Page 60 of Eight for Losing, One for Loving

Chapter 16

Dearest Belinda,

I am most deeply vexed by you, my friend. Now I understand why you were so interested in Mr Knight. Fool that I was, I suspected you had a tendre for him, or at least that you meant to pretend one to incense your father. Now I see it was more diabolical even than that. Have a care, Belle. Felix is a dear friend, and I will not see him sacrificed at your altar simply to best your father. I hope your intentions are honourable, if they are, however, you may count on my support, only let me in on the secret!

―Excerpt of a letter from The Most Hon’ble Catherine ‘Cat’ St Just, Lady Kilbane (daughter of The Most Hon’ble Lucian and Matilda Montagu, the Marquess and Marchioness of Montagu) to The Lady Belinda Madox-Brown.

28th June 1850, The Rutland Arms, Newmarket, Suffolk.

Leo guided Vi down the stairs and left her with Jenny whilst he paid the reckoning. Mau came with him, draped over his shoulder and vocal in his disapproval at having been left in Jenny’s care for several days.

“I’m sorry, old man, but some things are private,” Leo told the cat in an undertone.

Mau stared at him, yellow eyes unblinking, tail swishing irritably.

“I said I’m sorry,” Leo told him with a sigh, reaching up to stroke his head.

Mau batted at his hand with his paw.

Leo stopped, giving Mau a stern look. “Now, none of that. It’s not like you don’t adore Vi yourself… or is that the problem? Jealous, are you?”

Mau butted his head against Leo’s cheek, a deep rumbling purr emanating from him. Leo laughed, and then looked around, suddenly aware of people staring at him. He cleared his throat and hurried to the front desk, where Mrs Rogers was waiting. She gave Mau an uneasy glance before looking at Leo.

“I never saw a cat like that one, sir. Does he always go with you? Seems more like a dog, don’t he?”

Mau miaowed, such a sound of disapproval that Leo had to smother a laugh at Mrs Rogers’ look of absolute horror. “He’s an Egyptian Water Sphinx,” Leo said, struggling to keep a straight face.

“Is he now?” Mrs Rogers said, apparently impressed.

Leo paid the bill, leaving a generous tip in the hopes Mrs Rogers would accept Mau without protest if ever they stayed here again.

Leo returned to escort Vi and Jenny out into the yard and helped Vi into the tilbury before assisting Jenny to sit up on the back where Norton usually resided. He’d bought a travelling case to transport all Vi’s new dresses and the other items they’d purchased for their stay, and the ostlers were strapping it on with his own valise. Mau leapt down from his shoulder, sniffing around the tilbury’s wheels with interest.

“Mind the horse, Mau,” Leo warned him, for whilst most horses did not mind Mau’s presence, occasionally one would object. Mau looked up for a moment before carrying on his inspection of the carriage. Knowing Mau was more than capable of looking out for himself, Leo went to check the horse was hitched to his satisfaction and shared a few words with the ostlers. He was just thanking them and handing over a tip when he heard a furious growling noise, followed by a bark.

“Oh, the devil,” he muttered, turning to see a large man who looked like the very image of a country squire, had entered the yard with two hunting dogs at his heels.

Naturally, the dogs had spotted Mau and thought to hunt him. They bayed and barked excitedly, tails wagging with the thrill of the chase. Except Mau did not run from dogs, he faced them down.

“Get your dogs under control, sir, before they get hurt,” Leo shouted at the man as he hurried to intervene.

The squire looked surprised and then rather annoyed. “It’s only a cat. Dogs chase cats, it’s in their nature.”

“The cat is mine, sir, and it is not in his nature to be chased. Your dogs risk—”

Before Leo could finish the sentence, Mau swiped out, claws extended towards the closest dog, who yelped and retreated, whimpering and hiding behind the squire. The second dog, having not learned a lesson from his comrade, surged forward, barking and snarling. Mau leapt, claws digging into the creature’s back. The dog took off like a rocket, with Mau clinging on like a small furry jockey.

“Leo!” Vi cried in alarm.

“I know, love,” Leo replied, rushing after the dog. The frantic animal had unfortunately entered the inn, almost knocking an elderly man flying as he burst through the door ahead of him.

“Sorry, sir,” Leo shouted to the old man, trying not to do the same as he ran past the fellow, the indignant squire at his heels. He halted in the foyer, for the dog had disappeared, but it did not take long to discover its whereabouts. A howl rent the air, followed by feminine screams and male shouts of annoyance.

Muttering curses, Leo took off towards the disturbance, barrelling into the dining room, where many patrons were still enjoying a late breakfast. A crash met his ears as Mau leapt from one table to the next, plates and teacups smashing to the floor as he went. The dog barked, believing he was in pursuit when Leo had no doubt Mau was only leading him a merry dance. The dog knocked a table over, china exploding on the tiled floor beneath and upturned a chair as women screamed and ran from the room. A large lady in her middle years swooned dramatically, caught by her husband, who was far finer of build and not up to the task. The two of them tumbled to the floor with a billow of deep purple satin as the lady’s vast skirts enveloped them. Mau leapt over them and the man gave a shout of alarm as the dog followed.

“Mau!” Leo shouted, certain that his wicked cat was enjoying himself enormously and was not about to stop the fun. “Mau, you devil, stop it at once.”

Mau leapt from the table onto a large, handsome oak dresser and regarded Leo from his lofty position, yellow eyes gleaming.