Page 33 of The Duke Says I Do
In the stables, Granville consigned Jupiter to Matty’s care, while Portia lingered outside in the shadows. Within seconds, Jupiter was wolfing down a dinner of what looked like fillet steak.
Granville took her arm and led her down the short, cobbled lane out of the mews. Touching her was a bad idea. It made him want to take her into his arms again.
Then a genuine problem raised its head.
Before they reached the street, Jupiter started to howl.
“Oh, dear.” Portia’s dry tone only made him recall how breathless and delectably confused she’d sounded when hekissed her. The Duke of Granville could cross a public square in another gentleman’s company. If he seized that gentleman in a passionate embrace, eyebrows would rise.
“What the deuce is the matter with the animal?” He had just enough sense left to keep his voice to a murmur.
“He misses you.”
Obviously. The howling became more frantic by the minute. “I can’t spend the rest of my life playing nursemaid to a dog of indeterminate parentage. I have parliamentary duties and social obligations. If Almack’s refused to admit Wellington because he had the temerity to turn up in trousers, they won’t admit me with a scruffy hound who doesn’t have vouchers.”
“So youaregoing to keep him?”
He should have known that she’d ignore his jocularity and fasten on the one piece of salient information. “Haven’t I said so?”
“Not in so many words.”
He sighed. “To Hades with you, Portia Frain. You knew I was going to adopt that dog the minute you asked me. Don’t turn all coy on me now.”
That husky chuckle always made him think of bed sport. “I hoped.”
“You did more than that, and don’t pretend you didn’t.”
She didn’t bother denying it. “He’ll settle in, once he gets used to Matty and the rest of your household. He’s been through a lot today.”
“He’s not the only one,” Granville muttered.
“You need to go back before people start banging on your door.”
“I need to see you’re safe first.”
He didn’t want to leave her yet. Hell, he didn’t want to leave her at all. It seemed that Jupiter wasn’t the only one avid to remain with the object of his affections.
He shouldn’t mind that she suffered no qualms about leaving him.
“I’ll be fine. It’s only a few yards.”
“But…”
But I don’t want to let you go. I don’t want to sleep alone without you tonight. I don’t want to wake up without you at my side tomorrow.
He couldn’t say any of that, damn it.
“My lady?” A male voice emerged from the hedge edging the garden in the center of the square.
“Rankin?” she asked in a whisper, although with Jupiter’s caterwauling, they could have a coloratura soprano out here and nobody would notice. “Is that you?”
“Aye.” A burly man emerged from the greenery. “I thought you might need help getting back into the house.”
“God bless you,” she said. “Yes, please.”
“What is that unholy racket?” the coachman asked.
“That’s the dog we rescued today. He’s missing his master.”
