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Jasper nodded and shook hands with Horn before they parted. The mare shifted beneath him and mouthed her bit as he watched Horn ride off. Jasper turned her head toward his town house, trying to dispel the awful images still in his mind’s eye. Maybe Melisande would be up by now, and he could sit with her a while and spar. Bantering with his new wife was proving to be a surprisingly entertaining sport.
e was interrupted by Mouse bursting from the covers, leaping atop her hip and barking furiously.
Lord Vale started back, Mouse lost his balance and skidded off her hip, and Melisande groaned as she was jostled by the terrier.
“Has he hurt you?” Lord Vale came toward her, his brows knit, which caused Mouse to bark so hard that all four paws left the bed at once.
“Hush, Mouse,” Melisande moaned.
Lord Vale looked at Mouse with cold blue eyes. Then, in a move so sudden and fast she didn’t have time to protest, he grabbed the dog by its ruff, picked him up off the bed, and tossed him into the dressing room. He shut the door firmly and returned to the bed to frown down at her.
“What is the matter?”
She swallowed, a bit put out that he’d taken Mouse away. “Nothing.”
Her answer caused him to frown more sternly. “Do not lie to me. Your dog has hurt you somehow. Now tell me—”
“It wasn’t Mouse.” She closed her eyes, because she couldn’t look at him and say this. “I have my . . . my courses.”
The room was so quiet, she wondered if he was holding his breath. She opened her eyes.
Lord Vale was staring at her as if she’d metamorphosed into a salted herring. “Your . . . ah . . . quite.”
He glanced about the room as if for inspiration.
Melisande wished she could vanish. Simply disappear into the air.
“Do you . . . ah.” Lord Vale cleared his throat. “Do you require anything?”
“Nothing. Thank you.” She tucked the comforter under her nose.
“Good. Well, then—”
“Actually—”
Her words collided with his. He stopped and looked at her, then gracefully waved a large-knuckled hand for her to speak.
Melisande cleared her throat. “Actually, could you let Mouse out again?”
“Yes, of course.” He strode to the dressing room door and cracked it open.
Mouse immediately da>
Lord Vale arched an eyebrow at Melisande. “Your pardon, but it’s best if we work this out now.”
Once again he moved with startling speed, but this time he reached out and closed his hand about the dog’s muzzle. Mouse must’ve been surprised as well, for he squeaked.
Melisande opened her mouth in instinctive protest, but Vale shot her a glance, and she closed it again. It was his house, and he was her husband, after all.
Still holding Mouse’s muzzle, Lord Vale leaned down and looked the dog in the eye. “No.”
Man and dog stared a moment more, and man gave the dog a firm shake. Then he released him. Mouse sat down against Melisande and licked his muzzle.
Lord Vale’s gaze returned to her. “Good night.”
“Good night,” she murmured.
And he left the room.
