The lady nodded prettily and they set off through the gate to the square’s paths through the trees. The rest of the party followed behind, which Roland was beginning to see as awkward in the extreme. They were a silent following party, seeming to prefer listening to what might be said between him and Lady Serenity.
Aside from them occasionally stopping to sniff one another, Havoc and Nelson were relatively behaved and seemed to enjoy walking together.
“They like one another,” Roland said.
Lady Serenity nodded. “I have not known how Nelson would be near another dog, as he has not had any friends. The only other dog we encounter here is Lady Maribel’s bad-tempered Pekinese who hates everybody, even Lady Maribel, I believe.”
Roland laughed. “I know the dog you speak of. Lady Maribel is rather terrified of the little beast—it has a habit of biting ankles and she’s had several staff leave on account of it.”
“Havoc is very well-behaved,” Lady Serenity said.
“It is his temperament,” Roland said. “He is an easygoing, small dog hoping to be approved of, walking round in a very large body.”
“I believe you are right about temperament,” Lady Serenity said. “We cannot know what happened to Nelson before wefound him, but certainly many terrible things. He ought to be bitter over it, but he is not.”
“He was surviving on scraps!” Lady Winsome said loudly behind them, a further reminder that their conversation was not at all private.
“And yet, he is such a darling, despite it all,” Lady Serenity said. “I wonder if temperament is rather fixed, despite whatever might befall a person.”
This of course did give Roland pause, considering he was determined to modify his own temperament.
“Perhaps onlymostlyfixed,” he ventured. “I do think one’s circumstances and preferences can move inclinations a bit one way or the other.”
Lady Serenity looked thoughtful over it.
“Serenity,” Lady Valor called from behind, “did you thank Lord Thorpe for the roses, but tell him not to send any more, because you have decided not to ever leave the house?”
“Valor!” Lady Grace said.
“She doesn’t have to leave if she does not want to. I’m not ever leaving my papa,” Lady Valor said.
Lady Serenity’s cheeks pinked. “My youngest sister is not approving that my three older sisters have married.”
“No, I am not,” Lady Valor confirmed.
Roland could hear Lady Felicity hushing the youngest of the Nicolet sisters. They had reached the other side of the gardens and followed the turn on the path that would take them back round to their own side of the square.
Havoc and Nelson were ahead of them, walking side by side in a surprisingly rational fashion. Nelson’s head only came to Havoc’s shoulder and he did not have the same stride, what with him being smaller and down a leg, but Havoc seemed to be making allowances. “As they have seemed to become fast friends,” Roland said, “perhaps it would not be kind to foreverseparate them. Perhaps they would like going on further walks in the square.”
“Oh, I think that must be right. I could not bear to disappoint Nelson and this is the first friend he’s ever had. That I know of, anyway.”
“I find eleven o’clock in the morning is a good time to walk a dog. Perhaps we ought to arrange it?”
“I am almost always free at eleven,” Lady Serenity said.
“As am I.”
“Excellent,” Lady Felicity said behind them. “There will be dog walking at eleven each morning.”
“If, of course, your father approves the plan,” Roland said to Lady Serenity.
“I’ll tell him not to,” Lady Valor said. “This dog walking idea is terrible!”
“I am certain he will approve,” Lady Serenity said, ignoring her youngest sister’s opinions.
They had come to the gate leading out of the gardens. Roland would like to suggest going round a second time, though it would be rather preposterous. It would also likely send Lady Valor into fits, as she currently wished he’d disappear into a puff of smoke and never be seen again.
“I suppose I’d better take Havoc inside,” he said, “he’ll wish for water by now.”
