Page 15 of A Spinster to Heal the Duke
"We insist," said Esther, rapping a hand on the table. "There must be a banquet in your honor. It has been too long since Reedley has been the seat of a banquet."
Seeing no way out of it, the Duke looked to Anne for help. She only smiled in a conspiratory smirk. He looked to the Baron, but the old man looked more excited than anyone.
"Reedley Manor was a hub for social events before my son passed," he said with a bittersweet and distant look.
"Then, I suppose it shall be once again," Noah observed in surrender.
"Wonderful," said Esther. "Oh, Anne, I can help you plan everything and invite the merchants and landholders from town."
"Thank you," Anne replied, resuming eating as she grinned from ear to ear at the Duke's expense.
"And I can prepare all the desserts," offered Judith. "Oh, Your Grace, you have not tried my cake."
"I am not very hungry. I thought I might have a sandwich and retire to rest my leg," he said, hoping it was a polite enough response to avoid disappointing the Drowtons' neighbors or eating any of their food.
"Oh, only a small slice then," the woman replied. "No meal is complete without at least a few bites of dessert."
"Really, I couldn't," he professed.
"Surely you can eat a little," Judith persisted.
"Oh, yes, there is not a better queen's cake than my sisters, and I have perfected vegetable pie," Esther boasted.
"I'm sure they are both delectable, but I simply cannot," replied the Duke, feeling frustration rising with each coercive comment.
"Your Grace, surely a sliver of cake would do no harm," Anne suggested, smiling at him encouragingly and her neighbors apologetically.
The Duke forced a smile as he searched his mind for any other reason to say no.
"I'd like a piece of both," Charles said, having finished two sandwiches and a pasty during the debate.
"Certainly," said Judith. "After His Grace has the first piece. After all, I prepared it special knowing you all had a guest."
Noah's face straightened then he forced a smile.
I hate feeling backed into a corner, but there seems to be no fighting my way out,he thought.
"What harm is there in a small slice of dessert?" he said, knowing very well what it would do to him if no one else.
Perhaps I will be surprised as I have been with Anne's food,he thought hopefully though he hardly believed it.I haven't been able to stomach, much less enjoy anything so well for a decade now.
Still, all eyes were on him now, and Noah hated the attention.
"Let's all have a slice, shall we?" he said, hoping people would turn their attention to their own portion.
"Wonderful," Esther and Judith said at nearly the same time.
They were both so excited to have him eat that they promptly dismissed his prior refusals.
Esther yelled, "Maid? Peggy? Please, come serve us this dessert we have brought. His Grace is waiting."
After a moment, Peggy entered the room hurriedly. She sliced the cake into ten portions and the pie into eight. Then, she placed a wedge of each on the plate of each person at the table.
"Is there anything else," she asked, looking from Anne to Esther and Judith.
"No," replied Anne. "Please continue cleaning the kitchen."
"Let's have some, shall we?" the Duke asked, looking round the table at his companions with a large, insincere smile plastered on his face.
