Free It Takes a Scandal by Caroline Linden

bushes.” Abigail watched him as she spoke. His eyes were trained on the cursed little dog, still gnawing on a knot almost as large as his own head. She was completely perplexed. Had he really just come to pay his respects to Mama, as a neighbor? If his manners prompted him to that, why did he refuse to tell her his name the night they met? He seemed determined to ignore her, barely looking at her and replying dismissively to her conversation.
    “Cut his coat! Oh, he’s such a handsome dog with his fur long,” Mama protested. “We’ll just keep a close eye on him from now on, and not let him run through the woods.”
    Milo, who had been absorbed in chewing his rope toy, suddenly sprang up on the sofa. His ears stood up, his fur bristled, and a little growl rumbled in his throat. He barked a moment before the butler tapped at the door. “Mrs. Huntley, madam,” Thomson announced.
    “Do show her in,” said Mama. “Hush, Milo.” The puppy sank down on the cushion, his dark little eyes fixed on the door.
    Mr. Vane was already on his feet. His cup of tea was back on the table—untouched, Abigail realized. “It was a pleasure, Mrs. Weston,” he said, reaching for his cane. “I shan’t keep you.”
    Mama looked startled. “Why, no—do stay and finish your tea, sir.”
    “Thank you, no; I must be going.” He bowed and turned, looking for all the world like he wanted to run out the door, but it opened before he got there, and Thomson ushered in Mrs. Huntley.
    Anne Huntley was the wife of a gentleman who owned a large house near the gates of Richmond Park. It was rumored that his family was descended from a favorite retainer of King Charles II, who had granted the land himself. Since Mrs. Huntley herself had told them this rumor, Abigail supposed it was true, as well as a mark of the woman’s pride. For some reason she and Mama had struck up a friendship very easily, but Milo didn’t like her. Every time she called, the little dog barked until Mama had him taken away.
    This time was no different—Milo erupted in a fury of yipping as soon as the woman stepped into the room— but more striking was the reaction of Mr. Vane and Mrs. Huntley to the sight of each other.
    Mrs. Huntley gasped and clapped one hand to her bosom, stopping in her tracks.
    Mr. Vane, his face more stony than ever, bowed very formally. Without another word he left.
    Mama, still trying to calm Milo, didn’t notice. But Abigail could have sworn Mrs. Huntley drew away from his approach as if he had the plague. She was now the second person who had looked at Mr. Vane as though she smelled brimstone in his presence.
    Impulsively, she scooped up Milo from the sofa. “I’ll take him outside so you can enjoy Mrs. Huntley’s visit,” she told her mother, and without waiting for permission, she rushed out. “Hush, dog,” she muttered to Milo as she hurried toward the hall. How could Mr. Vane have made it so far, so quickly? He walked with a cane, while she was practically running. By the time she had snatched a lead from the hook behind the door, Mr. Vane was already striding down the drive.
    “Mr. Vane,” she called. His stride hesitated only a moment, and he didn’t look back. Cursing under her breath, Abigail slipped the lead over Milo’s head and put him down. Now that he was away from Mrs. Huntley, he had stopped barking, and trotted along eagerly enough as she hurried after the mysterious man. “Mr. Vane!”
    He only stopped when she caught up to him. “Yes, Miss Weston?”
    “You left so suddenly,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “I hope Milo didn’t cause it.” The little pest was sniffing around his boots, with no sign of the frenzy that had gripped him just a few minutes ago. Now that she thought about it, Milo barked at most everyone except Mr. Vane.
    He looked down at Milo. “No.”
    “I hope you didn’t leave because of me,” she dared to say.
    “Why would you think that?” He glanced at her, then back at the