Page 53 of The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter
Impatient to see her again, Alexander strode into the kitchen once Greaves had informed him she had settled in. He watched her standing amid the kitchen girls, giving them a speech meant to encourage them for the battle ahead.
He stifled a smile.
She was wearing a chef’s apron that must have belonged to Mrs. Stringer since it appeared to be far too big for her. But she’d managed to wrap it securely about her body as well as circle the apron ties twice around her waist. She also wore a mobcap that covered her beautiful curls and made her spectacular eyes look big and bright as sparkling moons.
“Good morning, Miss Ruskin. Are you ready for my guests? Do you have all the supplies you need?”
“Yes, my lord,” she said, bobbing a curtsey. “I have come by here every day this past week to review all details with Mrs. Stringer before she departed for her sister’s home. Your housekeeper, Mrs. Lester, has also been immensely helpful. As has Mr. Wilson, your estate manager. I am lacking nothing on my list.”
“Glad to hear it.”
She cast him a pert smile. “Are you prepared, my lord?”
He grinned. “To sample your meals? I have been dreaming of nothing else all week long. What are you serving tonight?”
“That will remain my secret, but I know you will like it.”
“I have no doubt.” He then took her aside a moment. “Viola, I want to introduce you to my family as soon as possible. I may not have time for it once all the guests arrive and this weekend party is underway. Will you have time for us today? Just tell me honestly. I want to accommodate your schedule, for everyone will hang me if I interfere with your food preparation. Tell me, what is convenient for you?”
“I think we ought to wait a few days before introductions are made. Let them sample my food first. Breakfast, luncheon, and supper. This way they will have a sense of my cooking. But I think the best time for such a meeting is right after breakfast. However, not much beyond it because then I must start on the rest of the daily meal preparations. You have a good staff, but they are not used to my recipes yet, so I must keep a close watch on how they mix the ingredients.”
She thought he meant to introduce her as his cook.
Nothing was further from his thoughts.
Well, he was not yet certain what he meant for her to be. “It is only a four day house party, this day counting as day one. Let’s plan on introductions tomorrow after breakfast. I’ll leave you to it, Viola.”
“Good luck to you, my lord.”
He arched an eyebrow. “With my wife hunt? Thank you. I’m sure I will need it.”
She laughed softly. “You’ll do just fine.”
“That remains to be seen. By the way, sneak a peek at the three diamonds once they arrive. Try to do this for me. I’ll be curious to know your opinion.”
Her eyes shone with renewed sparkle as she cast him an indulgent smile. “Ooh, spying. So you still view them as the enemy?”
“No…I…” He groaned. “Blast it, Viola. My family is already giving me a hard time about this. I simply wish to be careful, that is all.”
“I know. I should not be teasing you. Forgive me? I’ll pop my head out of the kitchen whenever I have the chance.”
He dared not tarry any longer, so he left the kitchen and marched to the front door in time to welcome the first of his guests to arrive.
“Gabriel!” He rushed down the steps to greet his brother. “So glad you could make it. I’m in serious need of an ally.”
Gabriel laughed. “Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for the world. My big brother on the marriage hunt and certain to make an utter mess of it, if our father is to be believed. He hasn’t stopped complaining about you. Stubborn. Heedless. Going after the wrong women. That’s what he used to say about me before Daisy came along and reformed my rakehell ways.”
“You were always the best little brother a man could have. Look at you now, a pillar of society and utterly besotted with your wife.”
Gabriel grinned. “Daisy is quite splendid, isn’t she? I only hope these diamonds you’ve chosen to invite have one-tenth her charm.”
“Did you bring the children?”
“No, we left them in the care of their maternal grandparents,” he said, referring to Daisy’s parents, John and Sophie Farthingale. “We thought it more important to be free to concentrate on you. They’ll have a smashing time. I can assure you, no shortage of Farthingales to dote on them. Graelem and Laurel are doing the same with their children.”
The two of them now turned to the women in the carriage, Daisy and their grandmother, Lady Eloise Dayne. While Gabriel assisted his wife, Alexander helped his grandmother climb down. He tossed aside formality and gave her a big hug. “I’m glad you are here, Grandmama.”
“Wouldn’t miss it, dear boy.” She patted his cheek. “Someone needs to keep a tight rein on your father. He may be the Earl of Trent, but I am still his mother and not above giving him a good spanking.”
