“I hope so,” she said under her breath.
The moment she opened the carrier, Kettle stopped crying, which was an improvement, but he didn’t dash out as she’d expected.
Rowan offered his hands to the dogs. Turi licked it immediately, but Pepper didn’t come near him.
“Pepper is quite shy.” She stroked his head.
“He’s beautiful.” He used his crutch to walk to Pepper and stretched out his arm.
Pepper sniffed his hand, twirling his tail. Kettle didn’t leave the carrier yet, but the hard glint in his eyes promised retribution. Instead, Turi seemed to be in a race, running around the sofa.
“Turi,” Jane called him. “Be quiet. I don’t understand his behaviour. He’s usually very calm.”
Wasted breath. Turi was too excited to listen, and his enthusiasm was contagious.
As Pepper walked around the room, trying to imitate Turi, Rowan observed him. “He limps.”
Effie scolded herself inwardly. How couldn’t she have thought about that? “Pepper was born with a lame leg. But as you can see, it doesn’t bother him. He won’t be a hunter, but he’s my friend like Kettle, and he’s sweet and loving.”
The smile vanished from Rowan’s face as he used his crutch to follow Pepper. “We have something in common.”
Jane snatched Turi from the floor, stopping his wild race, and exchanged a glance with Effie.
“I’m sorry, Rowan. I didn’t think Pepper might upset you.”
“Oh, no. I’m not upset. I understand him. He makes me think.”
“About what?”
“He doesn’t complain, does he?” Rowan lowered his gaze. “He does his best. I’ve been quite upset in the past few days.”
“Understandably so,” Jane said.
He scrubbed the back of his neck. “I wasn’t very nice to the people around me.”
Effie could only imagine what Rowan was going through. “I’m sure your brother and your servants understand. They all love you.”
He nodded and caressed Pepper again. “There’s a lot to learn from animals.”
The setter repaid the attention enthusiastically, licking Rowan’s hand. Turi wanted to be part of the party and joined them, licking Rowan’s hand as well.
Rowan giggled. “They tickle me.”
She laughed. “You’re already friends.”
“That was easy, and what about—Hey! He’s gone.” Rowan tilted his head towards the carrier. “Kettle isn’t there.”
They turned towards the carrier.
“What? I didn’t see him leaving it.” She searched around, a thousand thoughts going through her head. “Kettle? Come here.”
Jane huffed. “I think it was Turi. He distracted us. Kettle could be anywhere.”
Effie searched under the sofa, behind the curtains, and on the shelves, but there was no trace of the black cat. Worry set in her stomach. What if he ran in the street? Or if he got stucksomewhere? He was so upset that he might have gone anywhere to feel safe.
She put a hand on her chest.
“Lady Effie, don’t worry. We should split up to look for him,” Rowan said. “Lady Vaughan and I will search the next room.”
