Page 16 of The Banker's Bride

“No one, but no one, enters the chef’s kitchen but the sous chef and the chef’s helpers.”

Dallas smiled to himself as he left the room. “Well then, I guess I’ll wait in the dining room.” After arriving in Whiskey River, Jacques had a hard time adjusting at first. But now, Dallas suspected that Whiskey River had grown on him, too, just like it does everyone. Dallas sat at his place at the table, but Jacques was hot on his heels.

Jacques looked around. “And where is Mrs. Daly this morning?”

Dallas suppressed a smile when he heard a bit of yelling coming from their bedroom. “She’s upstairs, attending to my wife.”

Jacques rolled his eyes as he set a cup down in front of Dallas and poured the coffee. “I think your wife may need a private maid. Mrs. Daly usually helps me.”

Dallas laughed, shaking his head. “I think she’s having a hard enough time letting Mrs. Daly help her, let alone a personal maid. But, we’ll see.”

Jacques nodded slightly. “So, Mr. King, what would you like this morning?”

One corner of his lips curled into a smile. “Surprise me.”

A slow smile spread across Jacques’s face. “Well! This is a change!”

“What can I say? My new wife is rubbing off on me.”

Jacques leaned over conspiratorially. “I’m glad to see that you’re in a good mood this morning. I’ll have your breakfast ready shortly.” He walked away and then yelled in his heavy French accent. “And itwillbe a surprise!”

Dallas chuckled, guessing that this was the happiest that Jacques had been in a while, too. Although he felt a bit bad about not taking Megan on a honeymoon right away, he didn’t want to wait to marry her. After what had happened with Ella, he wasn’t taking any chances this time.

A few minutes later, Megan arrived in the dining room, followed by Mrs. Daly. Megan was frowning.

Mrs. Daly mouthed over her head, “We have to talk.” Then she pointed at Megan.

“Thank ye, Mrs. Daly,” Megan said curtly. “That will be all.” Then she turned to face her, her hands on her hips. “And I saw ye out of the corner of me eye! If ye need to say something ‘bout me, please tell me directly.”

Mrs. Daly stared at her for a long moment and then “hmphed” and walked out.

“I’ll talk to her.” Dallas stirred his coffee, waiting for Megan to calm down. “Are you hungry?”

Jacques must have heard her because he barged into the room carrying a pot of coffee and a fresh cup. “Well, well! ‘Tis certainly a pleasure to meet you, madame! I do hope you like coffee?”

Jacques set the coffee cup on the table in front of her, but Megan stopped him. “Thank you, but I prefer hot tea instead. I hope it’s no trouble.”

Jacques smiled graciously. “It’s no trouble at all! I shall return momentarily.” He refilled Dallas’s cup, and then walked out of the room.

Megan took the napkin off the table from beside her plate, shook it out, and laid it across her lap. “I’m so sorry about Mrs. Daly, but I’m not used to people waiting on me or bossing me around.”

“No, no.” Dallas reached across the table and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “You’re the lady of the house now. But be patient with her. It may take her a while to get used to there being another lady here now. When Mrs. Daly gets something in her head, it’s hard for her to change her ways.”

Just then, Jacques barged in through the swinging door from the kitchen. “Here is your tea, madame.” He held the lid of the pretty porcelain tea pot and carefully filled her cup. Then, he set the teapot on the table on a beautifully crocheted doily. No doubt, the handiwork of Mrs. Daly. “I’ll be right back with your breakfast.”

Megan pushed her chair back and was about to stand. “Here, let me help ye—”

“Oh, no!” Jacques held out his hand, stopping her in mid-crouch, preparing to stand. He must have scared her half todeath because she froze. “I and I alone am the only one to cook in my kitchen!” Megan’s eyes opened wide as Dallas bit his lower lip, suppressing a smile. Eyeing her reaction, Jacques lowered his voice. “I shall return momentarily with your breakfast.”

Megan sat down, her eyes darted to Dallas. “Really?”

He chuckled at her shocked expression. “Yes, I’m afraid so.”

“Well, at least it gives us a moment to get to know one another better.” She bit her lower lip, probably remembering what they had been doing the night before.

It seemed strange to need to “get to know” a woman whom he had been intimate with. But many people these days married without getting to know each other first. They could always do that after they were married.

“You look nice today.” He smiled as he took another sip of his coffee.

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