Page 42 of A Spinster to Heal the Duke
Anne felt her breath catch at the compliment, and she knew that she was blushing, but she didn't mind. She didn't feel a need to run from the emotion he stirred in her.
"Thank you," she said.
"You are very welcome," replied the Duke.
That was uncharacteristic of me,he thought,but well worth her smile.
"I don't know that I have ever cooked anything, not even for myself, much less anyone else," said the Duke.
"I suppose while a woman may cook, even if she has help, it would be unseemly for a man to do so if it were not his profession," Anne considered thoughtfully.
Noah shrugged.
"Even then, he would probably have his start at home first. No one in my family cooked but the cook," he said absently.
"Oh? So, I suppose the Dowager Duchess of Grandon, does not cook often?" Anne asked more as a statement.
"My mother passed years before my father, but no, I have no memory of her cooking or expressing any interest in the goings on of the kitchen," the Duke said thoughtfully.
"I'm sorry," Anne replied sympathetically. "Perhaps you have some other fond memories of her you hold on to."
The Duke furrowed his brow as he thought before shaking his head.
"She was, for all intents and purposes, a good woman, but I remember little about her. She was an attractive redhead; I remember I always thought she was beautiful as a child," Noah said. "I remember when he wasn't instructing me, my father was doting on her — anything and everything she wanted. Then, when she passed, it was like all he had left was grooming me. Lessons, networking, stricter and stricter rules."
"Oh," replied Anne softly. "Well, our memories as children or even as adults with time can add to or remove from what was. I'm sure there are wonderful memories of your family you just haven't thought about in a while. Otherwise, you wouldn't be as good a man as you are today, Your Grace."
The Duke thought and then said, "You know, I suppose it was just as often that the things my mother asked of my father weren't for her. Often her requests were for me or my father — for our benefit."
"That's thoughtful," Anne replied brightening.
"And she was pretty sentimental," Noah continued, still in thought. "When Father was finally ready to put her things away, we found that she had lots of silly things I had given her as a child nestled in her drawers and books with letters Father had written her when they were courting."
"How romantic," Anne said, placing a hand on her chest.
"When Father gave her books, he read them first and underlined small portions with notes expressing how they said the things he felt but didn't know how to say to her," Noah explained.
"See," Anne said, sipping from her glass. "There are all kinds of sweet memories you have forgotten."
"It seems there are," Noah agreed.
He smiled and looked at Anne.
"Thank you," he said.
"I didn't do anything," Anne replied.
"You did," said the Duke. "You helped me to remember and think about happier times of my family. You have helped me to enjoy eating. Of all the things I could praise or thank you for, I feel like there is no end."
"Surely not," said Anne, shaking her head. "But thank you for that. Thank you for coming to Reedley, regardless of the cause, and stirring something in this place and in all of us."
"We will call it even then," replied the Duke.
They gazed at each other for a moment until Anne said, "I'll clean this up, unless you would like more."
"I don't want to spoil dinner," Noah replied. "I look forward to meals now. Those were nice amuse-bouche, but I want to be able to enjoy the full meal."
Anne collected the plate they shared and set it in the wash basin. When she turned, she nearly collided into the Duke's chest as he had followed her with their glasses.
