Newton let out a staccato bark, simply to remind everyone of his presence.
“I had better find his lead and take him for a walk,” Kate said hurriedly. She certainly could use a bit of fresh air. And it would be nice to finally escape the viscount’s fiendish company. “If you’ll excuse me…”
“But wait, Kate!” Mary called out. “You cannot leave Lord Bridgerton here with me. I’m sure I’ll bore him to tears.”
Kate slowly turned around, dreading Mary’s next words.
“You could never bore me, Mrs. Sheffield,” the viscount said, debonair rake that he was.
“Oh, but I could,” she assured him. “You’ve never been trapped in conversation with me for an hour. Which is about how long it will be before Edwina returns.”
Kate stared at her stepmother, her jaw actually hanging open with shock. What on earth did Mary think she was doing?
“Why don’t you go with Kate to take Newton for a walk?” Mary suggested.
“Oh, but I could never ask Lord Bridgerton to accompany me on a chore,” Kate said quickly. “It would be beyond rudeness, and after all, he is our esteemed guest.”
“Don’t be silly,” Mary answered, before the viscount could get even half of a word in. “I’m sure he wouldn’t look upon it as a chore. Would you, my lord?”
“Of course not,” he murmured, looking utterly sincere. But really, what else could he say?
“There. That settles it,” Mary said, sounding inordinately pleased with herself. “And who knows? You may stumble across Edwina in your travels. Wouldn’t that be convenient?”
“Indeed,” Kate said under her breath. It would be lovely to be rid of the viscount, but the last thing she wanted to do was deliver Edwina into his clutches. Her sister was still young and impressionable. What if she couldn’t resist one of his smiles? Or his glib tongue?
Even Kate was willing to admit that Lord Bridgerton exuded considerable charm, and she didn’t even like the man! Edwina, with her less suspicious nature, would surely be overwhelmed.
She turned to the viscount. “You shouldn’t feel you must accompany me while I walk Newton, my lord.”
“I’d be delighted,” he said with a wicked smile, and Kate had the distinct impression he was agreeing to go for the sole purpose of vexing her. “Besides,” he continued, “as your mother said, we might see Edwina, and wouldn’t that be a delightful coincidence?”
“Delightful,” Kate returned flatly. “Just delightful.”
“Excellent!” Mary said, clapping her hands together with joy. “I saw Newton’s lead on the hall table. Here, I’ll go and get it for you.”
Anthony watched Mary leave, then turned to Kate and said, “That was very neatly done.”
“I’ll say,” Kate muttered.
“Do you suppose,” he whispered, leaning toward her, “that her matchmaking is directed toward Edwina or you?”
“Me?” Kate all but croaked. “Surely you jest.”
Anthony rubbed his chin thoughtfully, gazing at the doorway through which Mary had just exited. “I’m not certain,” he mused, “but—” He closed his mouth upon hearing Mary’s footsteps drawing back near.
“Here you are,” Mary said, holding the lead out to Kate. Newton barked enthusiastically and drew back as if preparing to lunge at Mary—undoubtedly to shower her with all sorts of unpalatable love—but Kate kept a firm hold on his collar.
“Here,” Mary quickly amended, handing the lead instead to Anthony. “Why don’t you give this to Kate? I’d rather not get too close.”
Newton barked and gazed longingly at Mary, who inched farther away.
“You,” Anthony said forcefully to the dog. “Sit down and be quiet.”
Much to Kate’s surprise, Newton obeyed, settling his plump bottom onto the rug with almost comical alacrity.
“There,” Anthony said, sounding rather pleased with himself. He held out the lead toward Kate. “Shall you do the honors or shall I?”
“Oh, go right ahead,” she replied. “You seem to have such an affinity for canines.”
“Clearly,” he shot back, keeping his voice low so that Mary could not hear, “they are not so very different from women. Both breeds hang on my every word.”
Kate stepped on his hand as he knelt to fasten the lead to Newton’s collar. “Oops,” she said, rather insincerely. “I’m so sorry.”