Page 94 of Romancing Daphne

Boyce was the duke’s surname, though few people thought of him by anything other than his very intimidating title.

“So you have chosen this undertaking to fill your afternoon instead?”James stepped farther inside.“Does Falstone House not have enough stafffor this?”

“I enjoy working with the herbs,” she said. “I think Adam knows hewould have to sleep with one eye open if he ever took this task away fromme.”

James smiled a bit at the absurdity of that threat. Daphne was a gentle soul; he knew that without a doubt.“You not only know how to use and grow the herbs but how to preserve them as well?”

She tied off the twine wrapped securely around a bundle of bright-green herbs and snipped the end.“The more I know about the plants I use, the better able I am to use them most efficaciously.”

“Can I assist you at all? I haven’t your knowledge, but I am very good at following directions.” He winced, knowing his recent history reflectedunflatteringly on his tendency to do what he was told. Daphne didn’t seemto take his remark badly.

“How are you at hanging things on high hooks?” She glanced up at the myriad hooks adorning the ceiling.“I always have to use a step stool.”

James smiled.“I received very high marks in herb hanging at Harrow.”

“Top of your class, were you?” He heard a smile in her words, though one had not appeared on her face.

“No one could compete with me,” he said. “Fortunately for you, my skills are entirely at your disposal just now.”

She held her bundle out to him.“The hook just behind you, near the other bundles like this.”

He pointed to the one he thought she meant.

Daphne nodded.

“What plant is this?” he asked as he hung it on its hook.

“Marjoram.”

“And what is it used for?” By the time he turned back from his task, she had already begun tying another bundle.

“It is a soothing herb, used to treat pain and anxiety and internal discomfort.” She spoke as she selected green-leafed herbs from a basket.

James stepped up to the table where she worked.“That plant appears to be a different one.”

She discarded a stem she apparently found lacking.“This is sage.”

He could see Daphne had a great deal of experience with preparing herbs for drying. She worked without the slightest hesitation, creating perfect bundles with no visible effort.

“What is sage used for?” he asked both out of a desire to keep her talking and an unexpected curiosity.

She looked up from her neat pile of leaves.“Don’t you know anything, Lord Tilburn?” Her shock was too theatrical to be real.“Sage”—she held asprig of sage up, pointing it directly at him—“is used to ward off evil spirits.”

He smiled at that.“I’m very pleased to know that. I have had the most unimaginably bad luck with evil spirits of late.”

A smile touched her eyes. With a little more teasing, might her dimple make an appearance as well?

“The throat tonics I recommended for your mother had sage as one of their primary ingredients.”

“Ah.” James watched her wind her bundle with twine.“Am I to hang that one alongside the marjoram?”

She shook her head.“I mean to give sage its own little corner. The other herbs are afraid of it, you see.”

James nodded soberly.“Very sage of you.”

She groaned.“Horrible, Lord Tilburn. Horrible.”

He hung his head.“My lowest marks were in puns.”

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