Page 40 of Wagers of a Duke's Daughter (The Duchess's Investigative Society 3)

But no one had ever thought of doing such a thing for her. Not even her sisters. As much as they loved her, they had their own busy lives now, with little time for looking after dogs. She swallowed hard.

“Are you certain?” she managed to whisper.

“Of course. He adores you. I can tell,” Blake said as though he was saying something sage.

“I would love to walk him.”

“Let’s get his strength up and see how he is next week.”

She grinned. “I cannot wait.”

“Perhaps you can come and see him tomorrow,” Blake suggested, “and see how he is. No doubt my mother shall be there and she adores your aunt’s company.”

“That would be wonderful, and I know Aunt Sarah would love to see your mother.”

“Aunts and mothers and dogs?” Ashford shook his head. “I think you’re both mad.”

“Because we like dogs?” she asked, turning to face Blake’s friend.

“Because you like dogs who are ugly and flea-ridden.” Ashford eyed the docile animal who had settled his chin on Blake’s arm and closed his eyes while Demeter petted him. “I like dogs as much as the next man but this one...”

“Will be wonderful once he is fed and cleaned,” Demeter finished for him. “Will you not, my lovely?”

“Lovely?” Ashford scoffed.

“What do you want to call him?” Blake asked.

“How about Ernest? I always wanted a dog called Ernest when I was a little girl.”

“Ernest?” Ashford repeated. “Truly?”

Blake nodded. “It suits him perfectly.”

Ashford threw up his hands. “Clearly I am the only person with sense here.” He tipped his hat to Demeter. “Good day, Lady Demeter. Good luck with your...dog.” He glanced at Blake. “Blake, do you not think—” He sighed and waved a hand. “Never mind. Good day, Blake.”

Blake ignored his friend marching away from them and lifted his arm so Demeter could get a good look at the dog’s face. “He’s going to be so handsome,” she said.

And he was all hers.

Theirs.

No. Hers. She met Blake’s gaze and her heart gave a pang against her chest. She couldn’t have made this up, not even in her wildest imaginings. Jacob Blake had given her a dog and now she loved him more than ever.

***

“If you touch me with that handkerchief one more time, Mother, I’ll throw you out of the carriage.”

His mother’s eyes widened and she tucked the handkerchief goodness knows where in amongst the lace and folds of her heavy gown. Blake knew it was heavy because when he’d handed her up into the carriage, she rested heavily on his arms as though weighed down by the endless feathers and silks not to mention the jewels upon her neck, ears, and wrists. She never had been one for subtlety but tonight was a little over-the-top, even for her.

When he’d questioned her appearance she reminded him that people had to think they were still the wealthiest members of the family now that Foster had inherited.

“We are here anyway,” she sniffed. “So you may throw me out at the steps and see what everyone thinks of you flinging your poor defenseless mother to the ground.”

A footman opened the door and Blake stepped out. He aided his mother down the two little steps and released her so swiftly, she nearly did stumble. She narrowed her gaze at him.

“I do not know why you are in such a mood tonight.” Her expression softened and she put a hand to his arm. “You need only make a little appearance. I am certain with half of London here. No one shall notice your absence, they just need to register your attendance.”

That wasn’t true, and he refused to be chased off. The rumors he was poor thanks to his cousin inheriting Aunt Iris’s vast wealth didn’t bother him much but he was not going to let Foster flaunt all of Iris’s carefully curated life without at least being there.

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