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Ivy lifted both hands. “He’s lovely,” she breathed. “But I’m not allowed a dog. Ever.”
He frowned. “Not allowed a dog? But, Ivy, you adore dogs.”
“I do but after the whole stealing the Prince Regent’s dog disaster, the Musgraves aren’t allowed dogs.” She cocked her head and eyed the dog who squirmed in Cillian’s arms. “He’s so lovely.”
“He is. And you are not a Musgrave.”
“Pardon?”
Cillian closed the gap between them. “Need I remind you that you are my wife now and you bear my surname. You are no longer a Musgrave, Ivy, and therefore I do believe there is no reason you cannot have a dog.” He offered out the squirming black and tan puppy.
“Oh.” Ivy clapped hands to her cheeks. “Oh, he’s so lovely.”
“And he’s all yours.”
Ivy tentatively took him, laughing when the dog gave her a lick on her cheek. “I really shouldn’t.”
“He needs a home. And you need a dog.”
“Well, if he needs a home.”
“He does.” Cillian tried not to grin at how easily persuaded his wife was.
“What shall we call him?” She burrowed her nose into the side of the puppy’s face and Cillian had to fight not to sweep his wife into his arms and take her upstairs to make love to her all day long.
“You should name him. He is yours after all.”
“I think Charlie. He looks a little like the kings of old.”
“Shall we show Charlie his new home?” He suggested. “I’ve asked one of the stable hands to find something appropriate for a lead and I’m certain you have enough blankets to create a bed for him.”
“Yes, lets.” Ivy paused. “I cannot believe you gave me a dog.”
“I’d give you the world if I could, sweeting.” The words escaped him before he could recall them. He shouldn’t be uttering such things, shouldn’t be making himself this damned vulnerable. But with Ivy he couldn’t resist, most especially when she looked at him in such a manner.
The driver approached, preventing Cillian from saying anything more ridiculous which was probably a fine thing. He handed a glove to Ivy. “You left these in the carriage, my lady.” He bowed his head to Cillian. “Shall I send a boy to fetch the horses now?”
Cillian swung a look between the driver and his wife. Ivy tugged on a curl and twirled it around her finger whilst avoiding his gaze. He’d known her long enough to know she was hiding something.
“Yes, please,” he told the driver before facing Ivy head on. “Do you wish to tell me where you really were? Because Bath does not need a change of horses, nor would I expect such a visit to take the better part of a day, even if you were with your sister.”
Her throat bobbed. She twirled the curl faster.
“Ivy?”
“Gravesend,” she finally uttered in a rush. “I went to Gravesend.”
The jab at his heart was worse than the sword slash to his eye, he was certain of it. She’d been checking up on him.
And surely that meant she did not believe him.
Chapter Twenty
The stony aura that cooled Cillian’s gaze sent a tremor down Ivy’s spine.
“Why did you go there?” he demanded, his tone harsh.
She squared her shoulders. She’d done nothing wrong, and she was not going to be made to feel bad for facing up to her husband’s past when he would not.
