Page 29 of The Wolf and the Wildflower
For a moment, the little lad was not certain what to do with himself, but he straightened his shoulders, then bowed so deeply he almost pitched on his face. “Please to meet ye, too,” he replied, straightening. “I am going now, yer grace,” he said.
“Very well, David.”
The duke dipped into his pocket and removed a sovereign. He flicked it in the air and David deftly caught it before sprinting away deeper into the woods. The duke shrugged from his jacket, dropping it on the thick, verdant grass, and rolled up his shirt sleeves to reveal muscular forearms. He removed the already loosened neckcloth, tossing it beside the jacket. Jules could only observe in silent astonishment as he removed his boots and stockings.
His feet bare, the duke strolled over to the bird, sat on one of the large boulders before it, and turned the bird over the roaring fire.
“Are you to stand there the whole night, Southby?”
Jules walked over and lowered herself to the boulder beside him. “Do you come to this space each day, Your Grace?”
“Yes.”
“You could order simpler fare from the kitchen.”
He made a low sound in his throat that she supposed could be a grunt. After a few more moments of silence, Jules looked at him. The duke seemed to be thinking on his response and she did not prod, already knowing it to be a rarity to be in his space with this much conversation.
“Requests for simpler fare have been sent to the kitchen. The duchess was displeased with the staff when they followed my instructions. A duke wanting to eat roasted bird and some potatoes.Ghastly,” he said drily.
She snuck a quick glance at him to see that the duke watched her rather intently, a smile about his mouth, his eyes gleaming with provoking humor. Jules swallowed and swung her regard to the flickering flames.
Despite everything, he appreciates the humor in life.
“I know I can remove whatever power she has in countermanding my order…yet I find I wish to treat her gently,” he said gruffly. “I see her strength, but I also see her fragility.”
“I understand.”
He said nothing more, and several minutes passed in a silence that she dared not interrupt. This was the duke’s space and he had welcomed her here. If he had no wish to speak, she would be respectful of that silence. Jules looked around, realizing how incredibly enchanting the forest was, and the majestic beauty of the cottage built amongst the twisting limbs of the large trees was indeed a sight to behold. She wanted to climb the trunks of the tree and explore the world he had created up there.
The fire crackled, the wonderful roasting fragrance of the bird rose on the air, and her stomach chose that moment to alarmingly rumble. Jules grinned sheepishly when the duke glanced pointedly at her belly. “I walked away from dinner to chase you, Your Grace. I am famished and your bird smells divine.”
“Worry not, Southby, I shall share my pheasant with you.”
“My stomach is already deeply appreciative of your kindness.”
There went that smile at his mouth again, setting off those odd sparks low inside her belly. “Do I amuse you, Your Grace?”
“You…interest me, Southby.”
“So you have mentioned, Your Grace. Am I to gather that is a remarkable thing?”
The fire popped and sparked as fat drippings landed on the wood.
“Little interests me—that you do is a curiosity.”
I assure you it is entirely mutual, she silently replied.
Jules waited for him to ask her probing questions about her disguise and was rather astonished when he remained silent, turning the stick to ensure their fare was evenly cooked. It was his restraint and patience that was interesting. She couldn’t imagine anyone else suspecting her secret and being this restrained. Though for the duke he would accept it as an irrefutable fact given his superior senses.
“Is there any dish prepared by the cook you enjoy?” she asked, recalling how little he had eaten each night at the dining table.
“The duchess swears as a lad my favorite was braised pork belly in sweet sauce. I find it…revolting.”
A savory dish that had been a part of their dinner course since Jules had been in residence. No doubt the duchess added it to the menu so that he might have some comfort in the familiar.
“You should let her know you no longer have a taste for pork or sweet sauces.”
Amusement sprang to the duke’s eyes and his beautiful smile appeared. “When I did the very next day, a larger haunch was presented on the center piece, with three different complementary sauces.”
