Chapter 6
“A puppy?” Lady Avalon fairly choked on the words but quickly calmed herself. “You went for a drive in the park. Whatever do you mean, you brought back a dog, Lilian?” Her mother punctuated her name slowly. “No, my dear, I am afraid we cannot keep him. You know that there are several reasons why we cannot have a dog.”
This must be the list Lilian had spoken of. Harlow swallowed the urge to laugh; beside him, Lilian sighed.
Lady Avalon held out her fingers one by one, quickly ticking off each reason as she stared at Cooper cowering in Lilian’s arms.
“First of all, Cook has enough to do without having to prepare meals for a puppy. In addition, a puppy needs constant maintenance and care. He will bring those parasites—fleas, I believe they are called—into the house. I cannot tolerate it,” she added for emphasis. “And you know your father will not appreciate another stray animal being brought into the house. The birds and the cats were one thing…a puppy is much more demanding of attention. That is wholly different.”
The door opened and Lord Avalon walked into the room. “Did someone mention me? Chambers told me you girls had returned. I was coming out of my office just now and I noticed a bit of a to-do in the hall. Since you ladies are given to frequenting the parlour, I presumed there might be some interesting goings-on in here…more engaging than working on my accounts, at any rate!” Lilian’s father chuckled as he moved further into the packed room. The parlour already contained his family, one puppy, Lord Yarstone and Harlow himself.
This feels awkward, he thought, but sometimes life can be more humorous than fiction. There had not been a suitable moment to say goodbye. Harlow glanced at Lilian, who was sitting in her chair, holding the animal and giving her mother her full attention, yet at the same time discreetly adjusting the puppy so that her mother could see Cooper’s face. He recognized her simple strategy and admired her guileful approach.
“My dear, I did, but it was in explanation of why we cannot keep this puppy.” Lady Avalon answered calmly, pointing to Cooper. Her tone contrasted sharply with the diatribe she had just given. She was clearly nonplussed with the situation.
“Yes…yes, I have just noticed the poor creature.” He turned to Lilian. “I suppose you have given him a name?” he questioned lightly. “You always do.” Lord Avalon raised a bushy black and grey eyebrow and tried to look irritated. He was failing miserably, in Harlow’s opinion. This sympathy with animals was a side to Lilian that he had not expected. It reminded him of his own childhood. He had spent every spare minute with his father’s dogs or their horses, including helping the grooms to tend the injured ones.
“Cooper,” Lilian proffered. She put her pet down and watched the sorry animal walk to her mother’s feet and look up at the woman.
The older man chuckled. “The dog is a sharp one, so he is. How did you come by him, daughter?”
Lilian quickly related Cooper’s sad tale to her father, who walked over and accepted the puppy, dirt and all. Lord Avalon scratched him behind the ear for a moment and then held the puppy up in front of him.
“I can see you are a mighty personable little fellow under all this mud and muck.” He looked at his daughter, who had not taken her eyes from the two of them. “Lilian, we must…” He hesitated a moment, as if searching for the right word. “Cooper needs a bath, a comfortable bed and a good meal,” he finished at last. “You may ask Clara to request some scraps for his dinner from Cook. Allow your mother and I to discuss this and we will speak more on it tonight.” Her father chucked the puppy playfully under his chin and smiled encouragingly in his daughter’s direction before putting the puppy down and supplying a more austere look to the rest in the room. Harlow noticed the change only because he was standing near Lilian and realized Lord Avalon only smiled while his back was to his Countess. The Earl and his wife left the room, ostensibly to discuss the animal, Harlow presumed. Lord Yarstone, the sisters, Cooper and Harlow himself were left in the parlour.
Lydia smiled at her sister and patted Cooper on the head. “I think Father will convince her. I have no notion what magic you possess with Father, Lilian, but he can never deny you anything,” Lydia said candidly, and laughed.
“We each have our strengths, dear sister. Mama can refuse you naught, as well. That is why we have always complemented each other,” Lilian added quietly.
“I think you are right. We cannot expect this always to be the case, but it would seem the fates do lean in that direction. Father supports my sister’s mischief and Mama finds less fault with mine,” Lydia added, gurgling with laughter. Lilian smiled too, yet it seemed somewhat forced.
“It is time I took my leave,” Harlow remarked quietly.
“Thank you for a most pleasant excursion, sir.” Lilian looked up at him. She was once again holding Cooper.
”Then I shall bid you farewell.” Harlow lifted Lilian’s gloved hand and gave it a light kiss. “I enjoyed the outing, Lady Lilian, and look forward to the next. If you will give me leave, I should very much like to call on you again.”
“I should be pleased to welcome you, Lord Harlow. Thank you for your many kindnesses,” Lilian responded, a red blush creeping up her face as she tucked her new dog closer with her other arm.
He patted Cooper. “Be a good boy, now, sir. I will dispatch a good friend of mine, a Mr. Whitten, to help with your injuries,” he added.
“Thank you,
