Evie tensed. She didn’t want them to know her friend was a gentleman, and she certainly didn’t want them to learn his identity. “I can’t say for certain.”

If they learned that Ash belonged to Lord Gregory Blakemore and that he entrusted the animal with Evie for a night, they might be curious as to the relationship between them. If they mentioned it to anyone, rumors could spread. She was so careful not to be the subject of gossip. The care she’d taken to reestablish herself as Mrs. Renshaw was monumental, and here she was, risking everything because she couldn’t seem to stop seeing Gregory.

This would not do. People might not blink at a widow having an affair, even if it was with the brother of a marquess. However, if scrutiny directed toward her somehow unearthed her past—

No, she wouldn’t even continue that thought.

Taking a deep breath, she rubbed Bess’s head and told her what a good and sweet dog she was, then she looked to the Kirbys. “Well, I just wanted to come and speak with you about what had happened. I thought it important you knew.” She rose from her chair.

The Kirbys also stood.

“We’re so glad you did,” Mrs. Kirby said. “Such a responsible and admirable thing to do. I’ll make sure the hole in our wall is fixed posthaste.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Evie drew on her glove and said goodbye to Bess.

Mrs. Kirby gestured toward the doorway. “I’ll see you out.”

They walked downstairs, and in the entry hall, she whispered, “Mr. Kirby has been promising to fix that hole for months. You must have been so distressed when your dog went missing.”

“My friend’s dog, but yes.” Actually, perhaps Evie ought to stop mentioning her friend at all.

“Yes, your friend. I presume you made him aware of what happened?”

“They are aware, yes.” Evie specifically chose a different pronoun. She wasn’t going to confirm that Ash belonged to a man. In fact, she should have just said “she.”

“I’ll be sure to let you know if Bess is increasing following her…interlude with Ash. But I must tell you that Mr. Kirby planned to breed Bess with another greyhound belonging to a friend of his. They’ve an appointment to meet tomorrow.”

“I see. I do hope Mr. Kirby’s plans aren’t ruined by Bess and Ash’s chance encounter.”

Mrs. Kirby waved her hand. “Bah. He’s only himself to blame since he let that hole go unrepaired. In any case, there’s no point fretting about things that are not yet certain. We won’t know if Bess is increasing for some time, and even then, we won’t know if the puppies she carries belong to your—rather your friend’s—dog or our friend’s until they are born.”