Page 112 of Marigold and the Marquess
He kissed her lightly. “So are you, love. Are you ready? Our carriage is waiting out front.”
She nodded. “How are the Bow Street runners doing? May I take a moment to look in on them? And Uncle George, is he still here?”
“George left an hour ago. The men are doing well and Martha is treating them like royalty.”
“Good, they deserve to be. Mr. Barrow and his other men will be guarding the Huntsford exhibits. I hope all goes smoothly today.”
“It will. Enjoy the day, Marigold. It is your time to sparkle.” He kissed her again. “But you always do. You are my beautiful ray of sunshine.”
After personally thanking each Bow Street runner and making certain they had been adequately fed and pampered, she went downstairs with Leo to fetch her notes and bone samples from his study. “Oh, I need another moment for Mallow before we go. Where is he? Keeping out of trouble, I hope.”
“He’s in the garden munching on a bone. Must be scraps from the kitchen.” He opened the door to his study and stood aside as she entered. “I suppose Cook must have taken pity on him after his ordeal yesterday…or…blast! How did that little devil get in here?”
Marigold’s papers and bone samples had been neatly stowed in a pouch atop his desk, but those bone samples were now strewn all over the floor. “Love, I’m so sorry.”
Marigold was off in a shot after her spaniel. “Mallow! Bad dog! Oh, you are a very bad dog!”
Mallow’s ears perked.
He leaped to his feet as she tore out of the house and ran toward him.
“Give me that bone, you little imp!” She ought to have been angry, but found herself laughing instead because Mallow was regarding her so innocently. Thank goodness he hadn’t chewed her papers. The other bones could easily be put in order while on the carriage ride. She had plenty to pass around to show the audience. In true lion fashion, Mallow had grabbed the biggest one.
She hoped his little teeth had not done too much damage to what they believed was part of a leg bone from an ancient wolf.
Something about this scene felt familiar.
She glanced toward the study and realized Leo was watching her.
Her heart caught in her throat upon noticing his expression. It was as though the weight of the world had lifted off his shoulders.
There was pure happiness in his smile.
Of course, they had done this before. He had first met her while chasing Mallow around his garden. What was he thinking now?
CHAPTER 19
LEO LAUGHED WHILEwatching from his study window as his wife chased her wayward dog around the garden. “Sterling, can you believe this?”
He and Sterling had quickly gathered Marigold’s bones and put them back in numerical order. All save bone number 5 that Mallow had in his grip. They were now peering out the window, watching Marigold attempt to catch the nimble hound.
She was not doing too well.
“Mallow, you bad, bad dog!” she scolded as the little imp raced into the rhododendron. She was about to lunge in after him when Mallow darted out the other side, still dragging the bone.
“Shall I help her, my lord?” Sterling said, trying not to chuckle.
Marigold was also laughing and did not appear at all put out.
Leo’s heart melted. “No, I’ll go in a moment.”
This is how he had first set eyes on Marigold. Best day of his life. Here they were a month later and he knew his life would be wonderful and ridiculous every day that she was with him.
“Sterling, I love that woman,” Leo muttered.
“Your admission is wasted on me, my lord. I think perhaps you ought to be telling this to your wife.”
“Indeed.” Still laughing, Leo hurried out into the garden.
