Page 92 of Impeccable
“Because I am. I probably should leave London for good, but I don’t really want to. However, if I stay, my life will be completely different than it has been the past two years.”
“I don’t want it to be.” Ada frowned. “I want everything to go back to the way it was.”
“That is, unfortunately, impossible.”
The sound of barking carried upstairs, driving Evie to her feet. She recognized that bark. Rushing from the drawing room, she went to the stairs and immediately made eye contact with Ash at the base.
“Ash!” she called. “Come here, my sweet boy.”
The dog was already halfway up the stairs before she finished speaking. Evie crouched down and hugged him, grinning as he licked her face. “How are you?” she asked, as if he could respond. And she supposed he did, for he was clearly as happy to see her as she was to see him, his tail wagging and his face nuzzling hers.
Evie looked down the stairs, her breath snagging as she expected to see Gregory. But he wasn’t there. Just a gentleman she didn’t recognize.
“Mrs. Renshaw, I am Harris, Lord Gregory’s valet. He bade me bring Ash for a visit and hopes that is acceptable.”
It was far more than acceptable. “Please thank him. How long will you stay?”
“How long would you like, ma’am?”
Forever.
The answer came to her mind so fast and with such absolute certainty that she nearly fell onto her backside. “If you’d like to make yourself comfortable downstairs—Foster will take you—I’d be delighted to have Ash for a while.” The thought of sending him back to Gregory was an ache she pushed aside. Though, it would only increase when the time came.
Harris inclined his head, and Foster led him away.
Evie scooped Ash up and carried him toward her sitting room, where she still had one of his rope toys. Ada stood watching her from the entrance to the drawing room. Blinking, Evie realized she’d forgotten that Ada was even there.
Ada’s blue -gray eyes were soft with care. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so full of joy. Over a dog, no less.” She laughed warmly.
“It’s shocking to me too,” Evie admitted. “Come and meet him.” She carried Ash into the drawing room and set him down. After introducing him to Ada, she went to fetch his rope. He jumped around giddily when he saw her with it and took it greedily between his teeth when she offered it. She tugged it gently, and he growled as he worked to pull it free of her grasp.
“Is he angry?” Ada asked, sounding concerned.
“No, he’s playing.” Evie let go of the rope, and Ash bounded off with it. She watched him adoringly as he settled near the hearth.
“He’s very cute,” Ada said.
“Isn’t he?”
“You’re very attached to him.”
Evie shot her friend a glance. “Yes. Surely you can see why.”
“I suppose so. You must miss him a great deal since he lives with Lord Gregory. You’ve never mentioned it.”
“That I miss him?” Evie shrugged, smiling at Ash playing with his rope. “I do.”
“Just him or Lord Gregory too?”
Evie swung her attention back to Ada. “We aren’t making this conversation about Gregory.”
“You can’t ignore him.” Ada’s voice was low. “I tried to do that when I left Max at Stonehill to return to London, and I failed miserably.”
“I am not you, and Gregory is certainly not Max.”
“Thank goodness, for I am not at all certain there needs to be two of Max. One is plenty.” Her smile faded. “He’s the first man you’ve been with since…Lucien?”
“Yes. I didn’t think I’d want to be with anyone again. Gregory was just so charming and attentive. He seemed to be genuinely interested inme. And he was incredibly invested in saving a puppy.” She looked lovingly at Ash. Yes, she loved this little dog in a way that she hadn’t loved anyone besides her sister.
