Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager - By Sarah Mallory Page 0,52
may go to bed, Bessie. The rest can wait until the morning.’
‘Very good, m’lud. Goodnight, ma’am.’ The scullery maid bobbed an awkward curtsy and hurried away. Susannah stared after her, shaking her head.
‘I am amazed. You have fed everyone, with only Bessie to help you?’
‘I have indeed. Her understanding is not great, but knowing everyone else was occupied upstairs, she was only too willing to help where she could. She showed me where to find everything, including Mrs Gifford’s secret store of wine and cider, something I understand she did not share with Mrs Jennings! I hope you don’t mind, but I used almost a whole bottle of claret to make the sauce for the collops.’
‘Violet told me Bessie had brought them dinner, but she did not say... that is, I thought she had served them up a little bread and ham.’
‘Oh, I think we did better than that.’ Meeting her wondering gaze, he laughed. ‘I had an eccentric uncle. When we were younger, my twin and I used to stay with him at his hunting lodge in Leicester, where we would fend for ourselves. We would hunt and fish and cook whatever we could find. My uncle was firmly of the opinion that a man should never be wholly dependent upon his servants, neither his valet nor his cook.’
‘Then I am greatly indebted to your eccentric uncle,’ she replied, savouring the delightful combination of flavours on her plate.
He grinned as he refilled their glasses. ‘You were otherwise engaged and it soon became clear to me that if I did not do something we would be obliged to call in old Daniel to feed everyone.’
‘You did very well. I am impressed by your abilities, my lord.’
‘As I am with yours. Not many ladies of my acquaintance could have taken on the role of midwife.’
‘And I am convinced no other gentleman of my acquaintance could have taken on the role of cook,’ she replied, smiling.
He lifted his glass.
‘Perhaps we should congratulate ourselves, then.’
She raised her own, meeting his eyes with a shy smile. All the old enmities were forgotten, for now.
The meal was delicious and she could not help comparing it with the elaborate dinner he had given her the previous evening. Then he had been aiming to impress and she had been far too anxious to enjoy it but now, this simple meal served in such lowly surroundings was by far the best thing she had ever tasted.
Better a dinner of herbs...
The old proverb came to mind but she banished it quickly lest it spoil the comfortable atmosphere they were sharing.
* * *
By the time they had finished their meal the kitchen fire was dying and the cold was beginning to creep back into the high-ceilinged room. Susannah pushed her plate away and gave a little shiver.
‘Let us move to the parlour,’ suggested Jasper, putting on his coat. ‘I left the fire banked up in there. Unless, that is, you would like to retire to your room?’
It was at that point Susannah realised that in all the confusion she had made no provision for herself, or the viscount. With so much of the house uninhabitable due to the leaking roof and the unsafe chimney stack, it would not be easy to find two free bedchambers. She decided she would think about that later. For now the lure of a warm fire was much more seductive.
* * *
After the cavernous kitchen the parlour was snug and welcoming. The viscount used a taper to light a single branched candlestick while Susannah went to the window.
‘The snow is still falling,’ she said. ‘I do not think I can ask Lucas to make another attempt to reach Priston until the morning.’
The viscount was bending over the fire, stirring the coals into a blaze.
‘I agree. As soon as it is light we can send them out again.’
‘We? I should have thought you would be anxious to return to Bath, my lord.’
‘Not until I know all is well here.’
‘That is not necessary...’
She trailed off as he regarded her, one dark brow raised.
‘You cannot be nurse, housekeeper and cook, Miss Prentess, and from what I have seen of the other inhabitants of this property they are all incapable of helping you, for one reason or another.’
‘It grieves me, but I have to agree with you.’ She sank down on to a chair, trying not to sound too disheartened. ‘Both Lizzie and Jane have young babies to look after, and Violet is quite unused to nursing or domestic