Page 78 of Last Night with the Duke
“His name is Napoleon,” Josephine demanded fiercely, not giving up an inch of ground. “Your granddaughter lost him. She didn’t take good care of him. I found him. That makes him mine.”
“You can say that as often as you want but I’m afraid this has no bearing on the fact that the dog is rightfully my Gracie’s. As you can see, the dog knows who I am.”
Yes, Esmeralda could see that Napoleon knew the man, but how could she let him take Napoleon from Josephine? She had to think, and that meant first things first.
She turned to Mr. Lambert and Lady Sara. “I’m sorry for interrupting your afternoon together, but I’m going to have to ask Mr. Lambert to leave. I have to take care of this matter right now and can’t be available to the two of you.”
“I understand, Miss Swift,” Mr. Lambert said softly. “But perhaps I should stay. I’m willing to help in any way that you ask.”
The young man’s sweet words made Esmeralda feel like crying. “That’s very kind of you, Mr. Lambert. Thank you for offering, but I’ll manage fine. Sparks and Lady Sara will see you out. I hope you’ll be able to come another afternoon.”
“I will, Miss Swift.”
Mr. Lambert, Lady Sara, and Sparks walked away. Esmeralda turned back to Mr. Chambers. “I must ask that you reconsider your position on this. I would assume your granddaughter has already adjusted to the loss of Napol—Spook—and while she would—”
“Say, no more, Miss Swift,” he said, holding his hand up to stop her. “Gracie loved this dog. She was heartbroken when we couldn’t find him. I shall return him to her.”
“It’s heartbreaking, I know, for two girls to love the same dog, but I can’t let you take Napoleon from my sister.”
“There’s nothing you can do to stop me. He is my granddaughter’s property. I’m taking him back to her.”
“He’s been mine for over a year now.” Josephine’s voice was shrill, harsh, and loud. “You can’t take him.”
“I refuse to respond to a child,” Mr. Chambers said.
Napoleon woofed a couple of times and struggled to get down, but the man held him firmly. He had been happy to see the man, but now it was as if he sensed exactly what was being said and he wanted to get down and go back to Josephine.
“I’m sure we can come to terms about this. I will be willing to pay you whatever—”
Mr. Chambers snorted derisively. “That is insulting, Miss Swift.”
She gave him a hard stare. “Be that as it may, I’m not going to let you take Napoleon away from my sister.”
“You have no choice. You know the law will be on my side concerning this. I hope you don’t let it come to that.”
He whirled on his heels and started stomping down the corridor. Josephine jerked away from Esmeralda and ran after Mr. Chambers. Catching up with him in the vestibule, she started hitting him in the back with her small fists and kicking the backs of his legs with her feet while screaming, “No! You can’t have him! He’s mine! Give him back!”
Napoleon yelped again and scratched to get down.
Esmeralda grabbed for Josephine’s thrashing arms and fists while Lady Sara tried to pull the man’s coat from Josephine’s grasp. As soon as she did Mr. Chambers rushed past Sparks, flung open the door, and disappeared.
“He’s my dog!” Josephine cried. “Bring him back! Bring Napoleon back to me!”
Shaking from anger, Esmeralda wrapped her arms tightly around Josephine and held her. “Shh, don’t cry, my darling.”
Josephine cried even harder. “He’s mine! I want him back. He’s mine!”
“I know, I know,” Esmeralda answered as soothingly as she could, but her heart was breaking too. She rocked back and forth trying to calm her sister. If only Griffin were there to help her know what to do. Surely, he could have kept Mr. Chambers from taking Napoleon.
Josephine’s slim body shook and trembled with rage and brokenheartedness. Esmeralda felt helpless to lessen her pain. Her sister had been just as upset when she’d lost her father. It took days for her to calm down and stop crying. Esmeralda looked from Sparks to Lady Sara, but knew they couldn’t help either. Their faces showed they were upset by what happened too.
Her throat and chest ached with unshed tears.
“It will be all right, my sweet,” she whispered again, brushing Josephine’s damp hair away from her face. “We’ll find a way to get Napoleon.”
Lady Sara laid a comforting hand on Josephine’s shoulder. “I do hate to see you so upset. Maybe the duke can help us get Napoleon back for you.”
Esmeralda gave Lady Sara an appreciative smile. “We can ask him and see what he thinks. He might be able to.”
