“We can discuss after breakfast, then. As for you, you must stop. I am trying to eat.”
“How is your Miss Snow, Salvator? Things are heating up in the ton, have you decided to just put her out of her misery and marry her?” Cain turned on his heel, his eyes narrowed.
“You know that will not happen, do not be foolish,” Rowan scoffed.
As if I would ever marry, let alone someone who cares so much about the sacredness of matrimony.
“You bought her a puppy,” Cain replied, deadpan, pointing to the small bed against the wall, where a small brown dog was curled up, sleeping.
Rowan got word about the puppies from someone in the gentlemen’s club and thought it would be a token of his gratitude. It would be a permanent way to be sure she remembered their “puppy love.”
It was funnier in my head.
“She will find it funny, just as I did. You do not need to sleep with every woman you lay eyes on. You can be friends with them. I know that shocks you,” Rowan mumbled, biting into a biscuit. “But it is possible.”
“You think you are so funny,” Cain said, annoyed, as he came over and attempted to put Rowan in a headlock.
“Not at the table, you buffoons!” Xander complained as the men bumped into the table and his tea splashed onto the saucer.
* * *
“No. Absolutely not,” Alice mumbled, shocked, as she saw the Duke walking toward her with a small, fluffy brown dog with a large red ribbon tied around its neck. It looked entirely out of place next to the tall, handsome man dressed in somber colors that matched his dark hair. “Your Grace, do not tell me you have gotten yourself a puppy. How on Earth will you take care of it?”
“No, Miss Snow. The dog is yours.”
“Oh, you are too funny.” She giggled absentmindedly, looking at the thing that wagged its tail incessantly at her. She furrowed her brow when she noticed the expectant look on his face as he held the leash out to her. “You cannot be serious.”
“Oh, I am serious. Is it not the most adorable thing? I thought of you when I saw it yesterday. I figured a stroll through the park was the perfect time to gift it to you.”
Rowan reached down, picking up the fluffy puppy, bringing it close to her. She couldn’t help the grin that grew on her face, scrunching her nose as the pet scrambled into her arms, giving her kisses on her nose.
“You have truly outdone yourself, Your Grace.”
“Oh, but look at how cute you are.” He grinned, and she darted her eyes to his, a blush growing on her cheeks. “The puppy, of course.”
“You are such a tease,” she said quietly, setting the dog down and taking his arm as Grace took the dog’s leash and walked it a few paces behind them. “You are not worried about what the others think about it all?”
“Let them think, Miss Snow. I want to treat you to gifts because you deserve them. After everything that you have gone through…”
She set her hand on his arm, smiling. “No sobbing now, Your Grace. I deserve no special treatment. Or puppies.”
“I would have to disagree.”
“I know you would.”
They made their way through the gardens, following the stone path around a small pond where families were feeding birds, or walking out on the small dock to peer into the water below.
Alice and Rowan had become quite skilled at their small talk during these ton events, and she eventually found it easy enough to speak to him freely about most things. To her surprise, he was starting to open up to her, as well.
“I know I should not press you about your mother, but tell me about your father. You seem fond of him,” Alice said quietly.
Birds chirped in the trees above them as she watched the Duke formulate exactly what he wanted to say.
“My father was the best man I have ever met,” he finally said, his smile gracing his face. “You could not find a flaw in his character. But…”
“But?” she pressed, as he paused.
He looked down at her, his eyes flicking between hers like he was trying to solve her like a puzzle.
