“What on earth…?” Violet murmured. “We don’t have room for more luggage!”
They heard the front door of the inn open, then James’s booming voice as he greeted the innkeeper.
“Where’s my wife?” he demanded.
Violet blushed scarlet. Her mother shot her a curious look, and Rosalie gave her a very smug smirk.See?she mouthed.Romantic!
Then the door to the parlor opened, and James strode in, smiling widely.
“Violet!” he said the moment he saw his wife. “Duchess,” he corrected himself as his footmen followed him inside with the crate. “Forgive me for taking so long, but you see, it was a matter of grave importance. I had to fire the entire constabulary for collaborating with Farrell and instruct several men loyal to me to find their replacements. It was no easy task. But fortunately, I was also able to make another step for more pleasant reasons.”
“Is that what’s in the crate?” Rosalie asked before Violet could say anything. “The more pleasant reason?”
“It’s a present,” he announced, and his sparkling eyes landed on Violet. “For my wife.”
“James…” Violet’s breath caught in her chest. “You didn’t need to buy me a present!”
“I didn’t do it because I had to,” he said. “I did it because it gives me pleasure. And because I hope it will make you happy as well.”
Now Rosalie was smirking shamelessly, and Violet felt her face turn as red as a tomato.
“Now, let’s unbox it,” James said, turning to his men.
The footmen put down the crate, and at the same time, a shuffling sound came from inside of it, followed by a whimper.
Violet froze.
What on earth could be in there?
The footmen strode forward, and one of them undid the latches at the front of the crate. It was angled away from Violet, so she couldn’t see what was inside when the door finally slid open. Rosalie, however, could, and she squealed and clapped a hand over her mouth in excitement.
James, meanwhile, grinned broadly and reached inside of the crate. And he pulled out a puppy.
Violet felt her heart melt. The puppy was the most adorable thing she had ever seen in her whole life. He was tiny, with black fur spotted occasionally with white, and big floppy ears. His nose was pink, and his eyes were big and brown and as wide as saucers.
As James cradled him in his arms, the puppy let out another whimper, and Violet thought she might actually die of love.
“He is for you,” James continued, approaching her slowly. “A puppy that one of Farrell’s dogs whelped recently. He was going to have her drowned when he realized she was pregnant, but myspies managed to rescue her. She gave birth to a litter a fortnight ago. Just yesterday, I was informed that the litter was doing well, so I wanted to go and see them. And then, of course, as soon as I laid eyes on this little boy, I knew you had to have him.”
He stretched out his arms towards her, and Violet instinctively reached out and took the puppy.
She had never held an animal before, and she marveled at how warm the puppy was, how soft its fur was. She could scarcely believe it was real and that she was holding such a beautiful creature in her arms.
The puppy turned his head and looked up at her. Tentatively, she brought a hand to his face, to let him sniff her. He responded by licking her. She giggled and then brought the puppy even closer to her chest, hugging him close.
“Do you like him?” James asked.
Violet looked up to see her husband watching her apprehensively. “Of course I do,” she choked out. A myriad of emotions was overwhelming her, and she thought she might cry with love for this little creature. “I love him. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“I wanted you to have one of the dogs that you helped protect by your bravery these past few days,” he said quietly.
“It means the world to me,” Violet croaked. And she really meant it.
No one had ever given her a gift like this, and as she looked into her husband’s eyes, her heart felt as if it might burst with love…
For the dog, of course.
Just for the dog.
