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‘Knowing the dog better, I think he was trying to rescue you after you fell. He wanted you off that road. He saw you fall and thought to rescue you from the post-coach.’
‘He did?’ Henri didn’t attempt to hide her incredulity.
‘I thought once you’d met Boy properly, you would cease to be afraid,’ he said quietly, holding her elbow in an unrelenting grip. ‘It is no good going through life being scared—you must confront your fear head-on.’
‘And you accuse me of being high-handed!’ Henri shifted uneasily. Robert had no right to do this to her. ‘It might attack me again.’
‘I’m giving you the opportunity to overcome your fear. I don’t want you to become a prisoner in your house, afraid to go out of the house for fear of meeting a dog.’
Henri tried to ignore the perspiration breaking out on her forehead. All she could see was the dog’s jaws. It was unfair of Robert not to warn her. Now she’d have to confess about her fear and he’d laugh. ‘I am not overly fond of dogs, it’s true. Can I go back in now? It is a bit much for my ankle. It is throbbing. I think I need to sit down. Yes, that’s it. My ankle is poorly.’
‘Any dog frightens you?’ He spun her around so he was looking directly into her eyes. ‘Why didn’t you tell me before? You can admit weaknesses, Henri. It means people are less likely to make mistakes and errors of judgement.’
‘It is hardly something one brings up in casual conversation.’ Henri took a steadying breath. It was far easier now that she was looking at Robert rather than at the mastiff. She had to hope that he did not think her a complete ninny and mock her like Sebastian always did.
Haltingly, she continued, ‘I even had to get rid of the pug puppies Sebastian left the last time. They nipped and jumped up. One drew blood. And travelling up to Corbridge was a nightmare. My aunt loved them, but the thought of having a dog in the house, particularly those ones as they tended to throw up. I had to persuade Lady Winship to take them.’
‘Puppies sometimes nip if they are overexcited or not trained properly.’ His eyes shone amber, but there was only concern. ‘Is there any particular reason you don’t like dogs?’
She took a deep breath, hating how childish she was going to sound. ‘Sebastian once dared me to walk along the high ridge by the hounds when I was about ten. Sensibly I refused. He enlisted Edmund in the scheme. They both walked along the high ridge without a problem. They both kept on and on at me until I tried. I missed my step and fell in. The dogs tore at my skirt and I screamed.’ Henri bit her lip. She risked another quick glance at the dog. Instead of jumping about like he had done, the dog had settled down with its large head on its paws. ‘Sebastian thought it would be amusing to see what would happen if he left me there to fight them off alone. The more I screamed for help, the harder he laughed, and the more aggressive the dogs became. I tried to run, but one of the hounds knocked me down. Edmund rescued me when he realised that the dogs were about to tear me limb from limb. And I loved him for it.’
His face became thunderous. ‘Did they get in trouble?’
‘Sebastian swore us to secrecy. After that, Edmund decided to become my protector.’
Henri looked at her hands and waited to hear his scornful laughter. It was such an inconsequential fear. Sebastian sometimes teased her about it.
Robert continued to look at her with concern.
‘It was a long time ago,’ she said into the silence. ‘And I do hate still being afraid.’
‘Will you meet Boy or is it too much?’ He pointed towards the dog. ‘See, he is trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.’
Henri turned round, ready to refuse. But the dog put his paws over his nose, hiding his face. The effect was so comical that Henri struggled not to laugh.
With Robert standing next to her, the dog could hardly harm her. Henri risked a breath. She trusted Robert to look after her.
‘I will meet him, but only to show you that I am not paralysed by fear.’
Robert whistled and the dog instantly trotted up, looking far more like a small horse than a conventionally sized dog. At Robert’s signal, the dog dropped down on its haunches and held out its right paw.
‘If you would just take his paw.’ Henri screwed up her eyes and held out her hand. Robert’s strong fingers curled around it and held it tight. ‘Look at me, Henrietta Thorndike. Not the dog, at me. There are tricks you can learn to show a dog you are the master. It is all in how you approach the dog and the tone of your voice.’
Slowly Henri opened her eyes and found herself staring into his.
