Page 23 of A Marriage Most Convenient

“You look like a statue,” she blurted, which was simply splendid. She winced wishing she could take back what she’d just said. It was asinine to compliment the man who abandoned her on her wedding night. She tore her attention away from him when the dogs jumped back onto the bed, and plopped their bodies around her.

“Charlotte, this is Rufus.” Edmond nodded towards the bigger of the two dogs as he rubbed the beast’s belly. “And this,” he indicated the slightly smaller, but no less enormous canine. “Cleopatra, Cleo for short.”

Charlotte tried not to be too distracted by the play of muscles in Edmond’s chest and abdomen as he patted the animals. Though she couldn’t help but be grateful that he hadn’t commented on her lustful staring at his body.

“You have dogs,” Charlotte said dumbly.

“Yes,” his voice stiffened with caution. “Do you not like dogs?”

Cleo was currently staring Charlotte down with her soulful, brown eyes. Charlotte pulled her gaze away to look at Edmond. “I don’t actually know. I’ve never had any pets.” She glanced back at Cleo, who had seated herself directly in front of Charlotte. “Why is she staring at me?”

“It’s one of two things. Either she’s mad because you’re on the side of the bed she prefers, or she wants you to pet her.”

Charlotte turned to face Edmond, alarm shot through her. “Those are very different things.”

He gave her an easy grin while he used both hands to rub Rufus. The dog’s tongue lolled out of its mouth in a blissful expression.

“What if she bites me?” she asked.

“Cleo doesn’t bite. Nancy did though, which is why she now lives in the country.”

“Nancy?”

“Nancy is a goose I rescued and nursed back to health. She got very attached to me. Anytime one of the female servants came near me, Nancy would flap her wings and chase them, nipping at their feet and honking her displeasure.”

Charlotte laughed, then covered her mouth.

“It got so bad that Mrs. Jones said either the goose went, or she did.” He grinned at her.

Charlotte was so mesmerized by his smile. He just lounged on her bed, shirtless and roguishly handsome while lazily running his hand over Rufus’s fur.

He nodded towards the dog. “See, she just wants your love.”

Charlotte tentatively reached out and put her hand on the dog’s fur. She smiled widely. “She’s so soft. I thought her fur would be rough or wiry.”

He chuckled. “I think it’s because the cook sneaks them fish. The oil makes their fur silky.”

“I didn’t realize you liked animals so much.”

“They’re less complicated than people. They can’t lie or pretend. They just are who they are, and dogs love unconditionally.”

“Are these all the pets you have now?” Charlotte did her best to concentrate on petting Cleo and keeping her eyes off of Edmond’s bare skin, lest she reach over and start petting him.

“No. I have three cats too, but they mostly stay downstairs. Easy access to the gardens and plates of milk from the kitchen. They like to sleep on the window sills in my study.”

“I’ve always thought I would like cats, but the only one I’ve ever met is Amelia’s. Well, he was Colin’s, but now he belongs to both of them, I guess. He’s a bit surly though.”

Edmond nodded. “Sounds accurate. Cats are more selective with their affection than dogs are. And now you can claim my pets as yours. You are my wife.”

His words warmed her.

“Do you have plans today?” he asked.

She did have plans, but she didn’t know if she should voice them to him. He would, no doubt, find her utterly silly for thinking she could unveil the Jack of Hearts. But Edmond was her husband now, and she should be truthful with him. They shouldn’t start their marriage with any lies between them.

She propped herself up on an elbow. “I do. You may jest if you like, but I am investigating a mystery, and today I have plans to gather my information together.”

“A mystery?” he asked.

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