and sherry had been set out with several glasses. He poured himself a glass of brandy. “I visited with the groundskeeper. I have known him for several years and he is an interesting character.”
Faith had yet to meet Mr. MacGruder, but she would make a point to seek him out as soon as the weather improved. Perhaps he could lend some insight into her duke’s disposition. Though, the fact that a duke would go to visit one of the servants was a good sign. “I have not had the pleasure of meeting him as yet.”
“MacGruder was impressed that you traveled with only one small trunk.” Nicholas smiled to devastating effect.
Steeling her heart against the effects of his good looks, Faith took a breath. “I am not as needy as some ladies, but I am not without the need of creature comforts. I brought what was necessary for my own happiness.”
She thought he might ask what things she’d brought, but he sipped his brandy and considered her without remark.
“Cook tells me dinner will be ready shortly.”
With a nod, he sat across from her. He always chose the seat farthest from her, as if she might give him the plague. “I’m curious to see if she is a better cook than the last. MacGruder thinks so, but he is happy to leave the responsibility of feeding himself to another, regardless of the palatability of the fare.”
Faith laughed. He’d made a joke, an actual joke. Perhaps that was a step in the right direction. “We shall see.”
“Is the sherry not to your liking?” He gave a nod toward her abandoned glass.
If she expected him to tell the truth, she would have to do the same. “I do not care for sherry.”
“Then why did you pour it?” He lifted both brows.
Taking a deep breath, she thought of how best to answer without sounding like a ninny. “Young ladies are supposed to enjoy a sherry.”
Nicholas leaned forward. “And…” he prompted.
“And I try to fit into society’s guidelines at least on the surface.” She did sound like an idiot.
“Luring me here was not very conformist.” He relaxed against the wingback chair’s cream damask and watched her with the intensity of a hawk summing up his prey.
Her heart pounded and she pressed on. “No. That is the real me pushing her way through. Drinking sherry and being polite to people like Mary Yates is the person my parents sent me away to school to become. I want to make them happy, so I try to appear as the daughter they wished for.”
It was impossible to tell if he was frowning because of what she revealed or for some other reason.
Jamie popped his head in the door. His freckled face was washed clean and he’d put on a brown jacket. His dusty brown hair was still mussed and long, but he smiled and tugged on his new finery. “Dinner is served.”
Standing, Faith smiled at the boy, who puffed out his chest and grinned. “Well done, Jamie.”
Jamie’s chest puffed up even more and he stood straighter.
Offering his arm, Nicholas led them across to the dining room. He tousled Jamie’s hair as they passed the salon door and smiled warmly at the child.
“I’ve taken Rumple to the kitchen so he won’t be botherin’ you while you eat.”
“That was very thoughtful of you, Jamie.” Faith delighted in the youth and enthusiasm of both Jamie and Thea. It was nice to be around people unwearied by life.
The table had been set for two, with one place setting at the head and another to the right.
Nicholas stopped a few feet away from the settings. “This is your party, Lady Faith. Which would you prefer?”
She pointed to the chair on the right. “This will do, Your Grace.”
He held out the chair and leaned in as she sat. “Perhaps we might dispense with the formal titles since we are alone here at Parvus?”
Once he was seated, she settled her pulse and asked, “What would you prefer to be called?”
“Nick would do nicely, if you don’t find the notion too upsetting.”
Thea arrived with a tray, which she placed on the sideboard. Then one at a time she served them each a bowl of soup that smelled divine. The aroma of spices and rich meats filled the dining room.
Nick’s stomach rumbled loudly. He laughed. “I believe I regret not accepting your offer of tea this afternoon, but now that I see this, Cook, I’m glad I waited. It smells delicious.”
Blushing, Thea made a quick curtsy and rushed from the dining room.
The soup tasted as good as it smelled. The bits of meat might have been venison, but they were tender and must have been cooked for hours to have created the rich warm flavors along with salt and thyme.
“This is delicious,” Faith said.
Nick’s eyes were filled with the delight of the rapturous soup. “I don’t know that I’ve ever had better.”
“Then Thea’s cooking is superior to the cook who retired?” She couldn’t help her joy at seeing him so pleased with the food. It made her wish she had cooked it herself. It was strange to suddenly want to please him, or anyone beyond her parents.
“Compared to this, Cookie’s offerings cannot even be called food, Lady Faith.” He chuckled and took another spoonful of the soup.
A warmth flushed her cheeks at the reminder of his offer to use familiar names and the fact that the food had made her forget to accept his offer. “Faith. You may call me Faith.”
The rest of the meal was equally scrumptious. It was so good, Faith’s plan to learn more about Nick had gone forgotten until a lovely pudding of plums and honey was set before them. “I suppose I should apologize for luring you here?”
With his spoon halfway to his mouth, he stopped. “Only if you are sorry, and I think you may have already done so.”
She couldn’t look away from the wonder on his face as he ate the warm, sweet confection. The sight tightened things inside Faith that she hadn’t known existed. “You were too angry then. I thought perhaps now, you might accept my regrets and perhaps an offer of friendship to begin again?”
Putting down his spoon, he stared a long moment. “You want us to be friends?”
“It would be a start.” It was hard to breathe when he gave her his full attention. Miss Agatha Wormbattle had always warned her to be careful what she wished for, and finally she understood what her old schoolmistress was talking about. Nick’s full regard was daunting and churned up desires she’d not considered.
“Tell me why you arranged all of this. And not some pretty story you use to make this seem normal. The real reason.” He folded his long elegant fingers together and laid them on the edge of the table. Relaxed, but ready to flee at any moment. Nick was like a tiger ready to do whatever was necessary for his survival.
Setting
