“Only what she asked.”
“You bastard. Did you touch her?”
“I—”
“Rafe, don’t,” Clio said, sounding frantic. “Please.”
Her words were a stab to the heart.
Granted, it was a self-inflicted wound. He’d told her all week she should marry Piers. He’d repeated that same stupidity this morning. And now the man himself was back, setting all her insecurities to rest with a worldly air and a hero’s mantle. And kisses.
Why would she ever choose Rafe?
If Rafe could choose to be any man in this room, he wouldn’t choose Rafe.
Clio turned to Piers. “You must understand. Your brother’s been so loyal to you. When I had doubts about the wedding, he tried to change my mind. He made every effort to convince me, said such lovely things on your behalf. That’s not all he’s done. He’s managed Oakhaven in your absence. And wait until you see what marvelous care he’s taken of . . .”
Her voice trailed off as she glanced about the room, ducking to peer under the furnishings.
“Oh, dear. Has anyone seen the dog?”
Chapter Twenty-five
Ellingworth! Ellingworth, darling, are you here?”
Clio hurried up and down the garden paths, ducking to peer under every bench and shrub, and pausing at each corner to wipe the rain from her eyes. They’d searched the entire castle already. He had to be outside somewhere.
The mud puddles sucked at her heeled slippers, slowing her down. Eventually, she gave up on them, kicking her shoes off. Her stockings were already wet through.
Slippers clutched in one hand and skirts gathered in the other, she began to race down the row of neatly trimmed hedges and arbors. The longer they went without finding the bulldog, the more her anxiousness increased. Dogs were made to withstand some rain and chill. But a dog this old, already in poor health?
Poor Ellingworth.
Poor Rafe.
It would kill Rafe if something happened to that dog. He’d taken care of the beast so faithfully all these years. Those meticulous diets, all the special veterinary care . . .
But it wouldn’t only be the wasted effort, or the disappointment of letting his brother down. Rafe loved that ugly, old dog. Clio knew he did.
And Clio loved Rafe.
She began to run faster. A thorny branch caught the puff of her sleeve, and she yanked free, ripping the fabric.
“Ellingworth! Ellingworth, where are you?”
She stumbled over a rock in the path, wrenching her ankle and nearly sprawling face-first into the mud. She caught herself on hands and knees instead.
“Damn.”
She pushed to her feet, wiped her hands on the ruined ivory silk, and trudged on, pushing her panic aside. Focus, Clio. Fear wasn’t helpful now. She began preparing a list of orders in her mind. The moment they located Ellingworth, she would send one of the drivers for the veterinarian. Direct the housekeeper to prepare hot water, warmed towels. Ask cook for a mince of beef, mixed with raw egg. Did dogs take beef tea? It was good for chilled people, after all.
They had to find that dog. They would find that dog.
As she crossed beneath an arbor, she pulled up and stopped. A flash of white caught her eye.
There. On the far side of the garden, low to the ground. Beneath the bank of apricot-colored roses. Was that . . . ?
Letting her skirts fall into the mud, she swiped aside the rain-matted hair from her brow and blinked into the rain. Her labored breathing made it difficult to concentrate. She struggled to calm herself and look sharp.
“Oh, no.”
There was Ellingworth. Huddled beneath a rosebush. Lying on his side.
Unmoving.
Please. Please, God. Don’t let him be dead.
Dread gathered like a rain cloud as she rushed toward the bulldog. Ellingworth was on the opposite side of the rosebushes, so she had to race down the length of the aisle and around the other path to reach him.
“Ellingworth, darling. Hang on. I’m coming.”
When she rounded the corner, she stopped short.
Rafe.
His dark green coat had blended in with the shrubs, and she hadn’t been able to see him from the arbor. But he was there, crouched beside the unmoving bulldog, one of his big, knotty boxer’s hands placed to the dog’s side.
Rafe didn’t raise his head. But Clio sensed he knew she was there.
She swallowed a lump in her throat. As she moved closer, all the urgency was gone from her steps. “Is he . . . ?”
She couldn’t even ask the question.
He shook his head no.
Relief flooded her as she covered the remaining distance to Rafe’s side. “Oh, thank goodness.”
Now that she was closer, she could make out the slight rise and fall of the dog’s breathing. Thank heavens.
But even though the dog was alive, all the vigor seemed to have gone out of Rafe. He was so quiet.
“Best not to leave him lying here,” she said, trying to sound cheery. “Poor old dear. The ground’s so wet and cold. Let’s bundle him up and carry him in. Don’t worry, we’ll have him mended in a trice. I’ll send for the veterinarian from the village. The one from London, if you like. There’s some excellent beef loin Cook has from the butcher. It was meant for our dinner, but it will be perfect for Ellingworth. We’ll mince it finer than—”
Rafe shook his head. “It’s no use, Clio.”
“Of course it is.”
“He’s not gone yet. But he’s going.”
No sooner had he spoken the words than the dog released a faint, wheezing breath.
“No,” she protested. “No, he can’t be dying.”
“It won’t be long now. This is the way with dogs.” His voice was quiet and emotionless as he stroked the dog’s ear. “Just how they are. They know when it’s their time. So they slip away and find a quiet place to—”
His voice broke, and Clio’s heart broke with it. She pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle her emotion, not wanting to distress dog or man. Nevertheless, her voice wavered as she reached to stroke Ellingworth’s paw. “We’re here, darling. We’re here, just as long as you need us.”
Rafe said, “You should go inside. I’ll stay with him.”
“I’m not leaving either of you.”
After rubbing her hands together to warm them, she reached out and placed a gentle touch to Ellingworth’s paw. “What a good boy you are. How proud you’ve done us.”
Rafe stood just long enough to remove his coat. As he sat beside her, he moved to drape the coat over her shoulders. A thoughtful gesture, but Clio stayed it with a shake of her head.