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D amn, she’d just ordered food, so she couldn’t leave. He rose when his eyes found her and came to her table.

“Good morning, Countess. I see you have a dog.”

“Good morning, Lord Coulter, and he is not mine.”

His eyes went to the dog, who was leaning on Timmy’s chair, and then back to her.

“He found us in the park and followed us here after a game of fetch,” she added.

“I think there is a rule that after a game of fetch, you own the dog you play with,” he said solemnly.

Before she could react to that, he’d bent to speak to Timmy.

“Hello. You must be Lord Monmouth.” His smile was genuine and nothing like the cool, emotionless ones he had given her. This softened his face and lit his eyes. It was lucky the women of society did not see this regularly, or they would all be smitten, and for more reasons than just his title.

“This is Timothy,” she said when the boy returned his smile.

“We are taking tea,” the boy said. “With Doddy.”

“Doddy is the dog,” Sophie interpreted.

“Well, you’ve come to the perfect place for taking tea, and I think Doddy is a perfect name for him,” he said, stroking the dog’s head. “And Timothy is far less of a mouthful for a young boy than Lord Monmouth is.”

“Sit,” Timmy then said, to Sophie’s horror, waving to the empty seat at their table. “We are having cakes.”

“I think Lord Coulter has things he needs to do.”

“I can sit for a minute.”

He did just that and instantly reduced the size of their table by half with his large body.

This man was suspicious of her right to be the Countess of Monmouth, and now he was seated at her table as if they were friends, which they absolutely were not.

It was her worst nightmare. When Letty was near, she would step in if Sophie was struggling in a social setting, but here, she was alone with him.

Is it wrong for me to be sitting here alone with him?

What is the etiquette for such an occasion?

Looking around the tea shop, she did not recognize any of the other patrons, which was good. At least no rumors would start about her being seen alone with Lord Coulter. Well, not alone exactly, but still.

Looking out the window, she saw the men. They were staring at Lord Coulter, who had his back to them.

“Are you all right, Countess?” His eyes went from her to the window.

“I am, yes,” Sophie said, watching both men walk away. Lord Coulter’s presence had them leaving, she realized. On one hand, that relieved her. On another, she was now sharing tea and scones with him.

“You seem tense. Has something upset you other than my presence and the dog attaching himself to you?”

“No, and your presence has not upset me, but please don’t let us detain you, my lord.” She could hear the nerves in her voice.

“Do you know those two men?”

“What two men?” Sophie asked.

Their eyes locked for long seconds, and the waitress thankfully chose that moment to arrive with their tea and scones.

Surely it was too much of a coincidence seeing those men in the park and then here at the tea shop.

“That was my great-grandfather’s, Timothy.”

She focused on Lord Coulter and Timmy, who he was showing the ring he wore on his finger to. A large gold band with a ruby set in the middle.

“In my family, we always give it to the firstborn son,” he added as the boy touched the gem, clearly intrigued. “I’m sure there will be things handed down to you also when you are older.”

Not things he’d earned the right to own, Sophie thought.

“Do you have siblings?” she asked before she could stop herself, because she really wanted to know more about this man who could be her enemy.

“Two sisters, both older, and you, Countess?”

“No,” she lied.

“My sisters are both wed and live in the country. So far, I have three nieces and two nephews.”

There was that smile again. This was a very different Lord Coulter than the one she’d danced with. He seemed almost approachable, but Sophie would not be letting her guard down. She always felt like she was one word away from social ruin.

“And you were born in Devon, Countess?”

She nodded and then busied herself handing Timmy his milk and a scone with jam.

“Would you like one, my lord?” she asked when he showed no signs of leaving, and if nothing else, she had manners to fall back on. Why hadn’t he left? Did he see this as a chance to interrogate her further?

“I have just eaten two, so I won’t take yours. But I will wait to escort you home.”

“I don’t need you to escort us home, Lord Coulter.”

His eyes went to the window and then back to her. “And yet I will do so.”

What does that mean? He can’t know about those men who Sophie believed were following her, so why had he looked to the window?

“There is no need,” she said, her voice stronger now.

“Should you not have a maid accompanying you, and a footman?” He was frowning now, and that was a look she had seen before.

“I am no concern of yours, my lord, and do not need you to walk us home.”

“Relax, Countess, I mean you no harm. I will simply walk you home and take my leave,” he said, as if it were entirely rational to do so, which it wasn’t.

“Don’t feed the dog, Timmy,” Sophie said, watching him do exactly that.

“He’s hungry.” Which was likely true, but still, it wasn’t right to do that in a tea shop. Of course, he ignored her and continued to sneak the animal food under the table, completely oblivious to her turmoil.

“I knew I’d find you here.”

“Are you having me followed?” Lord Coulter asked Lord Sumner, who had just arrived.

“Hello!” Timmy said loudly.

“Hello.” Lord Sumner smiled at Timmy and then greeted her. “I’m not following you, Colt, but imagine my surprise to find you here with?—”

“By chance,” Sophie cut in. “I did not know Lord Coulter was here.”

“Of course you didn’t,” Lord Sumner said, collecting a seat from another table and sitting beside Timmy. “My friend is always eating. Whoever he marries will need to bear that in mind.”

She couldn’t be sure but thought Lord Coulter growled under his breath.

“And this fine young man is your son, I believe, Countess?”

“Timothy,” she said.

“How lovely to meet you,” Lord Sumner said. He then crossed his eyes, which Timmy laughed at.

“They have a similar intellectual level so will be the best of friends,” Lord Coulter said minutes later when Lord Sumner and Timmy continued to chat. “Timothy, of course, has the higher intellect.”

“Harsh but true,” Lord Sumner said, eating the last scone on the plate that Sophie had offered him with one hand while patting the dog with the other. “He’s a lovely fellow.”

“His name is Doddy, and the clever boy found the countess and her son in the park and followed them, which suggests to me they are his new owners.”

“Well, he looks in need of new owners,” Lord Sumner said, running a hand down the dog’s flanks.

“Yes, well, thank you,” Sophie said, rising. “Now we must leave. Please stay, my lords. I can walk home alone.”

“We are leaving anyway,” Lord Coulter said, regaining his feet.

“Are we?” Lord Sumner looked at his friend. Sophie wasn’t sure what passed between them, but he added, “We are,” and got to his feet.

“Come along, Timothy.” Lord Coulter lifted him out of his chair.

“I have him,” Sophie said, but he’d already held out his hand, and man and boy were walking out of the tea shop with the dog on their heels. The sight was completely at odds to the man she knew.

“He is good with children—it’s just adults he doesn’t like,” Lord Sumner said, holding the door for her as they followed. “Come along, Countess.”

She could do nothing but follow his lead, as Timmy and Lord Coulter were already up ahead.

“You will have a loyal pet there, I think. Your son and he will become firm friends.”

“I’m not sure my sister-in-law wishes to have a dog in her town house.”

“Which is also your town house,” Lord Sumner said.

“Of course.” Yet another slipup; she really needed to think before speaking.

Lord Sumner chatted about the weather and how she was enjoying the season. Easy conversation she was used to now, but Sophie was relieved when the Monmouth town house came into view.

“Thank you both for walking us home,” Sophie said, dropping into a curtsy. “Come along now, Timmy.”

“Goodbye, Countess, Timothy.” Lord Coulter held out his hand, and Timmy shook it. He then did the same with Lord Sumner. They both then patted the dog.

Sophie walked up the stairs and turned at the top. Both men waved, and she and Timmy returned the gesture.

“That was all very odd,” Sophie said as they entered the house. “Odd and unnerving.”

“Well now, who do we have here?”

“Buford, this is Doddy, and he found us in the park. To be honest, I am unsure what to do with him, as he has attached himself to us,” Sophie said.

“Lady Carstairs used to have a dog, you know,” the butler said, clicking his fingers.

The animal trotted over to let him pat his head.

“I think we shall wash and feed him, and you can go and speak to Lady Carstairs on the matter of dog ownership. If she is not agreeable, we will find another home for him,” Buford said.

“Is there anything that unsettles you, Buford?” Sophie asked.

“Rats,” he said. “I cannot abide them.”

“It has been an odd day, Timmy, and it is yet early. One hopes the rest of it will run smoother.” It was a faint hope at best, she thought, taking the stairs up to talk to Letty.