His lips curved up. “Asparagus. Parsnips. Ginger. All believed to be beneficial to the male circulatory system, as it were.”
Tess frowned. “What do you mean?”
“They’re all aphrodisiacs,” he chuckled. “I’m surprised they haven’t served us oysters, too. And strawberries.”
Tess gasped. “You’re right! Oh, the cheeky bunch!”
She put her hands up to cool her heating cheeks, as he snorted at her mortification.
“It’s a sign that they care for you.” He grinned, apparently unoffended by their well-intentioned meddling. “And they clearly don’t dislike me, either, which is a relief. They’d probably be serving me something lacedwith laudanum or some terrible laxative if they wanted me to leave you alone on your wedding night.”
Tess flushed even more as she remembered serving poor Case his laudanum-laced brandy. She’d stooped to such underhand tactics herself.
The staff’s attitude toward her had certainly changed since herfirstwedding night. Then, they’d all thought she was a fortune-hunting harlot, and it had taken the past eighteen months to prove to them that she was more than just another pretty, empty-headed aristocrat intent on her own enrichment. It was rather nice to know that she was so appreciated.
Unfortunately, the man sitting opposite her still thought of her as a seasoned seducer, but she longed to change his mind, too.
She’d eaten so little that morning that hunger overrode her nerves. Thornton made easy conversation about the business that had kept him busy in London that week—problems with a supplier, and a near-miss with a brewery cart that had almost knocked him down—and Tess began to relax.
When the main course was removed, he leaned forward and inspected the thinly sliced truffles that curled like dark wood shavings on top of the cheese.
“I’ve never actually tasted a truffle, you know.”
It was Tess’s turn to raise her brows. “You haven’t? They’re quite an acquired taste. Some people love them, while others can’t stand them. These ones are harvested right here, on the estate.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The locals used specially trained dogs to find truffles here for generations, but the old duke refused them access to the grounds a decade ago. He claimed they’ddisturb the game birds he liked to shoot. After speaking to some of the tenants, I agreed to open up the woods again, and now the estate gets fifty percent of the profits from every truffle that’s found. It’s a nice source of income for everyone involved.”
“That’s very enterprising.”
Tess felt a warm glow of satisfaction at gaining his approval. He hadn’t been horrified by the thought of a woman taking an active interest in the running of the estate, which was a good sign that he might be equally accepting of her work for King & Co., but it was too soon to introduce that subject just yet.
“If you like, we can go truffle hunting sometime this week,” she offered tentatively. “It’s a little late in the season, but we might still be lucky.”
His eyes glowed as he studied her. “I’d like that very much.”
She speared a small piece of truffle with her fork. She’d grown to like the musky, pungent flavor. The smell reminded her of tramping through damp autumn leaves with Ellie and Daisy, or the scent of bonfires.
Or pressing her nose to the fabric of Thornton’s jacket and inhaling his cologne.
Her stomach tightened at the memory.
When he took a piece, along with some cheese, she watched for his reaction. “They don’t actually taste that strong, it’s more the scent that people enjoy.”
He took a tentative bite. “Hmm. It’s savory, almost meaty. It pairs well with the cheese. It’s a fungus, is it not? Like a mushroom?”
“Yes. They grow as lumps on the roots of other trees.”
Tess finished her wine. Thornton drained his own glass, laid his napkin on the table, and rose. Her pulse flutteredas he came around the table and took her hand in his to help her rise. The touch of his skin made her jump.
“It’s been a long day, and I’m sure you’re ready to retire.”
He kept hold of her hand as they ascended the wide stairs, and her skittishness increased with every step. When they reached the door to her chamber, she forced herself to speak.
“Will you be coming to my room later?”
His mouth curved up as he released her hand. “Not that much later. I think we’ve had enough anticipating, don’t you?”
