Page 75 of The Dueling Duchess

Guy winced. “Do you have to yell, Cecile?”

“It is Miss Tremblay to you. And yes, I have to yell when you use inappropriate language in front of a child.”

“Oh, sorry.” He couldn’t stop staring at the pretty little girl—her hair was golden blond, not a muddy, grayish brown.

He looked at Cecile. “How—what—er . . .”

Cecile snorted. “That sounds similar to what I said last night when I opened my laundry cupboard.”

Guy grimaced. “Oh.”

“Oh, indeed.”

“It was cold out and I just thought—”

“That you would store a child in a cupboard—as if she were dirty laundry?”

Guy shoved his hand through his hair, staring down at his feet. Well, when put that way, it sounded bad.

He forced himself to look up and meet Cecile’s dark gaze. “I was only keeping her there until I came up with something better.”

“I have something better.”

He perked up. “You do?”

“Yes. Cat and George will stay in your room from now on.”

“Erm, Cat and George?”

Cecile ushered the girl and dog into the room. George—at least he assumed the dog was called George and not the girl—bared its not inconsiderable fangs at him.

Guy backed up until his legs hit the cot. “Cecile—er, Miss Tremblay,” he amended hastily. “There’s not enough room in here—and just the one bed. And George doesn’t look pleased to share the space, either.”

Cecile reached down and scratched the dog’s head; the dog stopped growling and rubbed against her leg.

Why, the ungrateful cur! You’d think he’d remember who it was who rescued him.

“It is just a dog, Guy. Surely you can charm a dog? You will have to exert some of that famous charisma of yours.”

“Ha, ha. Very droll.”

“As for just one bed—you may fetch one of the boxing mats. That should suffice for you and George to sleep on. That way Cat can take the bed.”

“But—”

“Children require regular meals, so you will need to make arrangements with Cook.”

“Arrangeme—”

“And Cat will need schooling—either you may teach her, or perhaps you might inquire at an establishment that provides such services.”

“Teach her? Lord, Cecile! The only things I could teach are—”

“Not in front of the child, Guy.”

He ground his teeth. “You can stop, now. I understand what you’re doing.”

“I may stop? And do what, pray? Throw Cat and George back onto the street?”