Romancing a Wallflower

Ralph!” the pimple-faced boy screamed.
“I will add a crown.” Harlow pulled a silver coin from his pocket. “That is a considerable amount of blunt and far more than you and he are worth together. I suggest you take it and thank God for your fortune before I change my mind and have you taken up by the constable.”
Lilian looked up at him appreciatively. He cares for animals, too.
“A fine dog, such as ’e’ should bring more, if oi sell ’im.” The boy smiled slyly with a fixed stare at Harlow, hoping to drive a better bargain.
Harlow took another step forward and spoke low from the back of his throat. “Do not attempt to mistake me for a flat. I could purchase a pedigree gun-dog for less than that price. You are fortunate we are prepared to pay for your mischief. However, I will not stand by while you viciously harm that puppy for entertainment. I will not allow another second of it. Take the money we have offered and leave the animal with us before I send my man for a constable. Consider carefully, for I will tell him you stole the dog from my stables a week ago.”
“That’s a plumper, guvnor,” the boy fumed with one hand in a fist at his side. He looked at Lilian’s outstretched hand and the coin Harlow held in his. “Bah! ’Tis naught but a dirty dog, after all, and ’tis a fine price. ’E’s yers.” George snatched the coins from Harlow and Lilian and shoved the puppy in her direction. The poor animal collapsed on her lap as the boys ran back from whence they came, the slight movement of the bushes the only sign, apart from the shivering mutt, of the entire episode. Lilian hugged the puppy close without a care for his appearance.
Harlow smiled down at her with brief amusement. “I had a fancy for a raspberry ice, but perhaps this makes for a better day.”
“Lilian, he is filthy! Whatever will Mama say?”
“The same thing she said when I found the cat and her litter of kittens. The first word will be, no. Then, she will list three or more reasons it is so.” Lilian smiled, but inside she quaked as she wondered the same. “We can handle Mama, I am sure. I shall call my new puppy Cooper since his hair looks like copper.”
“How can you tell?” Lydia asked, laughing sarcastically. “He looks the colour of mud to me.” Despite her gainsaying, Lydia dropped to her knees and petted Cooper. He whined when they touched his neck, causing both girls to pull away slightly, afraid to hurt him further.
“How do you feel about the name, Cooper?” Lilian directed her question to her new puppy, who lifted his head, still trembling. His eyes were full of fear.
“I realize you are in pain at the moment,” she whispered to the puppy, “but I think you will grow to like the name.” Her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear, but soft enough to continue to calm her new pet. “You have a home now and we will all love you.”
“He looks to be a fairly young puppy and judging from the lack of meat on his bones, half-starved,” Lord Harlow observed quietly. “I have a friend who treats animals. I will ask him to call upon you, Lady Lilian.”
“Thank you. I would be glad of that.” She looked up and briefly squeezed his hand in appreciation. Once again, strange feelings stirred in the pit of her stomach.
Holding Cooper, Lilian lightly touched the puppy’s head and tried to untie the thick hemp rope from his neck.
“I cannot get this…ah…rope free,” she gasped as she struggled.
“Allow me.” Lord Yarstone reached down to the blanket beside him and picked up the paring knife he had used on the fruit. “This should work.” He carefully sawed at the rope until the dirty length of hemp broke.
The rope had rubbed the puppy’s neck raw, leaving it hairless, red and weeping with blood. Lilian took an embroidered handkerchief from her reticule and dabbed it into her wine glass. She comforted Cooper.
“Poor little one, this may sting, but it will help, I promise.” Gently, she wiped some white wine over the area. Cooper stood still and gave her hand a small lick when she had finished.
“This should make him more comfortable, Lady Lilian.” Lord Harlow had stepped to his vehicle and pulled a plaid blanket from the box beneath his seat.
“Thank you, sir.” Lilian accepted the blanket and Lord Harlow squatted down and helped her wrap the blanket around the trembling, overwhelmed animal. Cooper’s nose nuzzled her chest, and he edged himself in as close to a cuddle with Lilian as he could manage.
“I am done for!” Lord Harlow laughed jokingly. “I gave my coin and have created new competition for your attentions.”
“Nonsense,” she answered good-naturedly, then glancing at her sister. “We should return home and introduce Cooper to Mama as soon as possible. You are right, Lydia. She will not be happy.”
“The food is almost gone, but I will bet that the little fellow would love to have some meat, bread and cheese.” Lord Yarstone brought his basket close, holding out a leftover half loaf of bread. Cooper sniffed and strained to reach it.
“Good man, Yarstone. Perhaps we should give him some bread and make sure he fills his belly. I would go easy on the cheeses and meat. The spicier ones could make him sick. I have a bottle of water here.” Lord Harlow offered the water in a small bowl. After swallowing the small loaf almost whole, the puppy thirstily lapped the water.
“He is starving!” Lilian burst out. ”We should get him home immediately. Lydia, I will need your help to get him bathed and his hair trimmed. I think we should do it together. He trusts us,” she added, with great satisfaction.
She hugged Cooper closer to her heart and smiled. This had been a good day, so far. She had done a good