Page 28 of A Spinster to Heal the Duke
"Thank you," she said as she tried to temper a shudder that moved through her.
The Duke did not see because he had to settle himself as well. He quickly finished his scone in two bites before buttering another and trying a different jelly.
"Tell me more," he said.
I could listen to her talk so eagerly for hours,he thought, looking at her again.I could watch her talk so happily twice as long.
"Um, I also make a pretty standout orange marmalade," she said in a more general tone and volume. "Most people just keep it simple — oranges, lemon juice, sugar, water. That is good, but I add a bit of mint and thyme."
"That sounds delicious, too. I bet that is a bright burst on the palette with a breakfast muffin," the Duke replied.
"It is," agreed Anne.
As they spoke, they heard a door in the house open then they heard Jeremy calling.
"Anne, we've returned. Where are you? How is our guest?" he said, entering the dining room. "Ah, found you both. Mm… and treats."
He and Charles settled at the table, and Peggy promptly entered the room with place settings for them.
"Thank you," they both said.
"What have you two been up to while we were gone?" Jeremy asked.
"Nothing really," Anne replied. "We spent the rest of the morning in the parlor, I prepared a snack, and now, you are here."
"Anne was just sharing some of her cooking secrets with me," the Duke said, tipping a jellied scone.
"Ah, lucky man. I don't believe she has shared many of her culinary secrets with anyone. Peggy might know a fewingredients for things here and there from helping in the kitchen, but our Anne has certainly never divulged what makes some of the simplest things stand out when she prepares them, even to Charles and me. Like her orange marmalade. I know there is mint, but there is something else, too," Jeremy observed, gesturing at the dish on the table.
"So, she's secretive about the goings on in her kitchen?" the Duke said, smiling at Anne with a raised eyebrow.
She turned away and blushed.
"They have no need to know nor any real interest. Grandfather and Charles rarely set foot in there," Anne replied, waving off what had been said.
Yet she shared several details with me, and I must leave eventually, the Duke thought.
"Pass the apple butter, Grandon," said Jeremy. "Let's see if I can figure out the hidden flavor this time."
Anne and the Duke shared a look as they passed the apple butter.
"I had only been devouring this gooseberry jam, but that looks very good," the Duke observed. "And I would agree, there are probably a few unexpected ingredients in this as well. It is unlike any gooseberry jam I have tasted before."
"It is," replied Jeremy. "In the case of the gooseberry, I think it is a use of spices. For the apple butter, I know there are dates or figs or something in here."
"Well, those two are rather far apart in flavor to make them both be a guess. One is more like a honey sweet where the other is that richer flavor, like a cooked caramel, Reedley," replied the Duke.
"For a man who arrived eating so little, you have a penchant for flavors," declared Charles.
"Indeed," agreed Anne. "It's quite impressive."
"Thank you," Noah said, looking at Anne. Then, looking at Charles, "Thank you both. I suppose it just comes from learning what foods I tolerate well."
When everyone completed their snack, the Baron of Reedley was more than ready for his customary afternoon nap. The younger gentleman of the house was rather worn out as well.
"I think the excitement of digging my heels in with the people was a bit much," he said, following his grandfather upstairs.
"It's invigorating," replied the older man. "Then, you come down like someone who has had too many sweets, my boy."
