“I’ll bring her home,” Rand promised, and Rose began telling Mum about Rand’s idea, and the awkward moment passed.
Regardless of her mother’s odd change of heart, Lily couldn’t wait to leave. Even knowing the marquess would be furious to see her. It felt good to do what was right instead of what was nice.
And it felt even better to be doing something to remedy her situation instead of sitting here feeling frustrated while the hour moved ever closer to Rand and Margery’s wedding.
SIXTY
THE THREE OF them decided that, rather than take a carriage, they’d ride horseback to save time. Lily quickly changed her gown for her blue riding habit, and an hour and a half later, they arrived at Hawkridge Hall.
As they rode up the path from the river, Lily stared at the massive mansion. “It doesn’t look evil,” she said thoughtfully.
Rand leaned from the saddle to smooth her hair. “It won’t be,” he promised, “just as soon as we’ve exposed Alban for what he was.”
“Goodness, I hope we can find that diary.”
“We will. We have to.”
The stables were around the back. As they headed in that direction, past the dog enclosure, Lily gasped.
“Oh, my God!” She slid from the saddle and hit the grass running. “Rex!”
Gaping, Rand watched her scale the fence. By the time he dismounted and caught up with her, she was kneeling in the dirt, her hands on either side of one very agitated mastiff’s head.
“Hold him like this,” she ordered without looking up. Rand leaned down to comply, not a simple task since the animal was violently pawing at its face. It gasped and gulped, its stomach pumping as though it was trying to vomit.
Lily reached for the dog’s mouth and pried it open, ignoring all the foamy saliva that dripped from the canine’s black lips. Rand struggled to hold the animal still while she pulled out its long tongue.
“Up!” she yelled, her fingers moving the tongue this way and that. “I need to see!” Kit leapt to help, angling the mastiff’s head toward the sun while Lily peered down its throat. “I knew it!” she ground out through gritted teeth, calm and determined although she was clearly furious.
Heedless of the animal’s sharp teeth, she reached back into its mouth. But she couldn’t grasp whatever was choking the poor creature.
Only a whimper betrayed Lily’s distress. After that, she was all action. She stood and, leaving the dog’s front paws on the ground, went around to lift him from behind. Though the canine was easily twice her weight, she managed to raise both his legs. But she was too short to get them up high.
Rand and Kit both jumped to help, taking one hind leg each while Lily knelt again by the dog’s head. “Come on, Rex,” she pleaded. “Cough it up. Shake him!” she told the men.
They did, holding him up like a wheelbarrow, but though the dog jerked and made choking sounds, the object still remained lodged.
“Dear God,” Lily moaned, panting as though she could breathe precious air for the animal. “Set him back down.”
With the flat of her hand, she administered three sharp blows between the huge creature’s shoulder blades, but nothing happened. Finally she leaned over its back, wrapped her arms around its middle, and squeezed so hard her face turned red, pressing up on its belly with both fists.
All at once, a slobbery red apple came shooting out of its mouth.
“Oh, Rex!” The dog collapsed to the ground, and she hugged him around the neck, laying her cheek against his sweaty coat. Tears poured down her face. “I thought we were going to lose you!”
The other dogs came closer to investigate, barking loudly and poking at Rex with their noses. Though he was clearly exhausted, Rex turned his head and licked Lily’s face, a big wet swath of love.
She laughed, and Rand smiled, his own eyes embarrassingly damp. His legs felt shaky, as if he’d run miles. He was speechless.
Kit spoke for them both. “That was incredible, Lily.”
She hugged Rex even harder. “It was only what had to be done.”
“No,” came another voice, one filled with admiration. “It was an amazing display of quick thinking.” Rand turned to see his father unlocking the gate. The man walked right over to Lily and reached down a hand. “Thank you for saving Attila. I need to get rid of that apple tree.”
Lily was too nice to say she’d told him so, but her lips curved in a smile that melted Rand’s heart. She unwound her arms from the hound’s neck and allowed the marquess to help her rise.
As soon as she moved away, the other dogs pressed even closer. Lily brushed at her less-than-pristine riding habit. “Perhaps, my lord, you should take him into the house for a while. He needs some time to recover, and out here he will get no rest.”
“My dogs are not allowed in—” the marquess started, then apparently had second thoughts. “An excellent suggestion, Lady Lily. Will you come with us and help me get him settled?”
Rand watched, aghast, as his father and Lily headed for the house, the dog walking gingerly between them.
After a moment, he and Kit exchanged glances and began following. “He didn’t even ask what she was doing here,” Rand whispered.
“He didn’t notice me at all,” Kit said dryly. “He had eyes only for your lady.”
“He’s grateful at the moment. It won’t last.”
Kit shook his head. “She’s won him over.”
“Perhaps,” Rand conceded, although it seemed more likely his father was temporarily bewitched. Lily, after all, was very good at casting spells, especially where Nesbitt men were concerned.
But regardless, he’d best not forget that nothing had really changed. “This doesn’t mean he’ll assent to my wedding Lily instead of Margery.”
“No,” Kit agreed. “We still need to find that diary.”
In the back parlor, Lily settled Rex-Attila
