To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano

Author:Jen Turano
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction;Mystery Fiction;FIC042110;FIC042030;FIC027360
ISBN: 9781493428137
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2020-10-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

Eighteen

“Precious!” Miss Langtry shrieked. “Come back!”

“At least we know we have the right poodle,” Gabriella muttered before she spun on her heel and dashed after the dog, who was bounding away from the buggy as fast as her long, spindly legs would take her.

Nicholas dashed after Gabriella but found himself plowing directly into her when she suddenly stopped moving.

Grabbing hold of her arm, he helped her regain her balance, then turned and frowned when he caught sight of Winston leaping from his carriage, quite unlike the cowardly dog he usually was, as he charged directly for Precious.

“What do you think he’s doing?” Gabriella asked.

“No idea.” Nicholas started forward, his attention on Precious as she barked her way closer to Winston, the white ball that made up her tail moving back and forth at a furious rate. Nicholas slowed his pace, though, when Precious’s barks suddenly turned to yips, and then Winston began yipping as well.

Incredulity left Nicholas rooted to the spot as he found himself watching what looked to be a scene right out of a romance novel, albeit with dogs instead of the expected human hero and heroine.

Precious’s white fur was ruffling in the breeze as she pranced Winston’s way, while Winston suddenly adopted a most confident air as he strutted forward. A mere blink of an eye later, the dogs met, and then Precious was licking Winston’s face and receiving licks from him in return.

“This is going to be difficult to explain to Mrs. Goelet,” Gabriella said, coming up beside him.

“Looks like Winston found that lady friend on his own,” Gus called, hurrying toward them while giving the two dogs a wide berth. He stopped and gave a rueful shake of his head. “I wouldn’t have thought he’d be able to attract a dog like that. She seems rather high in the instep for a mutt like Winston, but it might be one of those cases of love being blind.”

“It’s a love that’s bound to come to a bad end because I can’t see Mrs. Goelet allowing Precious to take up with a mutt,” Gabriella said, taking a step forward and snapping her fingers. “Precious, come here.”

“How do you know my dog’s name?” Miss Langtry demanded, rushing up to join them, the pink of her cheeks exactly matching the color of her traveling cloak.

“You called her that after she leapt from your buggy,” Gabriella pointed out.

“Oh yes, I did,” Miss Langtry said as Eunice bustled up to join them as well, still holding the large painting under her arm.

Stopping next to Gabriella, Eunice hoisted the painting up, lifted her veil the tiniest bit, looked the painting over, then looked at Precious. “Looks like we found her.”

Miss Langtry raised a hand to her throat. “Is that a painting of my Precious?”

“I’m afraid she’s not your Precious,” Eunice said.

“Of course she is,” Miss Langtry argued. “Mr. Thomas Goelet, my soon-to-be fiancé, surprised me with her just the other day after I remarked that I’d seen numerous ladies in the company of poodles.

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