Jacquie D'Alessandro - [Regency Historical 04] by Not Quite A Gentleman Page A

them.”
    “You named your cat Buttercup? ” He twisted his face into a comical look.
    “From what I’ve heard, you are hardly one to cast aspersions on the names of anyone else’s pets.”
    “I suppose not, although in my defense, I’ve only named Boots and my dog. All the others came to me with names.”
    “You could have changed the names, you know.”
    “Would you like it if someone changed your name?”
    “No, however I am not a barnyard animal.”
    He touched his finger to his lips. “Shhhh. They don’t know they’re barnyard animals,” he said in an exaggerated whisper. “They think they are visiting royal dignitaries.”
    Victoria fought back a smile at his nonsense. “I admit I know what you mean. I belong to Buttercup. She allows me to live in her house.”
    “Yes, that’s the way it was with Boots the instant I brought her home. Settled right in and took over my favorite chair. Someone once told me that dogs have owners and cats have—”
    “Servants,” she finished with a laugh. “Completely true. Was Boots a gift?”
    “A patient offered as payment a kitten from his cat’s latest litter. I looked over the group, but I knew immediately that this little devil was the one.”
    She glanced down at Boots. “I can see why it was a case of love at first sight. She’s darling. She reminds me of my Buttercup.”
    “Buttercup is black and white?”
    “Oh, no. She has the stripes of a tabby, but her fur is golden in color.”
    “Ah, yes, I can see how she would remind you of Boots. The resemblance is striking.”
    Victoria couldn’t help but laugh at his arid tone. “I meant because Buttercup enjoys being held in just this same way, and she falls asleep within minutes of being scratched behind her ears.”
    “Something many animals enjoy, as it is a difficult spot for them to reach themselves.”
    “Tell me, Dr. Oliver, why was ‘Puss in Boots’ your favorite tale?”
    “Like you, I greatly admired the cat’s cleverness. My favorite part was always when he instructed his master to bathe in the river, then he hid his clothes under the rock and told the king not only that his master was drowning, but that thieves had stolen his clothes.”
    Victoria chuckled. “Quite a sight for the king and his daughter to witness.”
    “Indeed. And a clever way to ensure that his master’s ragged clothes weren’t seen by the royals. Although, I’ve always wondered if the princess fell in love with the master because he looked so handsome wearing the rich clothing her father lent him—or because she’d seen him naked.”
    Victoria tried to smother a laugh but wasn’t entirely successful. She looked up at him and saw the glittering mischief in his eyes. Before she could think of a suitablereply, he said, “And the moral of the story always resonated with me.”
    She considered for several seconds, then quoted, “‘There is great advantage in receiving a large inheritance, but diligence and ingenuity are worth more than wealth acquired from others.’”
    He looked mildly surprised at her recitation, then nodded. “Suited my situation as the lowly second son rather well,” he murmured. “I found those words…inspiring.”
    An odd feeling she couldn’t name washed through Victoria. Before she could figure out what it was, he added, “The other moral I admit I found quite shallow—that one’s clothes and appearance and youth play a role in matters of the heart.”
    “Shallow, perhaps,” she conceded, “but true nonetheless. I believe it is human nature to be attracted to that which is beautiful. After all, not only was the master very handsome, but the princess was described as the most beautiful young lady in the world.”
    “True. However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Would the princess have fallen in love with the handsome hero if she’d seen him wearing his poor man’s clothes?”
    “I don’t know.” Some inner devil made her add, “But if your theory holds true, she