Papa’s eyebrows crinkled quizzically. “ShowArchiethe drawer you’re repairing.” He pointed toward the floor-to-ceiling wall of drawers of various sizes housing all manner of powders, herbs, serums, syrups, and tinctures.
Archie flashed Valentina a grin as he passed, leaving her with Papa. But before Papa could question her about the friendly stranger, a voice claimed her attention. “Valentina,mia cara.”
Mama stood in the doorway that led to the kitchen at the back of the shop, a question in her serious brown eyes.
“Mama,” said Valentina, crossing the distance between them, submitting to a lengthy hug and a kiss on each cheek.
After Mama had properly assessed Valentina for wellness, and found her in good health, she glanced pointedly in Archie’s direction, then said, “Come with me.”
Valentina followed Mama through the scrumptious-smelling kitchen warm with baking bread to the small back garden, where she’d been pruning her herb garden. Mama handed Valentina a basket for collecting clippings, lowered to her knees, and returned to her task. Scents of basil, rosemary, thyme, and sage swirled through the mid-morning air. Valentina’s stomach rumbled in anticipation of the meal Mama would prepare with these herbs.
“Who is that man?” asked Mama. She wasn’t one to mince words.
But…how to explain Archie?
Simply and honestly. Mama would see through anything else.
“He’s the man who will see our family’s savings returned.”
Mama’s direct gaze cut sideways to meet Valentina’s. “You truly believe this?”
Valentina’s answer was instantaneous. “Yes.”
Mama’s eyebrows lifted. She only ever believed a promise after it had become tangible substance that she could hold in her hands.
“Without any doubt,” continued Valentina. She believed Archie capable of anything he set his mind to.
“He’s a lord?” Mama almost spat the question.
“Yes.” Valentina had known this could be a stumbling block.
Mama’s gaze fixed on a point over Valentina’s shoulder. She turned and saw Archie and Papa standing in the kitchen,talking. Nay, not merely talking. The two were having what appeared to be a conversation of some intensity. Then Archie held out a white square of paper. A calling card.
Valentina felt her eyebrows draw together. What was Archie about?
“You’re certain about this man?” asked Mama. “You trust him?”
Valentina nodded, distracted.
Mama took her hand. “And I trust you, Valentina. I trust your heart.” She came to her feet and dusted off her skirts. “Now, let us cook.”
Chapter Twelve
Archie wasn’t sure he’d eaten so much food in a single sitting in all his life—one steady course after another—antipasti, followed by primi pasti, followed by secondi, followed by formaggi, followed by dolci—with Mrs. Hart saying when she’d noticed his gustatory gusto flagging, “L’appetito vien mangiando.”
The appetite comes while you are eating.
He only just didn’t rub his stomach as he sat across from Valentina, the carriage rattling down country lanes just outside London. A man must maintain his mystique.
For her part, she’d been gazing out the window these last ten minutes, watching the countryside roll by,thinking. He didn’t mind her thinking, but only if she shared those thoughts with him.
Her eyes shifted and met his. She’d caught him squarely in the act of staring. He didn’t mind. She must have an inkling of her effect on him by now, what with his ravishment of her last night.
“My family likes you,” she said.
“I rather like them, too,” he said. And it was the truth. A big, boisterous family, Valentina’s father and brothers had readily welcomed him into their midst as he’d helped with whatever task they found for him. Her mother was a tougher prospect. But he might have won her over by clearing every plate she set in front of him.
“You only say that because of Mama’s food.”
