Page 9 of Last Night with the Duke
“No. She can come with you.”
Esmeralda felt as if her heart jumped up into her throat and she coughed. “You don’t mean that?”
“I’m not in the habit of saying things I don’t mean.”
What could she say? She never expected him to agree to her preposterous demand. Thinking quickly, she added, “There’s Napoleon too. I won’t leave him either.”
A slow grin spread his masculine lips, and her heart tripped again.
“JosephineandNapoleon?” He straightened, putting a little more distance between their faces as he rubbed the corner of his mouth with the pad of his thumb. “I suppose he is your brother?”
“No. Napoleon is our dog. He is my sister’s responsibility. But I won’t leave either one of them behind for anyone.”
“I’m curious, Miss Swift. Was the dog named out of admiration or contempt for the emperor?”
“Neither, of course,” she told him. “When we found him wet and shivering by our back door, his long hair was so dirty and matted he looked as if he were wearing the kind of hat Napoleon wore in a painting we’d once seen of him. The poor thing was starving, so we brought him inside to nurse him back to health. Josephine fed him and washed and trimmed his long hair. She adored him on sight and thought it would be clever to name him Napoleon.”
The duke seemed to study on what she’d said and then asked, “What breed is the dog?”
“Skye Terrier. He must have belonged to someone for a time because he was already trained. After he was well enough, we walked him in the mornings and afternoons hoping to find his owner, but no one stopped us to inquire about him. He’s never tried to leave.”
“Then he must be home.”
“Yes, that’s a comforting way to look at it. And I’m glad you can see why I can’t be your sisters’ chaperone. My responsibilities here are too great to accept more.”
The duke stared at her for a long moment before finally saying, “Napoleon is a small dog.”
“Reasonably,” she said cautiously.
“Fine. They can both come with you.”
Esmeralda’s stomach clenched so hard her hand jerked to her abdomen. “You jest, Your Grace.”
He slowly shook his head as her thoughts whirled.
“I’ll need you to be in a room on the floor with my sisters,” he continued as if he considered their bargaining done. “Josephine can have the room in the nursery. There are always servants in the house, so she won’t be alone when you go out with the twins in the evenings. Napoleon, of course, will continue to be her concern.”
It was impossible to calm her ragged breathing, but she managed to say, “My sister and Napoleon can live with me in your house?”
His eyes softened indulgently. “I’ve already said they can come. You don’t have to convince me all over again.”
“Oh, yes, I know. I just can’t believe it. That’s more than I could have wished for.”
“However, I don’t expect your sister to hinder your duties or to have neighbors complaining about being awakened in the middle of the night by a howling dog.”
“No, no. Napoleon seldom barks, but…”
What was she thinking? She couldn’t do it. The duke was being more than fair and she needed the employment he offered, but she couldn’t.
As if sensing her trepidation, he said, “I haven’t heard a yes from you yet, Miss Swift.”
“I can’t,” she whispered earnestly. “I’m afraid there is still one thing holding me back, Your Grace.”
“Your dog has a sister too?”
In spite of her spinning heart, Esmeralda smiled. And so did the duke. “No.” She truly wanted to take this position, knowing there was no easy way to say what must be said.
He cocked his head. “A brother?”
