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“You can go tomorrow,” he said. “Tell Muriel to pack your belongings.”
“So you are just sending me away?”
“I said that did I not?”
He turned on his heel and headed toward the front door. He couldn’t look at her for much longer or his resolve might crumble.Of coursehe did not wish to send her away,of coursehe wanted her by his side every hour of the day. But even if he did that—even if he had the resources to do that—there was no guarantee Marshall would not get to her again.
The safest option right now was to send her away whilst he hunted down Marshall himself. If he wasn’t at the gentleman’s club anymore, he had to be somewhere.
The further Ivy was away from this whole situation, the better, and he could do without her putting her nose into places they did not belong. It would only make matters worse.
Ivy hastened after him, rushing forward to step in front of him, the dog on her heels. “Why would you send me away? Why, after all we have been through...after what we have...” Her throat bobbed and her voice grew husky. “I thought you cared for me.”
He did. Too much. He needed her gone and away from his mind, so he didn’t have to worry for her anymore. Even if it meant going through an agonizing separation and her potentially never returning. So long as she was safe, that was all that mattered.
“Marshall tried to kidnap you.”
“I would not say it waskidnapexactly.”
“I do not know what steps he is willing to take to get revenge.”
“Cillian, how can you wish to send me away? It will solve nothing.”
“It will keep you safe,” he snapped.
Her chest rose and fell, and she planted her hands on her hips. “This is my home. I do not want to leave.”
“Your home is with your father. With your family. This is no home, to either of us.”
“I thought we were making it a home. I thought—”
“You thought wrong.”
Her eyes flared and Cillian’s gut clenched.
She stared him down for several moments and he eyed the open door. “Is there a lover?”
He nearly choked on his next breath. “Lover?”
“Is that why you wish to send me away? Why you are out all hours of the day, even at night sometimes?” Her eyes sheened. “I should have known—”
“I work hard, Ivy, in case you had not noticed.”
“I had. Of course I had. But now you wish to send me away and—”
“And nothing. There is no lover.” He gave a dry laugh. “You think I have women in every town perhaps? A woman who awaits me in some secret cottage somewhere?” He shook his head. “Who would love a face like this?”
Moments passed by and their gazes clashed. The only sound was the tap of claws as the puppy scrabbled up his boots and his heart pounding like the footsteps of thousands of soldiers.
“You’re right,” she said finally, scooping up the dog. “Though I think it is less to do with your face, and more to do with your behavior.” She swiveled on her heel and spared him a glance over her shoulder. “Arrangements,” she scoffed. “I amnotgoing anywhere.”
He ran a hand over his face. Trust him to marry a woman who seemed as though she were made from roses and sugar sculptures but had a tongue of fire and a will no man could break.
Still, he had enough determination for them both. Shewouldgo away. And shewouldbe safe. That was all that mattered.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Forgive me, my lady.” The housekeeper let the quill hover over the piece of paper and Ivy winced when a little drop of ink dropped onto the neatly penned menu. “But His Lordship informed me you were to be staying with your family for some time.”
