“But I have told you to call me Crispin.” He drew the bud into his mouth, reveling in the way she pressed against him. He’d been lucky to find a widow so starved for a man. He stroked her already heated skin. “I believe I shall have to withhold my attentions until you give me yours.”
“Jean,” she gasped as he covered her and her legs wrapped around him. “It’s Jean.”
She moaned with pleasure as he plunged into her. God, he loved women.
* * *
Adeline rolled over and turned her pillow—for the thousandth time. Ever since supper last evening, the blasted man kept intruding on her thoughts. To make it worse, it was the wrong gentleman. That night she dreamed of Littleton’s sharply molded lips and the dimple that came out when he smiled. She also remembered the strained expression on his face just before he hailed the waiter at Gunter’s. That did not make sense to her.
Her dreams revolved around baby pigs and little girls. The girls had curling black hair and green eyes, and he was giving each of them a piglet. The strange thing was that in her dream, she had been there as well, encouraging them to give the piglets names. Then ladies were popping out of bushes and from behind sofas, trying to get his attention.
Adeline made herself stay in bed until her maid opened the bed hangings and curtains.
“Good morning, my lady,” Fendall said, ruthlessly pulling the bed hangings back. “Your great beastie will be here soon.” She stepped over to the toilet table. “I ordered tea and some toast to tide you over until breakfast.”
Tossing back the covers, Adeline threw her legs over the side of the bed, then went to make her morning ablutions. “Thank you.”
She hurried through the tea and toast. It was one thing to keep a gentleman waiting. That was almost required, although she never did. But it was quite another to keep a servant—especially one who was doing one a favor—waiting. That was rude.
She gazed out the window as she sipped her tea. It was clear, and a soft breeze wafted in from the window. “It looks like it will be a nice day.”
“That’s what Mr. Abney says, my lady.”
The clock struck the hour and she rushed downstairs.
When Humphries arrived with Maximus, she was almost, but not quite, surprised not to see Lord Littleton. Yet he had said he would not come. Apparently, in some things he was a man of his word.
“Mornin’ to ye, my lady.” Humphries reached up, as if he would pull on a cap, then remembered to bow.
“Good morning, Humphries.” Maximus leaned against Adeline’s legs as he tried to wrap himself around her. “And good morning to you, Maximus.” The footman shoved the lead at her. She wanted to take it, but Maximus was big; well, huge might be a better word. “Are you sure I can handle him?”
“Nothin’ to,” Humphries assured her. “Jes’ tell him ta heel, and he’ll stay right by yer side.”
“Maximus, heel.” Much to her surprise and pleasure, the dog straightened and stood by her side just as he was supposed to. “What a good boy you are.”
By the time they reached the Park, Adeline had got used to having the Great Dane next to her. What would it be like to have one with her all the time? That reminded her of the carriage his owner was having built. “Will you like to ride in a curricle?”
The footman barked a rough laugh. “There’s no swither he’ll like being with his lordship. The question is, what’ll happen when he sees somethin’ he wants.” Humphries looked around. “Ye might want me to take him, my lady. There’s plenty of squirrels hereabouts, and he’ll fair pull ye off yer feet if he decides to take off after one.”
It didn’t take her long to work out why Maximus was so interested in the squirrels. Humphries whispered something in the dog’s ear, and his head perked up. As soon as a squirrel ran across the lawn, the footman dropped the lead, and the dog bounded after it.
The smaller animal darted toward the nearest tree and dashed up it, stopping to chatter down at Maximus when he reached the first branch. “What will he do if he catches it?”
“Ain’t no way he’s goin’ to catch that squirrel, or any other. He just likes to chase ’em.” Humphries rubbed his chin. “If he did catch one, he’d probably try to lick it.”
“Because he would want to taste the squirrel?” She did not wish to see the poor little thing eaten alive.
“Nah. To make sure it was all right. Ain’t no dog as gentle as him. He’s nothin’ more than a big baby.”
Tail wagging, Maximus pranced back to them, looking like he was grinning and clearly expecting praise.
“Did you make a good job of it?” Adeline stroked his head, as he wanted her to do. Then another squirrel appeared, and he was off again. “What do you do if there are small children around?”
Humphries raised his hand to his head, seemed to realize that he wore a hat and a wig, then dropped the appendage. “Normally, we’re out too early for ’em. But if it did happen, I’d have to take him away. He’d try to lick the little ones, and the nursemaid’d go off screaming that the dog was tryin’ to eat her charge.” He shook his head dolefully. “Causes a lot o’ trouble, it does.”
Adeline had never seen a footman act as Humphries did. “You’re not really a footman, are you?”
“Me? Nah. I’m a groom.” He glanced down at his livery in disgust. “Problem is that none of these fine London footmen can handle Maximus. He plays his tricks on them and gets away. Thinks it a good joke to keep them running after him. It’s a game for him, ye see. I call it chase me, chase, ye fool, ye fool.” He sighed. “But her ladyship says that whoever walks him has to be in livery. So, here I am.”
