“All right. Blast it, Wilson. I suppose it is the lesser of two evils. She will be hurt either way.”
“No, she will feel completely comfortable in the kitchen and out of sight of your father. You are the one who is dragging her into your Upper Crust world, expecting everyone to accept her as though she has always belonged. But she is quite clear-eyed and sensible. She knows her place exactly.”
Alexander wanted to punch a wall with his fist in frustration.
Everyone, even Viola herself regarded her status as beneath him. But she wasn’t. This girl was more than worthy to stand by his side.
He returned to the vicarage kitchen in time to see Viola lift the large frying pan and carry it to the sink. “What are you doing? That is too heavy for you.”
“I’m going to clean it.”
He sighed. “You haven’t the muscle for it. That pan is almost as big as you. I’ll do it.”
She did not look pleased as she handed it over to him. “Mrs. Bligh usually takes care of cleaning up, but I’ve washed that pan many times before.”
“And you may do it again, but not while I am around.”
“My lord, may I ask you a question?”
The pies were still baking and the aroma was making him salivate. Why was everyone making a fuss over his simply wanting to help out? Being a viscount did not make him delicate and needing to be pampered. In truth, he hated people bowing and scraping to him or fawning over him as though he were a gift to the world. “Yes, Viola. You may.”
She stood beside him, looking up at him as though trying to figure out the mysteries of the universe…or perhaps just trying to figure out what was inside his head.
“My lord, why are you here? Why are you cooking beside me and cleaning up after me? What exactly is going on between us?”
CHAPTER 6
“FRIENDSHIP, THAT ISall there is between us, Viola.” Alexander knew it was far from the truth, but what else could he say at the moment? “Perhaps if you were aged and wrinkled no one would be paying any attention to us at all. But good sense and an amiable attitude come wrapped in packages of all shapes and sizes, some of them quite appealing. If you were not pretty, no one would think twice about us.”
She nodded and then turned away to pull the pies out of the oven. “These ought to be ready now.”
“They look amazing.” He inhaled and his senses were immediately surrounded by pleasant scents wafting in the air. Hot pie crust. Game bird. Potatoes and onions. An exotic spice he could not place. “When do we eat?”
She laughed. “As soon as I set the table.”
“I’ll help.” He followed her into the dining room, which was small by Ardley Hall standards, but quite adequate. The furniture was solidly built and of a surprisingly fine mahogany wood. The table, chairs, and buffet were all of good quality. Nothing to match his dining room, of course. Ardley Hall was the finest home in these parts and few could match its elegance.
Viola excused herself to wake her father.
She returned a few moments later, alone and wringing her hands. “With your permission, my lord…”
“What is it, Viola?”
“My father does not feel up to coming down to supper. Will you be offended if Mrs. Bligh serves him in his bedchamber?”
“Not at all. Is he all right? Should I fetch Dr. Walcott?”
“No, it isn’t necessary.” She cast him a feeble smile that only made her distress more obvious. “My father is feeling exhausted, as he often does these days. There is nothing any of us can do about it. Believe me, I would already be running to Dr. Walcott’s home to fetch him if there was any chance it would help. We’ve been through this quite often lately.”
Alexander raked a hand through his hair. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
She gave a mirthless laugh. “How are you at miraculous healing?”
He winced. “I’m afraid I’m not very good at that.”
“Nor am I.”
He could not bear to see Viola so forlorn. “Shall I go? You do not appear to be in any humor to entertain me. I would only be in the way.”
