98

She laid in bed watching every hour on the clock, Rob was lying beside her in the dark, his arm across her, but he knew she needed to be left alone with her thoughts. He hadn’t slept either, just laid watching her, being there. Equally worried about the small animal and missing his tiny presence between them on the bed, missing his soft furry muzzle resting on his inner arm where he had grown accustomed to it every night.

When the vet rang next morning, she practically yanked his phone out of his hand, devouring every detail and questioning the receptionist with the skill of the Gestapo.

Muffin had woken from sedation in the night, drank some water, responded well and was looking brighter this morning. He was still very sick, but they would have to wait on blood tests to know for sure the extent of what was going on in his little body. All signs looked good for the time being and the vet said she could come and see him around noon if she wanted. They wanted him to stay until the blood work came in, meaning up to forty-eight hours of separation for Rose.

After repeating everything word for word, she avoided conversation with Rob, knowing only too well she would just argue with him over Morag’s involvement. She was sure this was down to that scrawny bitch whether he believed it or not.

He tried to coax her to eat breakfast after almost dragging her in the shower and washing her hair for her. She was lifeless, emotionally exhausted and physically tired from lack of sleep. He knew better than to try and push her, leaving her to wrestle with her own inner turmoil as he soaped her down and rinsed her in the clean white cubicle. He made no sexual advances, sensing it was not going to help, but instead held her, kissing her closed eyes when she broke down in relief, holding her tight and murmuring that he loved her when she wrapped herself in him.

* * *

He took her to the clinic a little after noon and left her to sit with Muffin for a little while as he sat with the receptionist, filling out papers and settling the bill so far.

Rose stroked Muffins face through the open cage door, felt his gentle licks and kisses on her face and cried when he warmly nuzzled his little head against her mouth. Whining softly for her to take him out and attempting to get up even though he was still too weakened.

Just seeing him a little more like his normal self, lifted her heart a tiny bit and brought some peace back to her scattered brain. She wanted him home but the fear that poison could still wrack his tiny frame until they were sure of what it was, held her back. She wanted them to make sure there was no lasting damage and that her little fur baby was going to completely recover. She wanted to murder that bitch for this and nothing anyone could say would convince her that Morag wasn’t involved.

On the drive home, Rob informed her he had called off the security staff and downgraded the speed of the fencing and cameras on the manor grounds.

‘Why?’ She turned to him with a furrowed brow and snippy tone, incensed that he was back tracking on his decisions.

‘Because I was being stupid baby. I see that now. Over cautious and I was making you insecure and paranoid and right now we need some calm around the house for a few days.’ He was driving them down a country lane slowly, the sun shining despite the mood in the atmosphere around Rose.

‘You’re wrong. I think she’s entirely capable of carrying out her threats. I think you should still go ahead and finish!’ She turned away from him to look out the window at the passing scenery, annoyed that this was still an issue between them. Pissed that he could really side with Morag on this.

‘Rose... I will finish the house, I just don’t think there is any urgent need. It’s making things crazy.’ He reached out and stroked her cheek, ignoring her shrugging him off with annoyance, her moods had been all over the place for the last twenty-four hours and he wasn’t taking it personally.

‘No Rob, it’s her that’s crazy and I know for a fact she hurt my baby!’ She gritted her teeth, still focused on the view and trying to not raise her voice in temper, she had no energy for another argument today.

‘You don’t know that. You suspect... There is no proof. There’s no reason for her to hurt Muffin. I don’t even think she’s aware of where you stay or that you even have a dog.’

‘Everyone knows us, Rob. Everyone greets Muffin wherever I go; you would have to be dead not to know who I am in this village or who he is to me. My living at the cottage is common knowledge, especially since I became the future Mrs Munro. It wouldn’t be hard to find out, to come there in the cloak of darkness and hide out or leave something for him to find in the garden.’ She spun on him, eyes narrowed and tone tight. She couldn’t believe that he couldn’t see this.

‘I really don’t think she did this, I know her. I’m sorry that I let things get out of hand and made you believe she could do something like this, but Rose... Baby... I swear I don’t think she’s capable of poisoning an innocent dog.’ He squeezed her hand, sure that he was right and convinced he was giving some rest to her suspicions. She listened silently, her eyes watching the scenery once more, knowing arguing was futile and her mind stubbornly set that he was wrong.