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“I was not under the impression that we were required to eat in tandem.”
“But what am I supposed to do?” she asked in a fury. “I would have thought that you would eat with me. Onour wedding night.”
He cast her a flat stare. “Minerva,” he said. “Don’t tell me you were hoping for a more traditional wedding night.”
Her mouth dropped open, then she shut it again. “Of course not. We mustn’t consummate. Remember? Your Catholicism.”
He huffed a laugh. “Thank you, for your dedicated concern to my Catholicism, but I promise you I have not forgotten it.”
“Well.”
“I wear it like a hair shirt every day.”
“Fine,” she said, her eyes green like beetles, and just as mean.
“Let’s find you some food,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong end of you when you’re hungry.”
She followed him into the kitchen, and he opened up the fridge. He already knew that there was an elaborate charcuterie board in there, and some meals to be reheated. That was one of the issues with having staff off-site.
He did know how to cook for himself, but his skills were a bit crude, owing to the time in his life when he had to provide for himself.
Spaghetti with tomato sauce was all well and good for an eighteen-year-old going to university, but he had moved past that.
“You can start with cheese,” he said, taking the platter and setting it out on the white marble countertop.
Minerva, clutching Isabella to her chest like she was a tiny shield, went over to the board and began picking at the offerings. She picked up a date, bit into it and closed her eyes, an obscene moan escaping her lips.
He gritted his teeth and turned away from that. “Fish or steak?”
“Steak,” Minerva said. “Always steak. I haven’t the use for fish.”
“Well. I suppose that means you’ll be consuming all the steak during our stay.”
“I could give you a bite,” she said.
“Oh, don’t flatter me by offering me your castoffs, Minerva.”
He took one of the meals out and began to heat the steak and vegetables in a pan for her.
She sat there, holding the baby with one arm and eating cheese with another.
“This really is very nice,” she said.
“Oh, now your anger has subsided?”
“I don’t know very many people who can stay angry while eating cheese,” she said.
“You seem like someone who could,” he said.
“I find that very flattering.”
He had the distinct impression that she meant it.
He finished heating the food and set it out in front of her. He noted she was very comfortable being served.
She looked around. “Can you hold her?”
Several thoughts went through his mind all at once, careening around like a runaway train.
