Page 44 of A Spinster to Heal the Duke
"But we are not a young couple," Anne replied louder than she meant to.
She took the maid's hands and pulled her away from the door and continued in a whisper.
"We are not courting or even in the earliest stages of considering courting. He is an injured guest in our home who will be leaving soon. He is a duke. I may be the granddaughter of a baron, but that is not high enough station to turn the head of a duke," Anne said.
Peggy, rather than whisper spoke softly.
"It is not station that turns a man's head, but you aren't exactly a commoner. Your grandfather is a baron, yes, but your aunt is also a viscountess. Either way, I do not believe that will be what matters most if you two have feelings for each other, and clearly, you do," said the maid.
Anne sighed and confessed, "That is my biggest concern of all."
"Well, for the moment, we do not know that it need be one," Peggy said calmly.
"Right. We nearly kissed, but that is all. We can talk about it later or not. Everything is unchanged really," Anne agreed.
Except my heart seems changed greatly,she thought to herself.
"For now, I only need to dress for dinner and move forward from there," she said to the maid. "Please, help my put on my green dress."
"Of course, Miss," Peggy said, smiling at Anne understandingly.
The two women had Anne dressed and downstairs in a timely manner. She entered the dining area to find all the men waiting for her.
"Shall we, then?" she asked.
"Yes, please," agreed Charles. "We ate at the club, but I feel starved."
"I believe you are confusing fulness and satisfaction," replied Jeremy to his grandson. "Our sandwiches at the club were sufficient but not as satisfying as what we would have had here or if we had asked Anne to send us with something."
"I know that my eyes have been feasting, and my stomach would like to catch up," Charles said, picking up his utensils and taking a bite once everyone was seated after his sister's arrival.
"Your grandfather has a point. There is a lot to be said when you think of satiety," said the Duke thoughtfully.
"Then, perhaps we should toast to our chef," Jeremy suggested, lifting his glass. As everyone else followed suit, he said, "To the young woman who keeps our hearts and stomachs always equally filled so that we know and appreciate every meaning of the term. To Anne."
"To Anne," Charles and the Duke echoed.
Anne laughed nervously but sipped along with them.
"Perhaps you both drank a little more than you should have this afternoon," she said, "but thank you still. That was very thoughtful."
"Soggy or not, I meant every word," the Baron replied.
He smiled, and his cheeks were rosy, giving away his lubricated state.
With an air of pride he added, "It only makes the sociable, like me, even more so. At times, I dare say it should be encouraged. It can lubricate conversation, the mind, and — well, I don't have a third thing, but I think that is plenty."
"I think it is fine when those who know how to comport themselves with drink imbibe a little on occasion," agreed the Duke. "I'm rather pleased you suggested a drink with dinner."
"Is that so?" asked the Baron. "Are you in a good mood as well or looking to relax a tense one?"
"I suppose a bit of both," the Duke replied, sipping his drink as he looked from the Baron to the Baron's granddaughter.
As the meal continued, the Baron led the conversation mostly. He had new jokes to share from his afternoon out with Charles.
Finally, Anne asked, "Did you take care of the matter you needed to leave so urgently for that you mentioned at breakfast?"
"That remains to be seen," her grandfather replied. "With many things, the proof is in the pudding, and I dare say it is still simmering. You cook pudding, right? I hate mixed metaphors."
