Chapter Ten
Freddie took a walk to clear his head.Osmont Firebrace had given the Bachelor Board candidates their next challenge the previous morning.They were to purchase an animal and name it something outrageous.They were then to take the animal with them everywhere for an entire week and address the animal at every opportunity.
Trenton Embry had shown his usual level of interest in the game by promptly buying a mouse.He’d named it Tiger, which he found highly amusing.For the first time since he had met the dour Trenton, Freddie actually heard a chuckle escape his lips.His efforts at the game had become nothing more than tokenism, which suited Freddie just fine.Only Godwin was any real threat to his success.
Godwin had done little better.He’d bought a baby turtle and named it Flash.It had relieved itself in his coat pocket several times already that morning, and by the time Freddie left Barton Street, the stench had seeped into the wool of his friend’s clothes.Godwin was regretting his hasty decision.
That left Freddie open to come up with something a little more imaginative.But what?
As soon as he arrived home the previous day, he had sent word to Eve of the new challenge.She was an intelligent girl, and one he knew would have plenty to say on the matter of beast he was to purchase.
He made it as far as the Thames before turning back to head for home.On the way he strolled from Piccadilly into Old Bond Street, his mind still fixed on the problem of the animal he should purchase.He needed those valuable challenge points if he was to hold Lord Godwin at bay.
What sort of animal could he take everywhere with him?He was still pondering the question when Eve and her brother Francis came into view.
He immediately questioned his decision to send her details of the next challenge.
Leading both Eve and Francis—though dragging could have been a closer word to the truth—was a huge, lumbering, Irish grey wolfhound.His brother had once owned one while at university and had constantly complained about how much it had cost him to feed the dog.
As they drew closer, he began to pray the dog was a member of the Saunders’s family.From the look of displeasure on Francis’s face, he knew he was in for no such luck.
Eve, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear.A laugh threatened with every step she took.Her hands were wrapped tightly around the end of the lead and she appeared to be holding on with all her might.
When they finally reached where Freddie was standing, Francis took the lead out of his sister’s hand and passed it to Freddie.Freddie’s heart sank as he took possession of his unexpected gift.
Eve gave up on her attempt not to laugh and broke out into a cackle.“Oh, you should have seen us, Freddie, it was hilarious.We got up at the crack of dawn and went all the way out to Spitalfields market to buy him.Francis here thought a small cat would do the trick, but as soon as I saw this monstrous beast I knew he was perfect for you.”
Francis gave his sister a deathly glare, obviously not enjoying the jest as well as she.Freddie caught sight of the drool stains on the front of Francis’s trousers and coat, and guffawed.
“Laugh all you want, Rosemount.Just remember how funny you thought this all was when he has made a complete mess of your clothing.I expect by day’s end the joke will have worn thin.I don’t know what the two of you are playing at, but this beast is beyond ridiculous,” replied Francis.
Eve rolled her eyes.“Saintspreserveus.”
“No!You are not calling the dog that.You are the niece of the Bishop of London.Please try to have at least a half ounce of decorum,” snapped Francis.
Eve and Freddie’s gazes met.They knew the rules of the game.The pet had to have a ridiculous name.She smiled back at him.Those dark hazel eyes held him in their sway.He couldn’t go against her in front of her brother; she would never forgive him.
His gaze drifted to her lips.He wanted to kiss them.He also wanted to kiss several other places on her body.
“Saintspreserveus.I like it.It rolls smoothly off the tongue,” said Freddie.
Francis let out a sigh.“I see I am in the company of two fools.So be it.Eve can accompany you and the dog for the walk back to Grosvenor Square.I shall send the carriage around to collect her as soon as I get home.But for heaven’s sake, Eve, try to avoid being seen by anyone who knows you.”
“Saints preserve us,” Eve muttered as Francis walked away.
Freddie looked at her and chuckled.“Are we really going to give this beast that name?Poor creature.”
The dog held its head high and seemed to be doing its utmost to ignore both of them.If Francis thought the name was foolish, so, it would appear, did the dog.
“Yes.You told me you needed an animal for the challenge.I thought we could kill two birds with one stone.Plenty of people will take offence at the name, so we can get Rude Rules points as well.I would have thought you would understand, but clearly a demonstration is in order,” Eve replied with a huff.She snatched the lead from out of Freddie’s hand and let the end fall to the ground.The dog took one look at the lead and bolted.
Freddie didn’t have time to question the recklessness of what Eve had done.He was too busy running after his new pet as its long legs loped along the street.A giggling Eve trailed behind them.
“Call his name!”she shouted.
“Saintspreserveus!”cried Freddie.
The jest finally landed.Two fools were running after a dog, crying “saints preserve us” at the top of their lungs.Eve, in her cunning, had found a way for them to score extra points.The Rude Ruleswould allow points for idiocy and public offence, while the new challenge was covered with the name of the dog.A dog who was fast putting distance between its new owner and itself.
