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“I’m afraid I have just finished my day’s employ,” she pointed out firmly, moving to step around the woman.

“Hold up,” said Jack, putting his hand out to stay her. “Are you saying you won’t help us out here when the need arises?” His voice rose with indignation.

Sebastian set up a threatening growl that made them all step back in alarm. “Perhaps if you remove your hand from my arm, Jack?” Lizzie recommended. Jack pulled it back sharply and the horrible noise emitting from Sebastian’s throat subsided. They all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Lizzie looked squarely at Daphne. “How long do you need me to cover your duties?” she asked. “If Benedict will soon be finished, then he will not be pleased to find I have pledged myself to sit here all evening.”

Daphne opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Jack forestalled her. “That’s true enough,” he grumbled. “You don’t want to get on the wrong side of him, Daph.”

Daphne huffed out a sigh. “Long enough for me to get a bite to eat?” she offered.

Lizzie nodded. “Very well.”

“Obliged, I’m sure,” Daphne sniffed and hurried off.

Lizzie sought out the little three-legged stool just inside the entrance and picked up the jar of ha’pennies Daphne had stowed there. As Lizzie lowered herself onto the wooden stool, Sebastian seated himself beside her.

Jack looked them over with raised brows. “Well, no one will be arguing the entrance fee with him sat beside you, at any rate,” he commented wryly before disappearing back into the tent.

It was twenty minutes later that Benedict appeared beside her, still buttoning his shirt.

“What are you doing sat there?” he asked with surprise.

Sebastian set up a low rumble, but Lizzie’s hand shot out and shook his collar. “No,” she said firmly. “I won’t be here long,” she said addressing her husband. “I’ve just taken over for Daphne a moment while she fetches herself some refreshment.”

He grunted. “Who’s this?”

“Our new guard dog,” Lizzie said boldly. “I bought him off a most objectionable man.” Wordlessly she passed him the bill of sale. Benedict glanced it over before passing it back.

“Overton?” he asked with a frown. “Doesn’t he run some sort of performing animal act? Teeth like a row of neglected tombstones?”

“He does,” she agreed, wincing at the description of Stanley Overton’s teeth. “And vastly sorry I feel for any animal under his yoke. He was abusing this one most cruelly.” They both regarded Sebastian’s long nose and shaggy fur coat a moment in silence. “He claimed he was a wolf-dog,” Lizzie admitted after a moment. “Is such a thing even possible?”

Benedict shrugged. “Damned if I know. He looks like some kind of sled-dog to me. Is he friendly?”

“Not especially, but he does seem to listen to me. He takes grave objection to anyone accosting me, I know that much.”

“Does he, by God?” Benedict’s expression lightened. “Well, it wouldn’t hurt for you to have a protector to escort you about.”

“Do you suppose Connie would allow me to have him accompany me tomorrow?” she asked a little doubtfully.

“I don’t see why not,” Benedict answered.

She gave him a sidelong look. “And the mere sight of him doesn’t inspire you to violence?”

His eyebrows rose. “Why do you ask that?”

“I was informed that some husbands would feel justified in beating their wives for squandering eighteen shillings on a dog.”

“I’ve never beaten a woman in my life, and I’m not about to start now,” he answered swiftly. “You can put any concerns of that nature out of your head.”

Lizzie nodded, but any reply she might have made was swiftly forgotten when Daphne reappeared and interrupted them.

Daphne eyed Benedict warily as she brushed her hands on her skirts. “Thanks for that,” she muttered to Lizzie.

“You’re welcome.” She stood and turned back to the looming animal. “Come, Sebastian.”

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