AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Including the time I eat breakfast?”
“London is a small town if you want it to be and one can know anything they wish in a very short time.”
"Well, I am intrigued. And why did you choose to defy convention and call upon me at breakfast time?” Edwina noticed his plate was filling up quickly and could not hold back her smile. He appeared to like food and it made her feel more at ease around him because of her own love of food and his informality.
"You see," he began but paused to eat a bite of buttered brioche and wash it down with some tea. Edwina sipped her chocolate as she waited. "I prefer to visit people at mealtimes."
"Why, pray tell?" she asked.
"To partake, of course," he replied. "But that is not the main reason. There is a lot you can learn about a person from their eating habits. You will be surprised at how much one can learn about people from the food they serve and how they eat.”
“What if they do not reveal themselves?” she asked, more curious about him now than she had earlier been.
“They usually do. I have already learned something about you this morning. You like food almost as much as I do.” He glanced at her filled plate. “And you are distracted.” His gaze darkened with that statement and his eyes dropped to her lips, lingering there for a moment before he added in a lower tone, “So am I. Edwina, I want you to know that I am Albert Winfield, Duke of Rowan. I don’t believe we were properly introduced last night.”
If Edwina had a fan, she would vigorously try to cool her burning cheeks. Wishing she had something cold in front of her, she reached for her chocolate and concealed her face behind the cup. "Why are you here, Your Grace?" she asked a moment later after composing herself.
"Your Grace?" His brows rose. He leaned closer and dropped his voice so only she could hear him. "I do not recall you calling me that when I had you against the bookshelves last night."
"Rowan!" she cried.
“Rowan?” He laughed. “You never cease to surprise me. “I insist you call me Albert. I think we are friends already.” He winked before raising a forkful of eggs to his mouth.
Edwina had only one friend and the thought of having another pleased her. But she did not think they could be friends unless they married. What they had shared in that library would always get in the way of a platonic friendship. "You did not tell me you were a Duke last night and so I shall call you Rowan to peeve you."
“I wonder how many layers you are composed of, for every time I think you have surprised me, you do something else that is even more surprising.”
“You will have to find out,” she smiled slyly. “You still have not answered my question.”
"I came to apologize properly." His mien turned serious. “I also wish to talk about last night." Edwina drew a breath, suddenly feeling unsettled. He could change his mind about marrying her and ask her to cry off. She did not think he would do it but the possibility existed. She was also filled with guilt for tricking him and she ought to be the one apologizing.
"Please know that I am not in the habit of taking advantage of debutantes.”
"Debutantes?" she frowned.
"As much as I did not appreciate your brother's treatment of you, as your elder and guardian, I shall have to accord him some respect and ask for his permission."
"I hardly think two-and-twenty is considered the ideal debut age. I am quite on the path to spinsterhood." Her tone was light but her words were serious. “Why would you think my brother is older than me?”
Albert blinked slowly. "I am three years older than my brother,” she added when he did not say anything.
"Well, you lookveryyoung. You cannot blame me for assuming you are a debutante." He would not be the first to think so. When she had made her royal curtsy, some of the debutantes had called her ‘babe face’. It had never bothered her. She had more important things to dwell on than a bunch of silly girls.
"I shall take that as a compliment,” she said with a smile.
"Well, I did not mean it as that exactly but you may take it as you wish." His face gained a little color and this amused her.
"You are not accustomed to giving compliments, are you?"
"I am more accustomed to receiving them," he grinned. It only lasted a second before he grew serious again. "I meant what I said and our betrothal stands."
"Your Grace—"
"Albert. If we are to be engaged, I must insist that you call me Albert. Al if Albert is a mouthful." He smiled again and she wondered how he could move from one demeanor to another. It appeared to come to him as easily as breathing.
"Rowan will do nicely,” she teased.
“I am going to make you call me Albert sooner or later. Mark my words.”
