Page 14 of Her Tempting Traitor
Fook. As if his legs weren’t weak enough already. Better focus on whatever Sir Richard was blathering on about.
With great difficulty, Cassian dragged his attention to his portly and beaming host.
“—fellow in Glasgow I bought her from—he’s the one who sold me Jerald the llama, and that pair of marmosets—said she’s been pregnant for about a year now. Or rather, I’ve had her for a few months, and he’d had her for the rest of the time, and she’d apparently been pregnant the whole time. Is that possible?”
The veterinarian, a tall young man with auburn hair under a simple hat, nodded and hummed. “Och aye, apparently. This fellow, he regularly imports big animals like…like elephants and lemurs?” When the woman cleared her throat without looking up, he corrected. “Llamas, I mean. Big animals.”
“Oh, no!” Sir Richard chuckled jollily, hooking his thumbs in his waistcoat pockets and rocking back on his heels before sobering. “This was his first elephant, he said. Too expensive to feed, he said. My Zilphia has always wanted one, you know—we rode one in India on our honeymoon.” He winked at the veterinarian. “Did a bit more than justrideatop one, if you catch my drift, excuse me, miss.”
This last was said to the woman at the side of the veterinarian, as if Sir Richard was only just now noticing her.Cassian didn’t see how it was possible; he hadn’tstoppednoticing her.
She was shorter than her companion—husband? Nay, thank Jesus, Sir Richard had called hermiss—and had hair several shades redder than his, hidden beneath a bonnet a few seasons out of style. Right now she was bent over a little notepad, scribbling furiously.
The veterinarian, who had smirked weakly at Sir Richard’s claim, now glanced down at her notepad, seemed to read what was written there, then lifted his gaze and cleared his throat. “And how long did the gentleman who sold it to ye have her?”
The older man frowned. “I don’t know. Is that important?”
The veterinarian glanced down at the woman at his side. “Is that important?” Then he immediately shook his head and plastered on a smile as he turned back to Sir Richard. “I dinnae ken if it’s important, that’s why I asked. Can we find out? Was the elephant sick in his care, or just since she moved here to Inverlochy, that sort of thing.”
Sir Richard puffed up. “I’ll have you know I only feed her the best! I’ve had my share of expectant mothers in my menagerie, and…” He deflated slightly. “Well. She’s not acting right. Damned peaky, poor thing. Lying down. Quiet. Off her feed, don’t you know.”
Cassian found himself glancing down at his son, reminded of Sir Richard’s defense of the lad at dinner a week ago.Off his feed.Gus was chewing on his bottom lip, glancing between the newcomers and the elephant.
Before he could think better of it, Cassian placed his hand on the lad’s shoulder, and Gus reared back, whirling inshock. Resisting the urge to wince, Cassian schooled his features and nodded to the elephant.
“She’ll be aright, laddie,” he murmured. “The doctor will cure her.”
He must have spoken too loudly. Because while Gus stared up at him in surprise, the veterinarian seemed to notice him.
“Of course she—we—I’llfix it—herright up. She’ll be right as rain in no time.” Smiling, he stuck his hand out. “And I’m the veterinarian.”
What an odd introduction.
At his side, the woman’s gaze shifted upward to the clouds as she pressed her lips together. Was she praying for the stricken beast? Trying not to laugh?
Cassian told himself he was hobbling toward the pair of them because it was expected he shake the man’s hand, andnotbecause he wanted another glimpse of the woman’s dark blue eyes.
“Cassian Grey,” he grunted, accepting the man’s hand. “My son, Augustus.”
“Hello,” the man said cheerfully, shaking first Cassian’s hand, then Gus’s, with too much enthusiasm. “I’m Hunter—DoctorHunter…Butcombe.” It was unlikely anyone not trained by Her Majesty’s Secret Service would have missed his awkward stumble. “Doctor Hunter Butcombe. And this is my sister, Gabby. Gabrielle. She’s come along to…keep notes for me.”
Finally, an excuse to shift his attention toher. Sister, eh? And she wore no wedding ring.
Cassian told himself he only noticed such things—and the way her hips swung as she turned, and the curve of her neck under her upswept hair—because he’d beentrainedto notice.
Not because it mattered that she wasn’t married.
“Miss Butcombe,” he acknowledged, inclining his head. He wasnotgoing to take her hand. He couldn’t afford to, not after the way his body had reacted to just thesightof her.
Dear God, she wasn’t even wearing gloves. Definitely the right decision.
Besides, after a firm nod in his direction, the woman was scribbling on her notepad again. The doctor glanced down at it and visibly winced.
“Take notesandfollow my instructions, of course!” he announced too loudly, turning back to Sir Richard. “Gabby is really quite capable, if ye have any animals that need looking after while we’re here.”
“Well,” hedged the portly knight, glancing between the doctor and the reclining elephant, whom even Cassian could see was breathing laboriously. “Well, if you trust her, I suppose I don’t mind if she pops in to check on a few of the menagerie. Learned everything from her brother, I expect! The elephant is far too expensive to trust to an amateur, you have to understand. I’m sorry, my dear.”
Rather than looking chagrined, Miss Gabby Butcombe nodded firmly. “What is her name?” she asked, and Cassian started.
