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“So,” Rosaline continued, enjoying the look of consternation on the Duke’s face, “tell me why you don’t like cake. Who doesn’t like cake?”
The muscle jumped in his jaw again, drawing Rosaline’s attention to just how sharp and well-defined his jaw was. She pointedly pushed that thought away and concentrated on smiling blandly.
“Idon’t like sweet things, I’m afraid. I prefer savory food.”
“Isee.” Rosaline picked at her teeth with the tip of one nail. She was fairly sure that if her mother could see her doing such a thing, she would faint dead away on the spot. The Duke watched the movement with mingled horror and curiosity. To complete the scene, Rosaline sucked her teeth loudly. Her little brother had taken to doing that lately, and the Baroness often scolded him for it.
Sure that her point had been made, Rosaline lounged back in her seat, propping up one elbow on the back of her chair. There was no denying that it was more comfortable than sitting bolt upright like ladies were supposed to do.
The proprietor appeared with a tray of tea and coffee, and sucked in a sharp, disapproving breath at Rosaline’s attitude. Rosaline grinned at her.
The woman set down a large pot of tea in front of Rosaline, and a small and delicate pot of coffee in front of the Duke. Her lips were pressed into a thin, disapproving line. That showed that Rosaline was acting properly terrible.
However, it didn’t seem to be working on the Duke. Or perhaps it was, and he was too well-bred to show his disgust.
He poured himself a small cup of coffee and took a sip.
“Imust say, Miss Atwood, it’s a real treat to sit down with a lady who is not afraid of me.”
Rosaline choked on her tea. He sounded almost impressed. That was no good, no good at all.
“Afraid of you? Oh, I doubt that, Your Grace. Don’t you think perhaps they simply don’t like you?”
Oh, no. Now the Duke was definitely suppressing a smile. He wasamused.
“No, Miss Atwood, I had no considered that.”
“Well, perhaps you should.”
Desperate times called for desperate measures, after all. Rosaline set her teacup down on the table, and with one smooth and assured movement, tipped the cup over onto its side. Hot tea flooded the table, most of it soaking into the Duke’s sleeve.
He cursed, shaking his arm.
“Oh dear, I am sorry.” Rosaline said, carefully keeping her voice level and completely unconcerned. She poured herself another cup of tea, letting the Duke mop at the mess with a napkin.
He didn’t have to mop for very long. The proprietor appeared, fussing and clucking in a panic. She cleaned up the spilled tea, shooting at pointed glare at Rosaline, and insisted on moving them to another table.
Rosaline tried a different tack. Awkward silence. She stared into space, not making any move to continue the conversation.
Unfortunately, neither did the Duke. Rosaline’s food arrived, and then she could concentrate on digging into her food.
She couldn’t quite bring herself to chew with her mouth open, but she did eat heartily and without restrain. After months of tripe, cabbage, and overboiled potatoes, the delicacies of Dainty’s Tea Shop were truly delicious. Rosaline abandoned her training on how to eat like a lady. She took large mouthfuls and didn’t worry about being seen to chew.
The Duke gradually worked his way through the whole pot of coffee, silently watching Rosaline eat. She only saw him blink once, and that was when she gave the second slice of cake and half of her toasted sandwich to Maria. He sat back in his seat, completely relaxed, his face impassive. Rosaline assumed that he was properly disgusted, but really, it wasimpossibleto work out what that man was thinking.
“Well, that was delicious.” Rosaline said, pushing away the final plate and delicately dabbing at her mouth with a napkin. “This has been… well, I won’t say anenjoyableoccasion, but certainly a memorable one.”
The Duke gracefully inclined his head. “I appreciate your honesty.”
“And now I think it is time for us to part ways.” Rosaline went to get up, expecting the Duke to leap up in relief, and possibly try to get out of paying the bill. She wouldn’t blame him. Her order had cost at least four times as much as his modest coffee.
“Certainly. Do you have any suggestions for our next meeting?”
Rosaline froze, half risen from her seat. “Our… ournextmeeting?” She forced herself to meet the Duke’s eyes. He wasn’t smiling, exactly, but he certainly wasn’t scowling anymore.
“Yes. I would like to see you again, Miss Atwood. You clearly have no interest in me or my opinion, and that frankly intrigues me. You aren’t afraid of me, and you are the most genuine and honest young woman I’ve met in a long time. Besides you’re entertaining.”
Rosaline glanced briefly at Maria. Maria’s eyes were wide. This wasnotgoing well.
