"Only a small one. For very special occasions. For everyday outings she prefers hats."

His gaze shifted back to Julianne. "You're joking."

"On the contrary, I'm perfectly serious."

He muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "bloody most ridiculous thing I've ever seen."

Irritation pursed her lips. "You're acting as if you've never seen a dog before."

A humorless sound escaped him. "That"-he nodded toward Princess Buttercup-"is not a dog. That is a yapping, dressed-up, miniature ankle biter."

Julianne gasped, covered Princess Buttercup's tiny ears with a protective hand, then lowered her voice. "That is a completely inaccurate, not to mention unfair, assessment. For your information, dogs are supposed to bark. She didn't bite your ankle-although she clearly should have. She's merely very protective of me, and you're a stranger to her. As for me dressing her up, she's the closest thing to a sibling I've ever had, and as we both enjoy it and it harms no one, I can't see that it's any of your concern."

With indignation fueling her, Julianne advanced a step toward him and shot him her most scathing look. "Regarding her size-she cannot help it if she's smaller than normal. She was the runt of her litter, and no one else wanted her. I prefer to call her petite."

She pressed a kiss to Princess Buttercup's soft fur. "We've heard Mr. Mayne's opinion of you. Let's see what you think of him." She set her pet back on the carpet. The little dog immediately approached Gideon's boots, which were given a thorough sniffing examination. Julianne grudgingly gave Gideon credit for remaining still, even when Princess Buttercup went up on her hind legs, rested her diminutive front paws on the shiny black leather, and continued to sniff.

Finally the dog circled around Gideon once, then plopped her bottom on the carpet. After a series of sharp yips, she hoisted herself upward, front paws clawing the air, tail swishing, and pranced about.

"Does that mean I pass muster?" Gideon asked, and Julianne thought she detected a note of reluctant amusement in his voice.

"Hmmm… it would seem so," she said, not adding that Princess Buttercup, whom she deemed a very good judge of character, had had a very different reaction to her earlier callers. She growled at all of them and had particularly disliked Lord Haverly. "Actually, that particular move means she wants to be held."

"Then perhaps you should pick her up. Before she trips on her skirt."

"She's prancing for you. You pick her up."

Julianne had to bite the insides of her cheeks to keep from laughing at his expression. "Me?"

"Yes. You. Surely a big, strong man like you isn't afraid of a… what did you call her? Oh, yes… a miniature ankle biter?"

He frowned. "Of course I'm not afraid. I simply wouldn't want to break the little beast."

"Oh, she's quite sturdy. And quite fierce." She scooped up the prancing dog. "She won't bite you." She stifled the smile threatening to curve her lips. "Probably."

Before he could protest further, she settled Princess Buttercup against his chest. His hands came up, and to his obvious discomfort he found himself with a palmful of panting white fluff.

"Um, I really think-" His words were cut off when Princess Buttercup's eager pink tongue proceeded to bestow a bevy of kisses to the underside of his jaw.

Cuddled in those large, capable hands, held against his broad chest, enthusiastically kissing his skin-for the first time in her life, Julianne found herself envious of her pet.

"Bloody hell, cut that out," Gideon said gruffly, stretching his neck to the side to avoid the barrage of canine adoration. Yet even as he said the words, Julianne noticed how gently he cradled the little dog. How his fingers tenderly stroked her.

And for the second time in her life, Julianne found herself envious of her pet.

"It appears she likes you," Julianne said.

"You sound surprised."

"Actually, I am. She's never taken to any gentleman so thoroughly. Indeed, she normally snaps and snarls at them."

He looked at her over Princess Buttercup's head. "In my experience, dogs are very good judges of character."

She couldn't help but smile. "If that's the case, then, given her reaction, you must be a prince among men."

His gaze seemed to bore into her, heating her from the inside out. "Not even close." Princess Buttercup gave an enthusiastic yip and strained upward. "Does her tongue ever stop?" he asked as the bit of pink flicked over his chin.

"When she's asleep."

He bent down and gently set the energetic dog on the carpet. Then rising to his full height, he said firmly, "Sit." Princess Buttercup's tiny white bottom instantly hit the carpet.

Julianne blinked in surprise. "Heavens, you're good at that. She normally never listens to anyone except me." She watched Princess Buttercup cock her tiny head and look up at Gideon with adoring black button eyes, as if waiting for him to tell her what she could do next to please him.

"It's all in your tone," Gideon said. "Dogs respond to the voice of authority."

Julianne pulled her gaze away from her clearly besotted pet-and really, she could hardly blame the beast-to look at Gideon. An odd flutter occurred in her chest when she saw him shoot the dog a quick wink. "You say that as if you own a dog."

"I do." Unmistakable affection flickered in his dark eyes, and a slow smile curved his lips. And she could only stare. Good Lord, the man was absolutely devastating when he smiled. "A man's dog."

"Ah. An enormous, drooling beast with plate-sized paws."

"Any dog is enormous compared to yours. And Caesar doesn't drool."

"Caesar? What sort of name is that for a dog?"

He hiked up one dark brow. "Asks a woman who shackled her pet with Princess Buttercup."

She hiked a brow right back at him. "And what would you have named her?"

He glanced back at the dog, who still looked up at him with adoring eyes. When his gaze returned to rest on hers, Julianne caught her breath at the heat simmering in the dark depths. "Lucky. I'd name her Lucky."

She had to swallow twice to locate her voice, which his intense stare had stolen. "Why Lucky?"

"Because she belongs to you."

The air between them seemed to crackle, and for the space of several heartbeats Julianne simply forgot how to pull it into her lungs. All she could do was stare. And want.

Then he cleared his throat, breaking the spell or whatever it was that had fallen between them. "If you'll excuse me, I must continue with my duties."

She roused herself from the stupor his words and unwavering regard had lulled her into. "Duties?"

"Yes. Before your father departed, he instructed me to make certain all the windows were securely fastened."

"Departed?"

"He left for his club immediately following our interview. You mother, by the way, departed at the same time to call upon friends."

"Fastened?"

"You have a habit of asking one-word questions."

Because you have a habit of making me forget how to speak English. "My habit is to be concise."

"I… see," he said in a dry tone that made it clear he didn't see at all. "Your father hired me to patrol the grounds this evening in hopes of discovering the source of the noises you've heard the past two nights and hopefully the identity of the person who wrote the note you found. In case there is some threat to you, he wishes for you to stay home for the remainder of the day. He also wanted me to make certain all the windows in the house were secure-which is the task I was undertaking when I entered this room."

"I see." Obviously her parents weren't concerned that Gideon would be in the house with their daughter during their absence. Of course nothing save death would keep Father from his club or Mother from her social rounds, and naturally they would consider a house filled with servants ample chaperone. Besides, Mother and Father wouldn't see Gideon as a threat to her innocence. No, they would view him merely as another person in their employ, no more noticeable or important than a lowly stable boy or footman, neither of whom would ever dare behave in an improper manner.

"Have you found all the windows to be secure?" she asked.

"I've so far found them all locked, except one." His darkly intense gaze pinned her. "In your bedchamber."

The idea of him in her bedchamber momentarily unfocused her thoughts, rendering her unable to speak. Then she shook her head. "That is odd. They were secure last night, and I haven't opened them today. Perhaps one of the maids did so."

"Perhaps," he said, although he didn't sound as if he believed it possible. "The window is locked now. See to it that it stays that way. And now, if you'll excuse me, I need to continue my duties."

Without another word, he crossed the room and tested the windows. In order to prevent herself from trotting after him and asking if he required any assistance-which he clearly did not-she busied herself with scooping up, then petting Princess Buttercup.

When Gideon finished his task, he said, "Everything's secure." He then made his way to the door. Before exiting the room, he turned and offered a brief nod. "Good afternoon, Lady Julianne, and you, too, Princess Buttercup." His gaze lingered on Julianne for several seconds. Then he said, "Don't worry. I'll be watching this evening. And I'll put a stop to any mischief making." Without another word he quit the room, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.