Read Online Heir to Rowanlea by Sally James - Free Book Online

with her hands.
    “Take him off! Take him off!” she implored, her voice rising to a scream, and began to scream in good earnest when the dog, feeling further advances were obviously called for, tried to lick her face.
    “Wolf! Down boy! Come here!” James ordered, and then tried to reassure Elizabeth the dog would not hurt her, was the friendliest possible animal, and only wanted her to pat him.
    Harry had meantime risen from his chair, and he strode across the room, seized the dog by the scruff of its neck, and dragged it away from Elizabeth.
    “Out!” he ordered indiscriminately to James and the dog.
    James looked at them in amazement.
    “But he was only being friendly! You like him, Harry, you know he wouldn’t hurt her. I must say,” he continued, looking scornfully at Elizabeth who lay back shuddering in her chair, “I didn’t think you were so chicken-hearted. You’ve got dogs at home, surely? Can’t you recognize a friendly dog? You behave as though he really were a wolf. Alright, I’m going,” he added, retreating towards the door as Harry advanced purposefully on him. “Come on, Wolf, we’ll go somewhere you’re appreciated!”
    He dragged the dog out just in time to escape Harry’s vengeance, and Harry turned back into the room to find Charlotte dissolved into giggles while Elizabeth, emitting low moans, lay with her eyes closed.
    “Charlotte! How can you be so heartless? Get some smelling salts, or hartshorn, or something,” he said distractedly. “It’s safe now, Elizabeth, they’ve gone,” he went on, moving towards Elizabeth.
    “But it was funny!” Charlotte gasped. “And I must say James was right, it was hen-hearted of Elizabeth to behave in so craven a fashion. Oh, she’ll recover soon enough. Don’t fret so.”
    Frowning, Harry knelt beside Elizabeth’s chair and began gently to chafe her hands. She gave a shuddering sob, and clasped his hands convulsively. Charlotte surveyed the scene in disgust.
    “Your eyes will be red and puffy soon if you don’t stop,” she informed Elizabeth coolly, at which remark Elizabeth sniffed and sat up straight. She glared across at Charlotte.
    “It’s all very well for you, you have no sensibility, and in any event, you knew the wretched beast! He—he seemed like some monster, hurling himself at me! Oh, you are odious. Harry, please take me home.”
    “Yes, yes, of course I will, when you have calmed yourself. Charlotte, I must say you are behaving with a total lack of regard for your guest’s comfort. You might pour some wine. Would you care for some hartshorn and water?” he asked Elizabeth solicitously. “I believe that is what Aunt Sophia uses when she has the headache. Charlotte, do you know where she keeps it?”
    Charlotte, realizing her remiss behaviour, had poured a glass of wine and she now brought it across.
    “I think this will be enough,” she said. “I do apologize for laughing, Elizabeth, for I see you were truly frightened. But Wolf meant no harm, you know. I hope you will not blame James, for he was not to know you were here, or that you would be so terrified.”
    Elizabeth smiled wanly and sipped at the wine.
    “My nerves are shattered,” she said in a low voice. “I—I have never been overfond of dogs, especially large ones,” she attempted to explain.
    “Harry usually has several dogs about him all the time in the country,” Charlotte said casually.
    “We have them too, but not in the house. What a horrid name,” she added, smiling tremulously at Harry. “Wolf. It is frightening!”
    “We think his type is used for wolf hunting in Russia,” Charlotte explained, and told Elizabeth how James had acquired the dog.
    Elizabeth made polite rejoinders, then a tart comment that she was surprised James was permitted to wander in all the nastiest parts of the town. She turned to Harry and said she was calm enough now to be taken home, and he sent for his curricle, promising that when her mother’s maid called