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“What am I supposed to do with them?”
He shrugged. “Someone dumped them on the side of the road in that bin. I didn’t think you’d want me to leave them for the coyotes.”
“Don’t they need their mother?”
“Well, she didn’t leave a note, so I guess they’re shit out of luck. Should I put them back where I found them?”
She glared. “We need to bring them to a vet!”
“There’s one coming. She’ll hand them off to animal control.”
“No!” she cried, trying not to look at their little faces, but failing miserably. “If they go to the pound they might get put down!”
She picked up the bin and carried it up toward the family wing, surprised at how heavy they were. Severin took the bin out of her hands when she got to the first landing.
“What are you doing with them?” he asked suspiciously.
“They need a warm bath. They’re cold and filthy. And what are they going to eat?”
“I asked the vet to bring food for several ages of pups. I don’t know how old they are. I think they may be weaned, or close to it.”
“How could someone be so fucking cruel?” she snapped, following him to the bathroom.
“The world is an ugly place, Miss Korsgaard.”
“Maybe Church will want one. And Rodrigo? Oh, maybe he’s gone too much.”
“They’re mutts. No one is going to want them.”
“That’s not true.” She peered into the bin as Severin put a bit of warm water in the bathtub. “Dogs don’t have to be purebred for people to want them.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“You’ve never had a pet?”
“No. The closest I’ve come to having a pet is you.” He tapped her collar.
Knowing he was just trying to goad her, she ignored that. “Look at their little faces. Oh my god, they’re so cute!”
“Miss Korsgaard,” he said, his tone mocking, “get your maternal instincts under control.”
She rolled her eyes. “Mister Leduc, I can guarantee you I’m not the kind of woman who gets attached to small animals and talks to them in silly voices.” The puppies were all looking up at her, threatening to turn her into a liar.
“There’s no room in this house for a dog.”
“No, no. Of course not.” Not even one?
He was gone by the time she looked up from putting them in the tub, leaving her with puppy bathing and the visit from the vet. She blocked off her room and baby proofed it then gave the boys a blanket in a box, and put down puppy pads the vet had brought.
“I thought the vet was going to take them,” Severin said when he stopped in front of her room later.
“They didn’t tolerate the dewormer very well, so it’s better if they stay here for now.”
“What did you call them?”
She looked up from the one she was petting. “This one is Gilbert, then there’s Montague, Harvey, and Theodore.”
“Do the world a favor and let your future husband name your children.”
