Page 27 of The Earl's Reluctant Bride
Alexander could not help but wonder …. Would Elizabeth come to care for him like she did Salisbury?
CHAPTER12
Elizabeth was sitting in her bedchamber reading one of the volumes from the library. She was so pleased that her dearest friends had come to see her. Amelia and Eleanor had been honest in their conversation and they used every available opportunity to remind her of what a bounder Lord Salisbury was. She mulled things over each night and she understood that they were right. Alexander had done the honorable thing and married her in the face of adversity. It would do her well to remember that.
It was but two days before that she was sitting in the drawing room with Amelia and Eleanor when the butler came to find her. He announced that there was a gift waiting for her in the courtyard and she needed to come see it. The gift was from Lord Thornton. Elizabeth wondered what the devil it could be. She went to the courtyard and her friends accompanied her, too curious to stay behind.
The butler opened the front door and Elizabeth was presented with two dogs. At closer inspection, she realized they were puppies but rather large ones for the dog breed was a mastiff. The puppies ran into her dress and lapped at her feet as though they recognized her.
“How adorable!” Elizabeth exclaimed as she bent down to play with the pups. She soon realized they were a pair and she immediately decided to name them.
“What a lovely gift,” Amelia said as she knelt beside Elizabeth and stroked one of the pups.
“Indeed,” Eleanor followed.
“I will name him Teague and she will be called Princess,” Elizabeth decided right then that her pups would stay with her in the manor. She asked the butler to arrange for the staff to bathe the pups before bringing them inside for a morsel to eat. Elizabeth wondered how Alexander knew she was fond of dogs. There were always dogs on the estate Hertfordshire and she had loved and lost a few pets over the years. How considerate of him to think of her on his travels. Regardless of what she might think of him, she was pleased with her pups and she would be sure to thank him when he returned.
When Amelia and Eleanor had departed yesterday, they were complimentary and expressed their favor of Alexander even though they had never met him.
Elizabeth slammed the book that she was reading shut. She looked down at the pups who were laying by her feet quietly content. She got up from the chair having decided to take a walk and get some fresh air. She exited her bedchamber. The pups followed her dutifully down the stairs, through the front door, and toward the meadow she had discovered while exploring the manor.
The meadow whispered of the calm of centuries and the wisdom of flowers. Elizabeth felt at peace here. She walked through the meadow where the grass and flowers were allowed to grow unhindered, and for a moment, she wished she was as free as they were. She felt the overwhelming need to run so that the wind would sway her like it did the tall grass. Whyever not? Elizabeth lifted her dress slightly in both hands and dashed across the meadow with Teague and Princess in tow, but it was not long before they were abreast. She was determined to run faster, so she increased her strides, and it was exhilarating. Elizabeth let forth a gale of laughter when Teague and Princess overtook her.
Suddenly her feet were caught in a twine and before Elizabeth knew it, she took an unladylike tumble in the tall grass. Uncontrollable laughter flowed through the air as Elizabeth was in hysterics. Teague and Princess were sniffing and pawing at her as she rolled in the grass.
“You will stop this instant, both of you,” She attempted a stern voice but all she could hear was mirth. Elizabeth threw her head back and gave a hearty laugh. A shadow fell over her, momentarily unidentifiable because of the glare from the sun. Elizabeth shielded her eyes and gazed upon Alexander’s amused face. Laughter died on her lips and she looked at the hand Alexander extended to her before she clasped it.
“Alexander, I did not know you had returned,” Elizabeth said. As she stood up, she felt more uncertain than ever. His hand was strong and there was awareness where he touched her. She had a fleeting memory of his touch on the night he took her. Elizabeth flushed and lowered her lashes to shadow her cheek before she glanced up at him.
“I have only just returned and I was told you headed for the meadow. I thought to join you here,” Alexander regarded her, his gaze probing.
“I trust you are well—”
“I hope you had a—”
They had both spoken at the same time. “I am well, Alexander. I trust you had a good trip.”
“Indeed. I did.”
“I was very pleased to receive the gift of the pups. I have named them Teague and Princess.”
Alexander squatted to pet the pups who basked in his attention. He stood up and peered at Elizabeth. “What have you been feeding them, or should I ask how often?”
Elizabeth chuckled. “I decided to take them for a walk so we could enjoy the sunshine and a spot of fresh air. Will you join us?”
The amused look suddenly left his eyes as Alexander gazed into her’s. “I would like that.”
They set off toward the stream with the pups running playfully ahead of them. “To answer your question, I am sure you know mastiffs are of a large breed so they must be well-fed. They are companionable, affectionate, and eager and I love them. It was very kind of you to source them thank you.”
“It pleases me to know that you are happy with them.”
They walked together until they came upon the stream. Elizabeth watched as both Teague and Princess bounded into the water before she heard Alexander’s rich laughter. She watched him through the corner of her eyes and he was highly amused. The pups were having a jolly time so they decided to sit on a log that was lying by the stream.
“The weather is quite warm today so I suspect these two are of a mind to keep cool.”
“Well, they are certainly making a job of it.”
“The first stop on my trip was to see your parents. I know you must be anxious about it, but never fear, we had a good meeting and they took the news much better than expected. Your brother’s intervention made the difference.”
