Hopefully, that mission will shed light on what has become of Emily and how long I may continue to enjoy Gemma’s company. How selfish I am that the greatest concern I have is whether I will have a day or two more to spend in the company of a beautiful woman.
“Will there be anything else, Your Grace?” Marshall asked after a moment or two of silence.
Nathan realized that his mind had wandered, with the butler sitting in silence, watching, and waiting. Nathan cleared his throat. Two issues were dealt with. The most thorny problems still remained but he did not know what he could do about it until the others became more fully realized.
One battle at a time. I shall resolve to enjoy dinner in the company of Gemma and face tomorrow when it comes.
“No, that will be all,” Nathan said.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Gemma took one last look at herself in the dress mirror. She had never felt so beautiful. In fact, she had never felttrulybeautiful. The dress, though intended for another, suited her perfectly. So she thought, and her new confidante agreed. Her thoughts went to Nathan and she experienced a tinge of regret that he would never see her in it. Would never see her at all, in fact.
But that is the wrong way to look at it. He will never see me with his eyes, the way I see. But, through touch and smell and…taste…he has a complete picture of me in a way another man would not.
The idea of Nathan tasting her was one that sent a shiver of pleasure through her. She wished that this was more than an illusion. More than a fleeting dream. When Emily Carlisle arrived, the dream would be over. To spare Nathan the shame of admitting he had allowed Gemma to lie about her identity, she must leave before Emily arrived. That stranger's impending presence was a looming storm cloud, a promise of hardship to come. In all likelihood, this would be her final evening with Nathan.
I want to make it last. I want to savor every moment and every sense. Life will never be this blissful for me again.
Deciding that she was ready, she left her rooms and began to make her way through the castle towards the small, private dining room that Nathan maintained for himself. It was a room she had not been to but a servant had been instructed to guide her. That man stood outside her door and, without a word, led her through the confusing array of hallways and passages. Arriving at a modest door at the end of a long hallway, he tapped the door. At a sound from within, he opened the door and ushered Gemma inside. The interior was lit by candles placed before mirrors, and polished bronze plates. It resulted in a room that seemed lit by a golden light, a warm glow. The room had French doors at one end which opened onto a balcony.
A fire danced merrily in the hearth and gave the room a pleasant warmth that went perfectly with the golden glow. A table, covered in a pristine white cloth, stood in the middle of the room. Nathan stood at one end. He wore a coat and waistcoat of green over breeches of cream and shoes of polished leather. His cravat was the same shade of green as the waistcoat and pinned with an emerald. Gemma stepped into the room with a gasp of delight.
“Do you approve?” Nathan asked.
“I do,” Gemma replied. “It is beautiful. What a wonderful setting. Surely, dinner with you cannot always be this special.”
A servant stepped forward to pull out a chair from the table and she sat. Nathan sat opposite.
“Why not? Dinner should be an occasion. Something to dress up for. A time for conversation and good food. Companionship and relaxation. Do you not think?”
“I wish I could share your sentiments,” Gemma said sincerely.
“How are you getting on with the new lady's maid?” Nathan asked, putting his hand over the top of a glass as a servant raised a decanter to pour.
“She is wonderful. I’ve never had a maid to care just for me before. We have become firm friends, I think,” Gemma said.
She would not give up Charlotte’s secret, not even to Nathan. She would do whatever she could to make sure Charlotte’s position was secure.
“I’m glad,” Nathan replied. “That will be all. We can serve ourselves, I should think.
Gemma watched the two servants who had been present in the room bow and take their leave. She noticed a number of cloches on a sideboard as well as plates kept warm above small, blue-flamed candles.
“Shall I?” she asked.
“Please do,” Nathan replied.
He listed what she would find and what he recommended. Then he asked her to supply him with a plate when she had her own. Gemma handed him a plate of food, then went back to supply herself. Nathan noticed and his mouth tightened momentarily. It made Gemma wonder what his limits were and when she could choose to disobey his instructions rather than treat them as orders.
He is probably a man who expects obedience from everyone. Who is there that does not come under the orders of a Duke?
“This food all sounds French, from the names you gave the dishes,” Gemma said, in surprise.
“Indeed. I was in France for some time after Napoleon’s first defeat and exile to Elba. Their cuisine is excellent and I am happy to serve it at Hutton. I have developed quite a taste for it,” Nathan replied.
Gemma took her seat with her own food and took a bite. The flavors made her eyes open wide and she had to restrain herself from eating it too quickly.
“It’s wonderful,” she said.
