Page 4 of Impeccable
Lord Gregory turned to face her, his lips turning up slightly. “This is where we leave you, I’m afraid. What will I do if Ash despairs in your absence?”
Evie knew that was nonsense. Was Lord Gregory flirting with her? It didn’t seem like it—he was refreshingly genuine. “He won’t.”
“I suppose not. You did say you wished to visit, and I shall ensure your parting is short, if not temporary.”
“Your persistence is unwavering. Anyway, I suspect you’ll find where he belongs. A child is perhaps missing him even now.” That pulled at Evie’s heartstrings, both because she hated to think of a child saddened by the loss of their pet and because she didn’t want Ash to belong to anyone.
Except perhaps to her.
No! She didn’t have time for a dog.
“That may be true,” Lord Gregory said. “I’ll keep you informed.” He started to turn toward the opening between the hedge and tree, but Evie stopped him.
“One last nuzzle,” she said softly, cupping Ash’s sweet face. His round brown eyes met hers, and she nearly succumbed. The pup didn’t need Lord Gregory’s help in trying to persuade her to keep him.
Evie kissed the dog’s head and quickly backed away. “Thank you for taking care of him.”
Lord Gregory inclined his head, then disappeared through the hedgerow. She watched him turn to the left, which was the direction she would go. Indeed, she could just make out the top of his hat over the shrubbery. He couldn’t see her, however.
“Are you still there?” he asked a moment later.
Evie smiled to herself. “For a while. Until I need to turn toward the house.”
“I see. There is an assembly in town day after tomorrow. Will you be there?”
“I don’t know.” Evie didn’t really want to go, but Heloise would continue trying to convince her that it would be engaging. In the end, Evie would likely attend in order to please her sister.
“It will be my first social event since my father died,” he said in a lower tone that made her have to strain a bit to hear him. “Except for my brother’s engagement ball in London and his wedding breakfast at Witney Court. Those don’t count, however, as I wasn’t actually looking forward to attending them.”
She wasn’t sure if she ought to encourage him or not. “Only go if you’re ready.”
“I appreciate you saying that.” Indeed, she heard the warmth in his voice even though the hedgerow separated them.
Evie heard a horse’s hooves from the other side of the hedgerow and looked over to see a white female rider approach Lord Gregory.
“What do you have there, Gregory?” The voice belonged to a young woman and carried the cultured tone of London High Society.
“We found a puppy in the hedgerow. I’m going to determine if he belongs to anyone. Poor thing needs food and water, I think.”
“Who is ‘we’?” The question was haughty, almost accusatory.
“I met your new neighbor. Well, their guest anyway. Are you there, Mrs. Renshaw?”
Evie froze. She didn’t want to be part of that conversation. It was nearly time for her to turn toward the house anyway. Except she didn’t go. Instead, she edged closer to the hedgerow so she wouldn’t be seen over the top by the rider.
“Where is she?” the young woman asked.
“She was on the other side of the hedgerow, but she must have continued on her way to the house. I told her we’d invite the Creightons—and her—for…something. Dinner, perhaps?”
“I’m not sure Cliff is ready to do that.” The young woman, who must be Lord Gregory’s sister-in-law, sniffed.
“He seems ready to attend the assembly in a few days.” Lord Gregory sounded strained, almost…irritated.
“Yes, well, that’s different from entertaining. Honestly, Gregory, don’t you know anything about these new neighbors? His father wasin trade, and she was his mistress before they wed.”
“How would you know that?” Now he definitely sounded annoyed.
“My mother told me in a letter after I informed her who our new neighbors were.”
