A Gentleman Never Tells(95)

“We’re trying to get enough money to pay a doctor to come see our mum,” Emily said.

“I told you to hush up, girl,” Godfrey snapped.

“Godfrey,” Gabrielle said, stepping forward. “That is no way to speak to your sister. Can we go inside and see your mother?”

“No,” he said, walking closer to them for the first time. Fear returned to his eyes. “Don’t tell me mum what I did. I’ll find a way to pay back the money.”

“How?” Brent asked. “By stealing more dogs or maybe stealing something else next time?”

“I’m not a thief,” Godfrey said, tears pooling in his eyes. “I gave the dogs back. I couldn’t give yours back.”

“Godfrey, one way or the other, we’re going in to see your mama whether or not you want us to.”

The lad swallowed hard and then suddenly hung his head and said, “Come on.”

Brent, Gabrielle, and Brutus followed Godfrey and Emily down the street to one of the small houses. Gabrie told Brutus to stay outside. As soon as Godfrey touched the door, Prissy started barking. They stepped inside a one-room house. Prissy ran toward Brent, barking like the hounds of hell were after her.

Brent bent down and the little dog jumped up into his arms and started licking his face. He patted and rubbed her head and hugged her to him as he laughed. “How’ve you been, girl?”

“Godfrey, son, why in God’s name have you invited these nice-looking people into our home? You know I’m not receiving guests.”

Brent looked past Prissy and saw a woman who didn’t look much older than he, sitting up in a bed that stood in the far corner of the room. She was wrapped in a heavy cloak, and several blankets lay across the bed. The woman was pale and frail-looking. Her long, graying hair hung limply on her shoulders. Emily joined her other sister in a corner, and Godfrey immediately started putting more wood on the fading fire.

“Please excuse us, Mrs.…?” Gabrielle said.

“Jones,” she said weakly. “I’m Mrs. Carlton Jones, but my husband is no longer with us. He died almost two years ago now.”

“I’m very sorry to hear that,” Gabrielle said.

“Prissy acts as if she knows you,” the woman said, looking at Brent. “Godfrey told me that was her name. He’s the one who gave Prissy to me. The name suits her, don’t you think so?”

“Yes, it does,” Brent said, tucking the little dog under his arm.

“But I’ve never seen you before. Em, go heat some water and make these nice people some tea. Godfrey, stop poking that fire and pull the chairs over so they can sit down and tell me why they’ve come.”

“No, no, please don’t trouble your daughter for us,” Brent said, rubbing Prissy. “We can’t stay long enough for tea.”

Pris squirmed, whined, and wanted to get down, so Brent set her on the floor. She ran back over to the woman and put her front paws on the bed. The woman reached down and lifted Prissy up on the bed with her. Brent watched in surprise as Prissy made herself comfortable in the woman’s lap.

“Well, that’s a shame. What can I do for you, Mr.…?”

“Brentwood, madame,” he said, not wanting the woman to know he was a viscount. “Just call me Brentwood, and this is Lady Gabrielle.”

The woman’s eyes rounded in surprise. “A real lady?” She looked at Gabrielle and then brushed a tangled strand of hair away from her shoulder and straightened her bed coat. “Godfrey told me he was working for someone who paid him well.” She stopped and looked at Brent. “It’s you, isn’t it? He also told me he was working for a man who gave Prissy to him. Are you the kind man who did that?”

Brent cleared his throat. “No, madame, I did not give Prissy to him.”

“Oh,” she said, surprised, and started rubbing Prissy’s back.

Gabrielle touched Brent’s arm. “May I talk to you? Alone.”

“No, Gabrie. I know what you are going to say, and no.”

Gabrielle smiled at the woman and said, “Would you excuse us, Mrs. Jones? We’re going to step outside for a moment. We’ll be right back.”

The sickly woman looked puzzled. “All right.”

Brent opened the door for Gabrielle, and she stepped outside into the rain. Brutus came walking over to stand between them.

“I know what you are going to say, and just don’t do it,” Brent argued before she even opened her mouth.