A Gentleman Never Tells(47)
Lord Brentwood’s eyes drew together with curiosity. “What’s that?”
“My darling little spaniel, Josephine, ran away from me yesterday morning, and I haven’t been able to find her. I heard you have been walking the parks and streets for a week, annoying everyone, trying to find your dog. I thought perhaps you might have seen her.”
The viscount’s eyes darkened and narrowed. His shoulders shifted. “Did you say I’ve been annoying everyone?”
“Annoying? No, no.” The earl’s eyes widened, and he sniffed again. “Well, yes, I might have said that, but forgive me. I’m sure I meant to say asking everyone. You’ve been asking everyone, and no, surely not everyone, but some people. Again, forgive me, my lord, as I’m overwrought because Josephine hasn’t returned home yet. Please tell me you have seen her.”
Lord Brentwood took a step back. “Naturally I’ve seen several stray dogs in the park, but I don’t recall seeing a spaniel.”
Lord Snellingly rolled his eyes up and put his hand to his forehead. “Oh, it pains me to hear you say that. Are you quite sure? Her coat is an exquisite shade of cream with a smattering of golden-brown spots on her back and a large one that circles down the side of her face and over her left ear. She has a good disposition, seldom barks, and is sweet and loving to everyone she meets.”
“I’m sure she is. I haven’t seen Josephine, but if I do I’ll catch her and bring her to you.”
“Thank you. You don’t think it’s true what some people are saying about Lord Pinkwater’s ghost, do you? Do you think he has stolen our dogs and is keeping them for himself?”
Lord Brentwood shifted his stance restlessly and cleared his throat before saying, “I can assure you that is not the case with Prissy, Lord Snellingly.”
“Then what has happened to them?” he asked, a nervous twitch attacking one of his eyes. “It’s as if they’ve simply disappeared into thin air. I think it could be true. I’ve heard Lord Pinkwater was quite fond of dogs when he was alive. I don’t think I could bear it if I knew my sweet little Josephine was living with a ghost and couldn’t get back to me.”
Lord Brentwood glanced at Gabrielle with an expression that seemed to be asking, “Where did this fop come from?” Lord Brentwood was clearly not interested in having the ghost conversation with the earl. Gabrielle knew it was time to direct the conversation in a different direction.
“Perhaps there is a dog thief in town, Lord Snellingly,” Gabrielle said. “Perhaps someone is taking the dogs.”
The earl frowned and looked from Gabrielle to Lord Brentwood. “For what purpose would they? The only thing I can think of is if they wanted to use them for such dastardly deeds as experiments for some insane alchemist or depraved physician, or perhaps to be fed to other animals.”
Gabrielle’s eyes widened in shock at the earl’s inappropriate comments. She glanced over at Lord Brentwood, whose frown had deepened to anger.
She quickly said, “No, my lord, such things as that never entered my mind. I meant someone who wanted to love the dogs and care for them, of course. Dogs such as the quality of your Josephine and Lord Brentwood’s Prissy are highly sought after as pets. Surely you know that.”
“Yes, yes, of course, pardon me, my dear.” Lord Snellingly sniffed into his handkerchief and took the book he held in the other hand and placed it over his heart. “It’s just that no one could love Josephine as I do. No one. I’ve written a poem about her. Since you are both so fond of dogs, I’ll recite it for you.”
Without giving either Gabrielle or Lord Brentwood time to object or retreat, Lord Snellingly looked up toward the ceiling and said:
“With shining black eyes and fast dancing feet
My beloved Josephine is no longer mine to greet
Take my wife, take my wine
I shall never once repine
Take my breath and all sunshine
Take my health and my wealth
But not my darling Josephine’s yelp
My yearning is deep, intense, and fatal.”
Gabrielle gasped and interrupted him. “Surely you don’t mean fatal, Lord Snellingly?”
He looked down at her. “Oh, not as in death, of course not.” He sniffed in his handkerchief again. “But I don’t know how I shall live without my sweet little companion. I thought perhaps coming to this party tonight might cheer me, but the only thing that really helps is my poetry. Shall I recite another for you?”