Mrs Sommersby’s Second Chance. Laurie Benson

so close.

      A loud yapping broke the moment and the gentleman she was thinking of kissing reeled back and it was then that she realised she was free. Free of the shrub and the spell that had been cast over her. Free of desires that left her forgetting where she was or the fact that she didn’t know who she was with.

      She was a respectable widow and respectable women did not go around kissing gentlemen behind some shrubbery in a public park.

      Humphrey’s small black and brown body was hidden within the bottom branches of the thick hedge beside her, but his little black head and brown ears were visible. He continued to bark at the gentleman who had come to her aid.

      ‘Where did you come from?’ He looked between the small dog and Clara. ‘You might want to step away. It doesn’t appear very friendly.’

      ‘It’s fine. He’s fine. He belongs to me.’ She looked down at Humphrey. ‘Now hush. The nice gentleman was helping me,’ she said to the creature who was responsible for this awkward encounter.

      ‘I don’t think he likes me.’

      ‘He just wants to get out from under the bush.’

      The gentleman lowered himself to the heels of his top boots. The muscles of his thighs flexed in his cream-coloured breeches when his coat parted with his movement. He held his gloved hand out to Humphrey, but didn’t say a word, giving the dog the opportunity to sniff him.

      ‘He won’t go to you. He’s stuck in the bushes.’

      ‘He’s stuck, too?’

      Clara held up the loop of Humphrey’s leash that was wrapped around her wrist, giving a slight tug to the bit of the red cord that was free of the tangled mess for him to see. Humphrey let out a series of barks as if he was trying to explain to the gentleman how it happened.

      ‘First your dress and now your dog’s leash? You two are quite a pair.’

      ‘If we are being precise, it was his leash first and then my dress.’

      Lane stood up and strode towards her. ‘Can you untangle it?’

      ‘I had been trying to when my dress got caught. I wasn’t having much luck.’

      ‘Let me see if I can help.’ He squatted just out of Humphrey’s reach and then held out his hand to the puppy. ‘What have you done to yourself, little one?’

      Instead of sniffing the gentleman’s hand, Humphrey appeared to try to explain how it had happened before lowering his head to his paws.

      ‘I see. Well, let’s free you from this mess so you and your mistress do not have to spend the night here.’ Humphrey looked up at him as he traced the red cord from the dog’s collar into the hedge and moved some of the branches around to study the tangled mess. ‘How did he do this?’ he asked, his attention still focused on untangling the cord.

      ‘I’m not sure. He was chasing a butterfly and the next thing I knew I was pulled practically into the bush.’

      ‘Your leash is too long. You need a shorter one.’ He motioned for her to hand him her end and then he worked it through the branches.

      Not wanting to inadvertently get caught in the bushes again, Clara adjusted her blue shawl around her shoulders. ‘Do you think you will be able to free him or should we just untie the leash from his collar?’

      ‘I think I’ve got it. Just a few more twists... There, he is free.’

      He handed her the end of the leash just as Humphrey let out a few barks before charging the gentleman’s leg and resting his paws on his knee. He was rewarded with some scratching behind his ears and Humphrey whipped his head around and licked the man’s hand.

      ‘No more chasing butterflies for you, young man.’

      Humphrey gave an excited bark as if to say he agreed the adventure had not been worth it.

      Clara took a step closer to them and prayed Humphrey would not embarrass her with more of his inappropriate displays. ‘Thank you very much for your assistance. I’m not sure what we would have done if you had not come along.’

      ‘Well, I’m just glad I did.’ He moved his hands to scratch Humphrey’s neck and the little dog wagged his tail.

      ‘Humphrey loves having his neck scratched. If you keep doing that, he won’t allow you to get up.’

      He looked up at her. ‘Humphrey? This is Humphrey?’

      ‘That’s his name,’ she said, nodding.

      ‘Well, it’s nice to meet you, Humphrey.’ He held out his hand to the dog, with his palm up. ‘Can you shake?’

      Humphrey barked and licked his hand.

      ‘Come now, gentlemen shake when they meet. Give me your paw.’

      Humphrey barked again.

      ‘He doesn’t understand what you’re asking.’

      ‘Then we will teach him.’ He tapped Humphrey’s right paw. ‘Paw.’ He held his hand out to Humphrey. ‘Give me your paw.’

      Once more Humphrey barked and a few more times the gentlemen tapped his paw and repeated the word.

      Each time, Humphrey barked. But the last time when the gentleman held out his hand and requested his paw, Humphrey placed it in his hand. He closed his fingers around the little paw and gave it a small shake, while he scratched Humphrey’s neck with his other hand. The dog let out a series of happy sounds as if he was letting him know how proud he was that he learned a new trick. Then he looked at Clara with his big brown eyes and let out another bark.

      ‘Yes, I see. You’ve learned something new.’ She took a step closer as the gentleman gave one last pat to Humphrey’s head before standing up.

      ‘You seem quite at ease with him. Do you have a dog of your own?’

      ‘Not any longer. I did for a while a long time ago. I travel too much now.’

      ‘Travelling a lot sounds like an adventurous life.’

      ‘I suppose some people may see it as such. Most times the travelling is rather tedious.’

      ‘I’m surprised to see you here. This small stretch is not typically frequented by visitors. They normally enjoy promenading up by the Crescent.’

      ‘Crawling might be a better word. They were moving much too slowly for my liking.’ He took a step closer.

      ‘Moving at a sedate pace can be enjoyable when you find your companions entertaining.’

      His eyes held hers for a few heartbeats before he looked around for Humphrey. ‘But when you are alone and have some place to be, walking behind people being entertained is irritating.’

      The candid statement was made with such a gruff delivery it almost made her laugh. ‘I imagine it would be. So where did you need to be?’

      ‘Today?’

      She nodded and waited for him to respond.

      ‘Nowhere...exactly. But that doesn’t mean it was any less bothersome.’

      A small laugh crept out before she could hold it back. ‘So, you came here to avoid the people out there enjoying themselves.’

      His brows drew together and he crossed his arms. Standing tall with his legs apart, he appeared to be preparing for battle. ‘You seem to enjoy having fun at my expense.’

      ‘I am not having fun at your expense. But you must admit you take the most benign things quite seriously.’

      ‘I do not.’

      ‘You do. I have lived most of my life in this town and not once have I witnessed anyone inspect the water as carefully as you did yesterday. And today you couldn’t even enjoy a walk along the Crescent.’