by Karen Cogan
Lord Westerfield arrived the next afternoon promptly at three o’clock. He brought a fine barouche carriage that impressed Anne, but not Jeremy. He had thoughts only for the puppies.
“How many are there?” he asked.
Lord Westerfield helped Anne into the carriage and set Jeremy beside her.
“There are six fine healthy pups.”
“What do they look like?”
Lord Westerfield climbed into the opposite seat. “You shall find that out when you see them.”
“Hunting dogs?” Jeremy asked.
“Indeed. They will be fine hunters some day.”
Anne tapped Jeremy’s knee. “Stop asking Lord Westerfield so many questions. You will tire him out before we ever get there.”
Lord Westerfield winked at Jeremy. “We men have a keen interest in our animals that women do not understand. Is that not right, Jeremy?”
Jeremy nodded, pleased to be called a man at the tender age of nine years old. He liked Lord Westerfield with his friendly black eyes and ready smile. He liked him much better than that stuffy Mr. Fletcher who had been hanging around Anne. He could not imagine Mr. Fletcher inviting him to see puppies.
Anne turned to Lord Westerfield and said, “How is your father today?”
“In fine spirits. He is looking forward to seeing you both. I believe he needs a bit of stirring up now and again as he does not get about much these days.”
“I shall be glad to see him also. It is lovely to have such kind neighbors. It makes sorrows easier to bear.”
Lord Westerfield looked deeply into her blue eyes and said, “I would think myself blessed indeed if I might ease even a mite of your sorrows.”
Looking into his kind eyes, Anne knew that he meant every word. His honesty impressed her and she realized that she coveted Lord Westerfield’s good opinion as she did very few people. He was unlike the men who were happy to pay her glib flattery that she could easily do without.
Lord Westerfield asked her about her childhood in India and Anne was happy to reminisce until they reached his manor. She sucked in a breath when they reached sight of it. It was an impressive estate. The rolling green grounds swept up to a tall Georgian house with at least a dozen windows showing from ground to attic. The albacore colored stone glistened in the sun, welcoming the guests.
They pulled into the circular drive and alit in front of the broad oak door adorned with a polished brass knocker. Twin cedars stood each side of the door. They were as perfectly trimmed into points as were the bushes that lined the drive.
They entered the great hall and were greeted by a butler in a starched white shirt. “The master is in the drawing room, sir. He bids you bring in the guests.”
They trod the plush red paisley carpet to a sunlit room just off the hall. Inside, a thin, white-haired gentleman sat bundled beside a sunny window. He smiled broadly at the sight of them.
“My dear Miss Tyler and Master Tyler. Forgive me for not rising. It seems my legs have lately grown unsteady.”
Anne curtsied. “My lord, it is a pleasure to see you. Though I know you had not visited each other in quite some time, Grandfather always considered you a great friend.”
“As I did him. My son tells me you have missed him a great deal.”
“I have, sir. He took my brother and me into his home five years ago after our parents died. He was very kind and we loved him a great deal.”
“You were both a blessing to him, too. He was lonely before you came, just as I was lonely before my son returned.”
He turned a warm smile toward his son that assured Anne that the young lord was a kind son as well as a kind friend. He had willingly returned at the request of his father, given up the excitement of London and cheerfully embraced the running of the estate.
“Would you care for tea?” asked the elder lord.
Anne was on the verge of agreeing when Jeremy began to pull on her sleeve.
“The puppies. Please, Anne, the puppies.”
Young Lord Westerfield overheard and said, “I have promised Jeremy that he would see the new puppies. Perhaps Miss Tyler and I might escort him and then come back for tea while he enjoys a romp with them.”
He turned to the boy. “Do you mind missing tea?”
“Oh, no sir, not if I can stay with the puppies.”
The elder lord laughed. “By all means take the boy to the puppies. Come back when you are ready and I will wait tea.”
They left the elder lord still smiling over Jeremy’s enthusiasm. However, when Anne got him out to the hall, she began to chastise him. “You must not be cheeky. It was not polite to interrupt like that. I am glad Lord Westerfield’s father was not offended.”
Jeremy failed miserably at trying to look contrite. “I am sorry.”
He turned to Lord Westerfield. “May I really stay with the puppies?”
Lord Westerfield laughed. “Yes, you may.”
Anne sighed. She was going to have her hands full with her impetuous young brother. Yet she dared not be too hard on him when he had lost so much. Perhaps he needed understanding more than a firm hand. She hoped so because she could not bring herself to chastise him too harshly.
They followed a quaint cobblestone path from the back of the house, past hedgerows of blooming roses and continued on along a cobbled footpath until they entered the stable. It smelled of hay and feed and the musky smell of horse flesh. Several white chickens and a cocky Bantam rooster dodged around their feet, scampering past and serenading them with a cacophony of noisy squawks.
They followed Lord Westerfield to a stall in a far corner of the stable. He opened the door and they walked inside, latching the door carefully behind them.
“We cannot have these little fellows getting under the horses’ feet.”
Six of the cutest blond puppies Anne had ever seen lay either piled asleep in the corner or scrambling about the stall. They were pudgy and clumsy, tripping over their paws as they scurried to greet their guests.
Jeremy squatted down to pet them as they scrambled into his lap. He laughed as he tumbled over in a heap of puppies. “You must pat them, Anne. They are so very soft.”
“I shall make it easy,” said Lord Westerfield. He scooped up a chubby puppy and held it so that Anne might see.
She could not help but to smile at the charming creature. “Oh, but you are cute.”
She reached out and petted the puppy’s head. His ears were long and silky, his fur short and soft.”
His little tongue found her wrist and he began to bestow his affection.
“I believe he likes you,” said Lord Westerfield.
“The feeling is mutual.”
Anne wondered who could not like such an adorable creature. He had round black eyes and a short black nose with tiny whiskers. His paws were too big and his tail too short. He smelled of milk and hay and he had tiny sharp teeth.
The mother stirred to her feet. She was a handsome dog, white and shaggy with large black spots. Lord Westerfield set the puppy down and squatted to pet the mother.
“Sadie, old girl, are you feeling forgotten?”
He rubbed her ears and her tail began to wag. He looked up at Anne and said, “She is a fine dog, good-tempered and obedient. Her pups will be good, too.”
Jeremy laughed as a pup licked his face. “I should like one ever so much. Will they be for sale? Anne said that I might have one.”
Anne blushed as she corrected him. “I did not say that you might have one. I said we would see if it was possible.”
“It is quite possible, I assure you,” said their host. “I would be happy to save a pup for you. Which one do you fancy?”
“I like the one you were holding.”
“You have made a good choice. He is a dandy little fellow. They are still too young to be away from their mother. When he is old enough you may take him. Perhaps I might help you train him to hunt.”
Jeremy looked up to Lord Westerfield. His eyes were shining. “I wo
uld like that ever so much.”
“You are sure you would you like to stay and play with them while we go to tea?” Lord Westerfield teased.
Jeremy nodded. “Yes, I would much rather. Thank you.”
Lord Westerfield nudged an escaping puppy back inside as he and Anne slipped out the door. He knew his father would be eager for their company. When he had told him about Anne, the older man had been ecstatic. He had spent the last few years hoping that his son would find a girl to suit his fancy. He hoped for grandchildren before his health robbed him of the enjoyment of them. And though it was too soon to know if they would become attached, the young lord knew that it gave his father hope.
He gave Anne an anxious glance as he took her elbow to walk back toward the house. She had been very quiet and held her lip captured between her teeth. Could he have said something wrong? Before he could inquire, she said, “It was kind of you to offer Jeremy his pick of puppies. However, he must understand that, should Grandfather’s nephew disapprove, it might be inconvenient for me to take along a puppy if I am forced to move.”
He stopped her and looked down into her face. Her dark lashes framed her eyes, eyes that were the deep blue of the sky on a stormy day. Her lips were cherry red, her skin as smooth as a porcelain doll. He longed to run a finger along her cheek, taste her lips and touch her hair. Yet, he knew he dare not do any of these things. Not yet, at least, he told himself.
Even so, for a long moment, they stood staring at one another as though neither could remember the topic of their conversation. Then Anne said, “Do not misunderstand me. I appreciate your generosity in offering Jeremy his pick of puppies.”
Lord Westerfield forced his errant thoughts back to the matter at hand. “Do not let that worry you. I should be glad to keep the puppy, even to begin training him if necessary, until you can either take him or decide to leave him with me. He is quite one of my favorites.”
“Then you must keep him for yourself.”
“I already have a pair picked out for me. The others are going to good homes. It would not be hard to find a home for Jeremy’s pup should you not be able to take him.”
She smiled and the distress left her eyes. “Then we are both most grateful to you.”
“It is I who is grateful to you for your company on this fine day. And for humoring my father by taking tea.”
Anne looked surprised. “Oh, but I am very happy to do so.”
Lord Westerfield chuckled. “And he is very happy to have you as a guest.”
They entered the drawing room and the elder lord took great pleasure in ordering their tea. And when it arrived, he fussed over Anne until she felt quite self-conscious.
“Take a tart, my dear; they are quite tasty, as are the little cakes. Are you in need of more tea?”
“Thank you, sir, but I have not finished this cup yet.”
Anne could neither eat nor drink fast enough to stay ahead of his offer of more food. Still, she found him charming and engaging, especially when his conversation drifted to tales of the younger lord’s youth.
“He has always been a good boy, quite too serious as a child, but he has grown out of that, have you not?”
He smiled at his son.
Lord Westerfield nodded. His dark eyes twinkled. “Now I am not serious at all. I live for nothing except a good time.”
The elder lord frowned. “You are saying that just to goad me. And you will give our guest quite the wrong impression.”
“I am sorry, Father. I am an awful tease. I will trust Miss Tyler to understand that there are a great many things that I take quite seriously.”
Anne nodded and assured the elder Lord Westerfield, “Indeed, sir, I believe your son to be quite capable of a serious bent should the need arise.”
“Good.” The old man beamed. “Then we should all finish our tea. Will you not have another cake, Miss Tyler?”
When Anne had drunk and eaten all that she was capable of holding, they bid the old man good-day and went to collect Jeremy. He was loathe to leave the puppies, but when Lord Westerfield invited him to come again soon, they were able to pry him away.
After prattling on for awhile about names for the puppy, Jeremy fell asleep during the carriage ride home. Anne sat across from Lord Westerfield and stole covert glances at his handsome face. Why he intrigued her so completely, she could not tell. She knew only that he did.
After a while she said, “I do not remember ever hearing about your mother. Has she been gone a long time?”
“She died when I was but two. I do not remember her. I wish that I did.”
“But perhaps you are lucky that you do not remember if you were destined to lose her. I remember my mother and I think it is harder to lose someone you have known and loved than someone you have never known.”
“Perhaps you are right. But now we are onto a subject that I fear will make us both sad. So I shall make so bold as to change it and say that I had a wonderful time having tea with you.”
“As did I. I hope that you shall come for a walk in our gardens soon. If it a nice day, we can have our tea outdoors.”
He studied her tenderly. “I believe that summer was made just for you. I do not believe I have ever met a lady who takes such pleasure from being out of doors.
She smiled. “Remember that I was reared in India. I am used to enjoying long walks in beautiful gardens. I love it here in England and I would not wish to leave our home. Yet, there are things that I miss.”
He leaned forward. She caught her breath at the look in his eyes. It was tender, yet there was something more, a longing that made her heart skip a beat. He gazed at her and said, “You have had hard adjustments in the past. I hope you have only pleasant ones in the future.”
His concern for her welfare touched her to the core. She smiled at him and said, “My friends are a great comfort to me now.”
“I hope I can be numbered among them.”
“Most certainly, sir. You have already proven yourself my friend.”
“Then I am happy, indeed.”
They rode in companionable silence until they reached Anne’s home. When the carriage stopped, Jeremy sat up and rubbed his eyes. For a moment, he looked confused. Then he said, “I must have fallen asleep.”
“I imagine the puppies gave you quite a go,” Lord Westerfield replied.
He helped Anne from the carriage and then lifted the still groggy Jeremy to the ground. He left them at the door with a promise to return in a few days for a walk in the garden.
As the carriage clattered away, Jeremy said, “You should marry him, Anne. He is much nicer than Mr. Fletcher.”
“Hush, now. We barely know each other. You had better not say anything like that to Lord Westerfield.”
“All right. But I like him.”
Anne smiled down at her brother. “I like him, too.”
The next day a letter arrived by post. Arthur presented it to Anne as she took a late breakfast. She stared at her name, written in an unfamiliar scrawl across the envelope.
“I wonder who has written to me.”
She took the letter opener from the salver and sliced the envelope. Inside on a thin sheet of parchment, was a short handwritten note. She scanned to the bottom of the letter and frowned. Who was Bertram Tyler? A glance back at the opening sentence answered her question. Bertram Tyler was Grandfather’s nephew.