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Bonnetless, she shielded her eyes from the afternoon sun. With her fair skin, she would freckle. What had been so compelling that she’d tossed off convention and sought him without the benefit of a bonnet or parasol?
“Might I have a word with you?” She swept her blue-eyed gaze around the area and stepped nearer. “Privately?”
Well, wasn’t this an intriguing turn of events? “But of course.”
How could he refuse such a mystifying request?
His curiosity piqued, Aston indicated the folly with a sweep of his arm. “Would the folly suffice?”
It contained five arched openings, so it wasn’t strictly private. However, as no one else was about, it would do well. What was more, if Aston made sure to stand in one of the openings, no one could suggest anything untoward.
Roi chose that moment to dash back and plop his haunches in front of Chasity. Head quirked to the side and tongue lolling, he raised his right paw.
“Aren’t you a dashing fellow?” she said with a lilting laugh.
Paw still raised, he gazed at her expectantly.
“He wants you to shake his paw.”
She slid Aston a pleased glance and then shook Roi’s paw. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance…?”
She looked at him again.
“Roi.” Aston provided. “His name is Roi.”
“Ah, I am very pleased to meet you, Your Majesty.” Humor laced Chasity’s words.
Naturally, she’d know his name meant king. Every teacher worth her salt spoke fluent French.
Pulling his earlobe, Aston chuckled. “I thought he deserved a noble name. I found him crouched in a doorway as a starving pup two years ago.”
“He’s quite the gentleman.” Chasity rubbed behind Roi’s ears.
Closing his eyes, Roi half groaned, half sighed in contented bliss.
“I’ve never had a dog,” she said, retreating a step. “Not at the foundling home where I was raised, nor at either of the seminary schools I’ve taught at. Dogs were never permitted.”
“You’ve missed out on a tremendous blessing then,” Aston said, patting Roi’s head. The dog leaned into his leg and gazed at him with adoration. “Roi is more than a pet. He’s a loyal companion and a trusted friend.”
“How wonderful for you,” Chasity said with no hint of sarcasm but rather genuine approval. “We do have Minxy and her kittens, Tinx, Saucy, and Bubo, in Balderbrook’s kitchen. She’s a good mouser, and Mrs. Crenshaw hopes her kittens will be too.”
Chasity wrinkled her nose in an endearing fashion. “We have rodents in the school. I don’t mind the mice, but I detest the rats.”
Mrs. Longsdon kept two tabbies for the same reason, although, truth to tell, they had become pampered pets and rarely hunted.
Having had enough of human doting, Roi bounded ahead.
Aston and Chasity followed at a more sedate pace.
“Shall we step into the shade?” Aston gestured to the octagon-shaped folly atop a raised platform.
Biting her lower lip, Chasity glanced around and then nodded. “Yes, please. I forgot my bonnet, and it’s rather warm.”
What was so urgent she’d been compelled to toss decorum aside and pursue him?
They climbed the four wide steps and entered the cool interior through one of the arched openings. A trio of stone benches at angles to each other dominated the folly’s center.
Roi ran around sniffing the interior. At one entrance, he stiffened and gave a little warning woof.
