The Primrose Path by Bárbara Metzger Read Free Book Online

his platter-size paws on Corin’s shoulders.
    The viscount staggered under the weight while Ajax gave a slobbery lick to his chin, cheek, and ear. The monstrous dog also left huge, muddy footprints up and down Corin’s shirtfront, neck cloth, and meticulously tailored coat. His leg had been right about the rain. Now it was right about collapsing. From his position on the floor, Ajax straddling his chest and the Yorkshire terriers yapping in his ear, Corin looked over at Angelina. “Couldn’t you have told him I was a mere acquaintance?”
    * * * *
    An hour later the habitually fastidious viscount was repaired to some kind of order—his clothing, at least, if not his dignity. Corin would not have visited a coal mine in his present state of dress, but it was adequate enough to go home in and accept his valet’s resignation. Before he left Primrose Cottage, however, he was determined to make at least some headway toward getting the animals out of there.
    “You don’t object if I take one of the dogs with me, do you, Miss Armstead? You wouldn’t stand in the way of finding decent homes for them, I pray.” It was a challenge, and Corin knew it. He wasn’t certain he was ready for another confrontation with the confounded female; he wasn’t certain he’d won any of their skirmishes yet, except that kiss. Yes, the kiss was definitely a victory, making the defeats almost bearable.
    Lena surprised him by being agreeable, likely out of remorse for his ruined clothing. “Of course I wouldn’t object to seeing an animal find a good, loving home. Lady Sophie found new families for her dogs whenever possible. That’s the principle of the shelter she was so eager to build: that people might come and adopt homeless strays. Of course, her own adopted pets were not to be included there, but, yes, I think she’d be happy knowing her next of kin was caring for one of her favorites.”
    “My sentiments exactly.” Actually, Corin thought the old besom would likely have a good laugh to think of her nevvy saddled with one of her canine misfits.
    Angelina’s brows were furrowed. “Not Sadie, I don’t think, since I suppose a gentleman to have a great deal of leather, gloves and boots and such. And not Puddles or Windy.”
    “Definitely not Windy. I had in mind that foxhound bitch I saw in the yard.”
    “Oh, I don’t think Bunny is a good choice, my lord. She isn’t—”
    “Miss Armstead, please. I do know something about dogs. My father’s pack of hounds was the finest in the county. I can take the dog—Bunny, is it?—out with me tomorrow, have a good ride, see if we can’t hunt down old Reynard.”
    “But—”
    Corin held up his hand, devoid of yet another pair of gloves, due, he was beginning to suspect, both to Sadie and the fact that he’d been too angry to tip the butler and footmen the last time he was here. “You said you wouldn’t object, and I’m holding you to the spirit of my aunt’s wishes. I am an active man, so none of the ancient articles will suit. Nor”—he shuddered—”will a creature with ribbons in its hair. Bunny is the dog I want, the dog I will cherish and tell my sons about, when I have sons, of course. I really must insist that I know best.”
    When Angelina ordered Bunny into the viscount’s curricle, Corin was amazed she didn’t make a show of tears and sad farewells. Perhaps Miss Armstead wasn’t as fond of the mutts as she wanted him to believe. Perhaps her noble devotion was a calculated act after all, he speculated, to keep her at Primrose Cottage.
    For Angelina’s part, she saw no reason to say goodbye to the foxhound. Bunny would be back in the morning.
     

Chapter Six
     
    Angelina was waiting in the morning room, which overlooked the drive. She didn’t think his lordship would keep country hours, rising with the dawn. He’d likely stay abed till nine, then take an hour to dress, another hour to break his fast. Angelina estimated that Lord Knowle would last