The puppy charged towards them with a slipper in his mouth.
Roswell reached down and scooped the puppy into his arms. “What have you stolen, you troublesome pup?” he asked as he removed the slipper from Mr. Fluffy’s mouth.
Anette came to a stop next to her husband. “Who knew that puppies took so much work?” she asked.
“I did,” Roswell replied, “but you were insistent that you wanted a puppy.”
“I do recall that Mr. Fluffy was my wedding present,” Anette said. “This is entirely your fault that he has eaten two of my slippers.”
Roswell handed the puppy to his wife. “I shall buy you more slippers.”
Anette held the puppy up and stared at him in the eyes. “You will obey me, Mr. Fluffy,” she ordered in a stern voice.
In response, Mr. Fluffy lunged forward and licked her on the lips.
“Yuck,” Anette said. “Dog kisses.”
Roswell leaned forward and kissed his wife on the cheek. “I just have one more errand that I need to complete with Fredrick, then I shall be home for the afternoon.”
“Dare I ask if this errand involves going into the rookeries?” she asked.
“It does, but you need not worry.”
“I always worry, but I trust that you will come home to me,” Anette said as she repositioned the puppy in her arms. “Now Mr. Fluffy and I are going to have a very frank conversation about what he can and can’t eat.”
Roswell chuckled. “I wish you luck with that.”
Fredrick felt the slightest twinge of jealousy at what his brother had with Anette. It was evident that they loved each other very much. But he didn’t want a wife. At least that is what he kept telling himself.
Turning to face him, Roswell asked, “Shall we depart?”
They headed towards the entry hall and exited through the door that Carson held open. Once they were inside of the coach, Fredrick asked, “What lead are you tracking down?”
“One of my informants told me that he had met with Caleb the day before he went missing at The Rusty Anchor Tavern,” Roswell shared.
“And you suspect someone might know something about Caleb’s whereabouts?”
Roswell shrugged. “It is worth a shot.”
“Very well,” Fredrick said. “But you will need to prepare yourself that it might be a fools’ errand.”
“I have to at least try,” Roswell asserted. “I can’t sit back and do nothing while Caleb is out there somewhere.”
“I understand.”
Roswell leaned back in his seat and studied his brother for a moment. “Do you?” he asked. “I can’t imagine you are one that would enjoy working with a partner.”
“I was forced to learn, and quickly,” Fredrick admitted. “My comrades are the only reason why I am still alive today. After I was shot, I wanted to give up, feeling as if I had nothing else to live for, but I knew I couldn’t ignore their plights.”
Roswell’s brow lifted. “Nothing to live for? You are an earl and will inherit Father’s title and vast estate.”
“I know I should be grateful for everything that I have been given, but I can’t help feeling as if I let my comrades down by leaving them on the Continent,” he shared. “The war still rages on, and I am here, doing nothing.”
“You aren’t doing nothing,” Roswell argued. “You are helping Mother and Anette told me about the good thing you are doing for Miss Sutherland.”
An image of Miss Sutherland came to his mind, but he quickly banished it. He had more important things to dwell on than her lovely face. And it was lovely.
Shaking off Roswell’s praise, Fredrick said, “I am only helping Miss Sutherland because her father once helped me.”