is that dog doing here?’ exclaimed Isabella in
astonishment
.

Harriet observed Aesop’s arrival with dismay, ‘Dominic! You cannot bring that flea-ridden creature into the saloon.’

Sir Seymour, whose expression was one of stunned confusion, had been enjoying a conversation with Lady Vane and Mrs Forster on the merits of wheat flour boiled in ale for a poultice, but a cacophony of noise had begun on Dominic’s return and he eyed Aesop uneasily through his quizzing glass. ‘I cannot allow that animal too near, Lady Vane,’ he remarked in an enervated voice. ‘He might bite.’

‘Fustian!’ said Dominic bluntly. ‘He won’t bite you – Lord Bramwell says Aesop’s manners can be improved, but he has a good character.’

‘I’m afraid I must take most of the blame for the dog being here,’ admitted Hal as he came into the room. ‘After rescuing him from an irate shopkeeper, I did not have the heart to leave him to further punishment.’

‘You saved this scraggy animal?’ queried Sir Seymour,
incredulous
, ‘but why?’

‘What a silly question! Because he needed saving, that’s why,’ said Dominic.

‘Enough, you unruly imp,’ murmured Hal, his lips twitching. ‘I can fight my own battles.’

‘Dominic, apologize to Sir Seymour for your rudeness!’ said his mother.

Chastened, an embarrassed flush crept across Dominic’s face and he shuffled his feet. ‘I – I’m very sorry, sir, but we had fun and Aesop is grateful.’

‘Is Aesop the dog’s name?’ asked Isabella, understanding dawning in her expressive eyes.

Hal nodded and grinned. ‘Your son decided it would be an appropriate epithet.’

Isabella felt her heart quicken at his devastatingly attractive smile and, transfixed by what she saw in his eyes, she was unable to look away. Hal’s expression held a quizzical half-smile as he watched her and the rest of the world seemed to retreat as warmth raced through her veins. Colour stung her cheeks and she struggled to draw in a breath as she stared at him, shocked and confused at the intensity of her reaction. Eventually, after what seemed like an age, her aunt’s voice broke the spell and Isabella was able to tear her gaze away.

‘But how did you become entangled in Aesop’s affairs?’ asked Harriet.

‘When we went to Kensington Gardens, Aesop decided to run our way with the ham he had stolen,’ said Dominic. ‘A red-faced butcher was chasing him with a broom, but Aesop hid under Hal’s carriage, growling and barking at the man, until Hal told him to be quiet and offered to pay. A crowd of people were watching us by then and—’

‘I am so sorry, Lord Bramwell,’ interjected Isabella, horrified that he should have been drawn into another fracas. ‘You have been extremely inconvenienced.’

He laughed. ‘Not unless you count as an inconvenience the cost of a ham joint, a muddy coat and paw marks on my best Hoby boots – which I certainly do not.’

‘Good gracious!’ muttered Sir Seymour, studying Lord Bramwell through his quizzing glass in alarm. ‘You must have those items cleaned at once, Bramwell; a dose of champagne blacking will work wonders on your boots.’

‘But I always get muddy and Mama says it does not matter at all,’ said Dominic, puzzled at Sir Seymour’s anxiety; Aesop, tongue lolling from his mouth, wagged his tail in agreement.

‘Can Aesop stay here, Mama?’ said Dominic. ‘He can live downstairs until we move to the country.’

‘I would offer to house the animal myself if I did not have house guests and a ball approaching, Lady Vane. If you can keep him in Curzon Street for a short while, I promise to send him to Chenning Court at the earliest opportunity,’ said Hal.

‘Mayfair is no place for a dog, and they bring on my chesty cough,’ protested Sir Seymour with a shake of his head.

‘Surely we do not have the room?’ said Harriet, picturing paw prints over her needlework, ‘although I must say, he looks a dear thing and would keep us company.’

‘Aesop needs more space that we can give him, Dominic, and we shall not be leaving London for a few weeks yet—’ began Isabella.

‘Please, Mama!’ begged Dominic, with an imploring glance. ‘He is so thin and hungry.’

Hal watched as indecision shadowed her features. ‘My hunting dogs are at Chenning, Lady Vane,’ he said gently. ‘I give you my word he would be well cared for there until you chose to house him again yourself.’

‘Very well,’ agreed Isabella, sighing. In truth, she was glad of Lord Bramwell’s assistance in managing this unexpected
situation
, even though she knew it was weak of her.

‘Then I suppose we must move more of Lady Bingham’s china,’ murmured Harriet.

Dominic, giving a cry of delight, ran to hug both his mother and Hal. ‘Thank you, Mama! And thank you, Lord Bramwell!’

Hal laughed at his enthusiasm. ‘Thank
you
, child, for an entertaining morning.’

Unfortunately, Aesop decided to join in this display of mutual appreciation and, placing his paws on Sir Seymour’s pristine biscuit-coloured pantaloons, reached up to lick his face.

‘Off!’ shrieked Sir Seymour, his quizzing glass falling from his limp fingers as he looked down in horror. ‘Mud, and on my favourite pantaloons too!’ He leapt to his feet and began rubbing vigorously at the marks with a silk handkerchief which only spread them further. Groaning in disbelief, he raised his eyes and appealed for help from a reliable source. ‘Mrs Forster, it will not do – you see they are quite ruined.’

A smile touched the corners of Hal’s mouth: Dinny was rich enough to buy new pantaloons every day of the week if he chose to, but he seemed determined to make a great fuss of this pair. ‘Now see what you have done, Aesop,’ said Hal, addressing the dog in a severe tone. ‘Rag manners indeed!’

‘Can they be cleaned?’ said Isabella, struggling to maintain her composure as she caught sight of Lord Bramwell’s
countenance
.

‘The very thing,’ replied Sir Seymour eagerly, ‘but it must be done as soon as possible.’

Harriet, who had sympathy for Sir Seymour’s plight, exclaimed, ‘Fuller’s earth! Fuller’s earth, laid over the mark and then pressed with a hot iron, is very successful. I shall write out directions for your valet while you collect your hat and gloves, Sir Seymour.’

‘You are too good, dear lady,’ he said, much moved. Anxious to be away before anyone else saw him in this less than perfect state of dress, Sir Seymour reminded Isabella that he had reserved a box at Drury Lane for Friday evening before hurrying out in Harriet’s wake and giving Aesop, now sprawled nonchalantly on the rug, a deprecating glance.

When he had gone, Dominic giggled. ‘What a fuss Sir Seymour makes over a little mud, Mama! I’m sure Aesop only meant to be friendly.’

‘I’m sure he did, Dominic, but Sir Seymour’s clothes are very important to him,’ said his mother, a tremor in her voice.

‘It might have been worse, so let us be thankful,’ observed Hal solemnly.

‘How?’ said Dominic.

‘It could have been his waistcoat,’ replied Hal with a slow grin and a wink.

Unable to contain her amusement any longer, Isabella laughed outright at this and Dominic chuckled too, until she said, ‘Go and wash your hands now, and take Aesop with you. Ask Mary to find a place for him downstairs where he cannot offend cook or anyone else. Oh, and ask one of the footmen to give him a bath – I daresay he needs one.’

Dominic nodded and after thanking his mother and Lord Bramwell once more, he left with the dog trotting behind.

Isabella, suddenly realizing that she and Lord Bramwell were alone, gave him a nervous glance. She was not afraid of him – she was afraid of herself. This was the moment she had been dreading and, just as she suspected, her traitorous body did not disappoint. A tingling awareness began to rush through her once more, her breathing came fast and shallow and her
heartbeat
hastened. Every sense seemed to dilate and heighten when he was near and Isabella looked away to cover her confusion. Her eyes fell to his Hessian boots, noting the muddy paw marks as he walked towards her. If only he were physically
unattractive
, or unkind, or conceited – perhaps then she might have been able to curb her response. As it was, the battle was lost. She did not know how or why, but this man was dragging her feelings and emotions inexorably back to life. ‘Th-thank you for your kindness to Dominic, Lord Bramwell,’ she stammered, finding her voice at last. ‘He enjoys your company, and you are generous to give him so much of your time.’

‘There is no need to thank me – Dominic is a delightful child. I hope you do not mind the dog being foisted upon you, Lady Vane; he can go to Chenning as soon arrangements have been made.’

‘We will manage somehow. Dominic had already been
promised
a puppy, although I did not think to add a dog to our household while we are in London.’ Isabella paused, then added quietly, ‘And I did not doubt your word.’