“Damn it. Roo, heel.” The dog bounded off, ducking under a fence and streaking across the field toward the house. Guy cursed under his breath. He did not know what had come over the dog but as soon as he had spotted the large Tudor-style house, he had become unruly. Apparently, whatever was at the house was worth being bellowed at by his master.

Guy hastened after him, climbing over the fence and heading toward the Tudor-style building. It was a sizeable building with a moat around it and a significant garden. Roo opted to ignore the open front door and raced around the side of the house, out of Guy’s sight.

Grimacing to himself, he picked up pace and barreled after the dog.

“Oof.”

He came to a standstill as a slender bundle of femininity bashed into him. She staggered back and pushed a red curl from her face. “What are you doing here?” Julia demanded.

He peered around her. The other Chadwick girls were sitting on a tartan blanket on the neatly cut lawns, surrounded by an excellent spread of food. Sandwiches, cakes, pastries and lemonade were on offer. Guy’s stomach grumbled at the sight of them. Apparently, Roo had been hungry too. He had planted himself in between the two other sisters and was being fed a sausage and duly fussed over.

“My dog,” he finally said. “It seems he missed his invite to the picnic.”

Julia glanced over her shoulder. “Had we known he liked picnics, we would have invited him.” Her grin turned sly.

“I like picnics.”

“Then you had better ask your housekeeper to make you one.” Her lips pursed in a triumphant manner.

No doubt she was still thrilled with yesterday’s outcome. However, it was going to take more than a few pigeons to scare him off. He had a brother and hundreds of tenants to worry about on his main estate. They all relied on him to ensure the estate was fruitful and that he could continue to maintain the lands and all the buildings on it. The otters could go elsewhere, he was certain. There had to be enough river for them all, surely?

“Lord Weston!” Miss Catherine exclaimed. She stood and gave a little dip. “Your dog has eaten almost all of our sausages.”

He bowed. “I do apologize. He has the manners of a...well, a dog.”

“He seems to have better manners than some people I know.” Julia sent a pointed look his way.

“Indeed.” Guy watched as Roo sauntered off from the picnic and proceeded to relieve himself against a tree. “Roo has impeccable manners,” he said, trying to keep the smile from his lips. “Far better than us boorish men, to be sure.”

Julia lifted her chin. “Oh not all men are boorish. Just a select few.”

“Like whom?” asked Emma who brushed off her skirts and came to stand by them, a pack of cards in hand. “I cannot think of any men we know who are boorish.”

“I am sure Miss Chadwick knows some, do you not?” he teased.

“Indeed I do. Some who are in quite close proximity to us.”

Catherine rolled her eyes. “Come now, Julia. You might not like what he’s planning to do to the otters but there’s no need to be rude.”

Julia blinked at her sister. “You have changed your tune. You are always rude, Catherine.”

Guy held up his hands. “I have no wish to start an argument. I merely wish to get my naughty beast of a dog back.”

Catherine peered around the garden. “Looks like he is headed toward your garden, Julia.”

“Your garden?” Guy asked, eyeing the flush of color that had landed in Julia’s cheeks. It brought out the few freckles that skipped across her nose. Her lashes fluttered with uncertainty under his scrutiny and a thrill of pleasure rushed through him. How he loved to make her uncertain. There was something utterly delightful about throwing this woman off balance.

“Julia loves to garden,” Emma announced. “She has quite the skill for it. She has grown herbs that have not grown in this part of the country for years.” She tossed the pack of cards from one hand to the other. “I prefer card tricks. Would you like to see one?”

Before he could say yes, Catherine shook her head. “Lord Weston wants to get his dog back, do you not? We had better hunt him down before he does damage to Julia’s plants and she has a fit.”

“I would not have a fit,” Julia protested. “He is only an animal. He knows no better.” She swung a glance his way. “Unlike some people...” she muttered.

He grinned and motioned toward the section of garden that had been proclaimed Julia’s. “Shall we?”

“You go ahead,” Catherine said. “Emma and I will clear away the picnic.”

Julia gave an unladylike grunt and motioned for him to follow. They wove past a crab apple tree and a wrought iron fence that spanned the end of the lawns. The gate was open, allowing Roo full access. At present, he sniffed his way through the plants, following some invisible trail that had caught his attention.

“I apologize for ruining your picnic. And I do hope Roo has not harmed your plants.”

Julia shook her head. “As I said, he’s an animal. He knows no better.”

“You have quite the fondness for all animals, it seems, not just otters.”

She peered at him over her glasses. “There are few animals I do not like. Otters are merely what I am studying at present.”

“Adders?”

“Pardon?”

Guy tapped his thigh to get Roo’s attention but the dog did not even acknowledge his existence. “Adders? You cannot like them, surely?”

She thrust her chin up giving him the chance to admire the long line of her neck. “I like all creatures.”

“Spiders?”

She shrugged. “They eat flies.”

“Flies?”

“They serve a purpose.”

“Wasps then. You cannot tell me you like wasps.”

She pondered this for a moment. “Very well. I do not like wasps.”

“And some humans.” He grinned.

Julia nodded. “And some humans.”

“So you are responsible for all of this?” He motioned to the neatly planted rows of herbs and other plants he could not identify.

Julia nodded. “I started it when I was a young girl. Mama finally gave me a plot of land when the gardener complained I would not leave him alone. It has grown since then.”

The little flash of pride made him smile. It was gone quickly enough—probably because she recalled with whom she was speaking—but he liked that look. Miss Julia Chadwick was unlike any woman he had ever met. None of the ladies of the ton would be caught dead digging around in the dirt or lying on riverbanks waiting for otters. Were it not for their disagreement about said otters, he could be persuaded to spend quite a deal more time with her.

The dog began digging in one spot, tearing up the grass and flinging it behind him.

“Roo, damn it.” Guy rushed up to the dog who darted away from him but not before throwing a good scattering of mud and dirt at him.

Julia laughed and Guy narrowed his gaze at her.

“You do not have a way with animals, do you, Your Grace ?”

“And you do, Miss Chadwick?”

She smiled and bent low. “Roo,” she called softly. “Here, boy.”

The dog’s ears perked up and he lifted his nose from the spot he was sniffing.

“That’s right. Come here, boy.”

Guy found himself half envious of Roo. If she used that tone and that expression on him, he would be tempted to run over and throw himself at her feet too.

Roo gave the ground one more sniff then began to amble over to her.

“Good boy,” she continued. “That’s right.”

A butterfly danced past and caught the dog’s attention. He picked up pace to follow it, barging past Miss Chadwick and knocking her to the ground. Guy shook his head and hurried over to offer a hand.

She took it reluctantly and Guy pulled her up so hard that she knocked into his chest. He held her hand for a moment while she found her feet. The delicate fingers entwined with his, even through his gloves, sent a shock straight to his groin. Not to mention the memory of that lithe body briefly brushing his addling his wits a little.

She pushed that one curl away from her face. Guy could not resist. He pressed her glasses up her nose so that they rested properly. Miss Chadwick’s mouth opened and her freckles darkened.

“I must apologize for my dog.”

She blinked at him then ripped her hand away from his. “You are a danger to my person, Your Grace. First you knock into me, then your dog.”

“I really do not think you should utter such words in public, Miss Chadwick. Someone could misinterpret them.”

“What? That you are a danger to my person?”

“Yes.” He sucked in what felt like a heavy breath and let his gaze glide languidly over her. The fall had left grass stains on the hem of her skirts and that curl bounced back over her face. His fingers twitched with the need to toy with it.

Or toy with her.

Either way, it would be awfully great fun.

“You may knock me down as many times as you wish, Lord Weston, but I am not fearful of you.”

“A man can be a danger to women in other ways.”

Her lips parted. He could practically hear the long intake of air and see the way her mind ticked over his words.

“You are trying to embarrass me,” she said finally.

He gave a shrug. “I am not trying.”

“It would take more than that sort of talk to embarrass me, I can assure you of that. I have seen more than enough nature to be utterly incapable of being embarrassed.” Her chin thrust up.

Guy closed the gap she had managed to create between them. “Nature and humanity are different things. What happens between a man and a woman is nothing like what happens between animals.” He let his gaze drop to her lips and enjoyed the way her tongue darted out briefly to lick the bottom one. “What happens between a man and a woman is slow, sensual. It involves all the senses. Taste...” He took that errant curl and pushed it behind her ear. “Touch. Smell.”

“I—”

“Animals have but one goal. Men and women have many more. The main one being pleasure, of course. Believe me, Miss Chadwick, you have not seen it all.”

“You really are the most lowdown, boorish, scandalous, no-good—”

He held up a finger and touched it to her lips. The way her eyes flared with fury made it all the more better. “I do believe I just embarrassed you, Miss Chadwick.”

She jerked back away from his touch and shoved her glasses back up her nose. “You could only embarrass me if I cared what you thought. And I do not. Good day to you, Your Grace. No doubt we shall meet again if you intend to continue your folly with the mill.”

“I do indeed.”

With a huff, she swiveled on her heel and marched back toward the house. Roo chose this moment to burst out from a bush and try to follow her. Guy stepped forward and grabbed the dog’s collar.

“No,” he commanded. “I understand why you would want to follow her but now is not the time.”

The dog gave what sounded like a sigh to Guy. He gave the dog a ruffle on the head and held him still for a moment until he could be sure Roo would remain at his side.

Guy wandered back onto the lawns to find the two other sisters tucked behind a tree. Clearly, they had been watching the show. They both stared at their feet.

“I apologize if my dog ruined your picnic.”

“Not at all,” Miss Emma said brightly. “He’s a darling, are you not?” She gave Roo a rub behind the ears. “Though if you continue with this mill stuff, he will be more welcome here than you will.”

“That’s a lie,” Miss Catherine declared.

“No, it is not. Julia will never allow it,” the sister with the cards in hand said.

“Mama would never turn a duke away, even if he is a scandalous no-good beast of a man who wants to tear up the countryside.” Miss Catherine turned to him. “Those are not my words, I promise.”

Guy chuckled at the girl’s candor. “No, but I can image to whom they belong.” He tipped his hat. “Have a lovely day, ladies. I will disturb you no longer.”

Roo on his heels, he turned the corner but paused upon hearing Julia’s voice.

“Oh, thank goodness, he has gone,” she exclaimed.

He could not help himself. He twisted and headed back to the group of ladies. Miss Chadwick winced when she saw him.

“Oh I forgot to ask, do you own pigeons, perchance?”

Miss Chadwick opened her mouth then closed it.

“Never mind.” He waved a hand. “I am looking forward to seeing you all soon at your sister’s garden party. Perhaps we may get better acquainted, even if I am a scandalous, no-good beast of a man.” He winked at Miss Chadwick.