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They searched the mews and scanned each tree, looking for any sign of Emma’s cat. It took forever, but they finally made it as far as Hertford Street with no luck whatsoever, but with plenty of strange looks from passersby, most notably from the dowager Marchioness of Astwick. Well, everyone could think Caroline had lost her mind, calling for a silly-named cat and shaking a bag of duck like an imbecile, if they wanted to. In years past, she was certain they’d thought her equally mad, though for completely differentreasons.
“It’s possible Thompson and Hart found him already,” Rachel suggested when it seemed like Emma was about to crysuddenly.
“You’re not giving up!” Emmaaccused.
“No, no,” Rachel hastened to explain. “Just, it’s possible Thompson and Hart already found him. I’m not givingup,Em.”
And then the most amazing thing Caroline had ever seen came into view. Striding in their direction, holdingLord Fluffingtonby the scruff of his neck was Lord Peasemore. His brow was knit, his jaw was tight, and…he had a claw scratch across his left cheek that was dripping a bit of blood onto his cravat. Disheveled as he was, he’d never been morehandsome.
“Lord Peasemore!” she exclaimed. “Wheredid you find LordFluffington?”
“That’s his name?” the earlgrumbled.
“Oh, oh!” Emma squealed, bolting from Caroline’s side and rushing toward the earl, her arms outstretched. “Fluff! I’m so glad wefoundyou!”
Peasemore looked down at Emma and the tightness in his jaw loosened enough for him to smile briefly. “I take it you know thisfellow?”
Emma nodded eagerly, still reaching for her cat. “He’s my bestfriend.”
Caroline and Rachel reached Emma and Peasemore just as the earl was about to hand Lord Fluffington over. “Be careful with him,” he began. “He doesn’t seem to be in agoodmood.”
But Emma paid the advice no heed at all as she wrapped Fluff in her arms and pressed kiss after kiss to the top of his white head, professing her undying love for thefeline.
Thank heavens! Caroline wasn’t certain what they would have done if the little fellow hadn’t been found. How terribly lucky they were Lord Peasemore had comeacrosshim.
She glanced from her daughter back to the earl and smiled gratefully. “I don’t know how we’ll everthankyou.”
“Where did you find him?” Rachelasked.
“Well, I’d just left the park and saw him dart across the lane. Almost collided with a hack before I scooped him up,” Peasemore began. “Then I noticed his collar right before he branded me.” He pointed to his cheek. “Am I disfigured beyond allrecognition?”
That scratchdidlook like it hurt, and it was still bleeding. The poor man. Caroline shook her head. “Come back to Staveley House and we’ll have Cook prepare a poultice. You’ll be handsome as ever,mylord.”
A slightly wicked twinkle lit his hazel eyes. “But perhaps a bit more dangerous looking? I can always use that to myadvantage.”
Caroline couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, well, we’ll see what we can doaboutthat.”
“Then lead on,” Peasemore said and offered Carolinehisarm.
Rachel sent her a slightly censorious expression over her shoulder before joining Emma and Lord Fluffington in front of them. What wasthatlook supposedtomean?
“I must confess,” Peasemore continued, “I have thought about you since our chance encounter theotherday.”
“The first time you rescued me.” Caroline smiled up at the earl, who truly could be described as a golden Adonis if one was thefancifulsort.
“My pleasure on both occasions,” he assured her. “And while I do not want to get your hopes up, I may need to take you up on your offer from theotherday.”
Offer? Had she offered something? Caroline blinked up at the earl, wondering if she was losing her mind. If she’d offered anything, she couldn’t, for the life of her, remember whatitwas.
“Your matchmaking skills,” he added a moment later as he must have interpreted her blank expression and decided to take pityonher.
“My matchmaking skills?” Caroline echoed. “I thought you said no self-respecting rake would ever go to the altarwillingly.”
“Indeed,” he agreed with a nod. “But most self-respecting rakes also don’t have to answer to the Duchess ofNewbury.”
Her Grace did have a certain reputation, and Caroline bit back a smile. “Is your grandmother so veryfrightening?”
“Do you know her well?” hecountered.
