Charlotte’s blood boiled. Without thinking, she marched around the corner and demanded, “Just what do you think you are doing?”
Dominic was on his hands and knees, peering under one of the hedges. He whirled around at Charlotte’s angry outburst and made a hasty shushing gesture. Charlotte was dimly aware of Cecily’s hand on her arm, but she shook it off.
“Do not shush me!” Charlotte strode towards him. “What on Earth are you doing?”
“Lower your voice, you will scare her,” Dominic murmured, gesturing to the bush.
“Scare whom?” Charlotte narrowed her eyes suspiciously, glancing around for the woman he had clearly been trying to seduce moments before.
Dominic gestured to the hedge he had been kneeling at moments before. “There is a dog in there, and she has puppies.”
“What?” Charlotte peered in the direction Dominic was pointing.
Cecily was peering under the hedge and let out a soft exclamation. “Oh!”
A small, skinny black dog was curled up with several small figures near her, each making soft keening and grunting sounds. Charlotte’s heart melted.
“I have been trying to win her trust for days. I think she has been abandoned. She is far too skinny, and I fear that one of the puppies is unwell.” Dominic sounded worried. “One good storm will finish them off.”
“You are probably right.” Charlotte agreed.He was talking to the dog. Of course, he was.
Her cheeks flushed.
“What did you think I was doing?” Dominic asked.
“It does not matter.” Charlotte felt her face flush with embarrassment.
“You thought I was with another woman!” Dominic hissed.
“Well, you are a rake,” Charlotte said defensively.
“That is my reputation. And I have already promised that I would not do anything to embarrass you or betray you; we are supposed to be engaged after all!” He shook his head, frustration and something else on his face.
Is that hurt?He glanced back at her, whatever it was replaced by anger and accusation. “I cannot believe you do not trust me! I have done nothing but tell you the truth.”
“You have been disappearing for hours, and we have hardly spoken. What was I supposed to think?” Her own anger bubbled back to the surface.
Dominic’s anger faded, and Charlotte saw understanding in his expression. “I am not him, and I would not do that to you. Though I can see now that I should have told you what I was doing.”
“Why did you not?” she asked, unable to keep the hurt and confusion from her voice.
“I do not know. I suppose I was worried that you might think me a fool.” Dominic ran a hand through his hair. “Or that perhaps you would think me weak and altogether too soft hearted; after all, she is only a dog.”
“Why would I think that? You are trying to help a vulnerable creature. That is rather noble.” Charlotte took one of his hands in her own and squeezed it.
“Is that a compliment?” Dominic looked at her, his eyes soft.
“Yes. Try not to let it go to your head though,” she teased.
“I will do my best, my Precious Plum,” he replied, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Are you two going to flirt all day, or are we going to do something about this dog?” Cecily whispered, making them both jump.
Neither Charlotte nor Dominic had realised that she had moved closer to them. Charlotte felt spots of colour on her cheek and resisted the urge to catch Dominic’s eye. Instead, she turned to Cecily.
“What do you think we should do?” Charlotte asked.
“Well, she cannot stay here. From what I could see, she has four puppies with her.” Cecily gestured to the hedge. “We need to get her out and get her and the pups somewhere safe.”
