Anastasia smiled. “I have been told so. Your skill is remarkable and truly exquisite,” she finished as though he had just revealed fluency in ten languages.
Amelia smiled, very amused as Sebastian watched with quiet interest.
“So, are all your talents very precious? Or is ham an exclusive specialty?”
Cassian grinned, quick as a fox. “I should be delighted to demonstrate the rest, Miss Dawson, if you grant me the opportunity.”
Anastasia laughed, delighted at how swiftly he had taken the bait. Benedict’s fork scraped violently against his plate, clearly annoyed by what was happening. It felt exhilarating to see how angry he was and how helpless. And Anastasia, wicked creature that she was, found herself wanting to push him harder.
“Miss Dawson, be wary,” Sebastian murmured dryly as he inspected the contents of his teacup. “I do believe Cassian intends to lure you into the kitchen through promises of such a demonstration. To be fair, it can be a surprising affair. You would think he would bore you with his flirtations, but he would actually do something even duller, such as lecturing you aboutgame hens.”
“Sebastian, do not spoil the fun just because you are already married,” the dowager chastised, even though she was evidently pleased. “Let the unmarried ones have their flirtations. I am sure it would be far more entertaining than Benedict’s estate budgets.”
Then, she leaned in toward Anastasia, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “Dearest, I think the Duke needs the excitement and irritation, whatever he may call it.”
Benedict squeezed his eyes shut and set down his fork with an audible clink, which was absolutely against the rules. His rules. His eyes seemed bent on sticking their gaze on his plate, but he was well aware of everything that was going on.
“My composure is perfectly intact, as usual. I hate to disappoint everyone. I am merely amazed at how ham carving has captivated most of the household,” he said grimly.
“Most, not all?” Anastasia asked in a syrupy-sweet voice. She dared to look him in the eye. “So, you are not impressed, Your Grace?”
“Cassian’s methods may be charming,” he replied, looking back at her coolly. “But I find extravagance in things that do not concern me and my goals.”
“I assure you, Frostmore, that my methods are charming,” Cassian retorted with a laugh. “Miss Dawson, perhaps we may discuss the proper techniques one must apply for cheese cutting later? If you are not ready for ham cutting, cheese cutting is certainly the best way to start.”
Anastasia laughed.
“I would be delighted,” she said, smirking. “You have not begun your lecture, and I am already fascinated. At the moment, I am also incredibly stuffed, and the thought of ham or cheese would only aggravate my current situation.”
The rest of the breakfast went by with Anastasia having a fun conversation with Cassian, and him indulging her through every story she made up. It ended in a blur of laughter and knife-sharp silences, though Anastasia was fairly certain the latter belonged almost exclusively to Benedict.
When breakfast was done, and Anastasia felt completely stuffed, Amelia leaned closer to her and suggested a stroll through the gardens. She quickly accepted with what could only be described as unladylike relief. She had been stuck in the house with Benedict and her aunt for as long as she could remember, and spending time with another human being, especially one who was female, was what she had needed all this time.
The ladies grabbed their shawls because it was a bit chilly this morning and made their way toward the gardens.
“Come, Your Grace, I will give you a tour of the gardens,” Anastasia offered, smiling.
“Please do not call me that; it just makes me feel so terribly old,” the Duchess of Firaine said as she linked her arm with Anastasia’s. “Besides, I have heard so much about you that I feel as if I know you already. Call me Amelia.”
“All right, Amelia. I hope you will not get too tired with our stroll in your condition. Frostmore’s gardens are quite vast.”
“Oh, not at all. Some exercise is much needed. Sebastian does not let me move too much.” Amelia smiled. “So, tell me. Is this the popular garden where Lord Chamberlain fell into a pond?”
Anastasia gasped, her smile falling. “You heard the news, too? Please do not tell me it has spread.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, hopefully not. Sebastian happened to tell me about it.”
Anastasia frowned. “I am noticing a pattern with these men. Do they share everything with each other?”
Amelia nodded. “I did, too, notice that when I started… courting Sebastian. It seems they gossip even more than we women do.”
Anastasia scrunched her face. “How shocking. I would never have imagined Ben… His Grace to participate in such improper and unproductive activities.”
“I agree. But to be fair, I have a guilty pleasure of participating in it. Men always have the best gossip, and it is always a shame not to partake.”
Anastasia laughed. “I suppose you are right.”
She had barely been talking to Amelia for the better part of five minutes before she decided that she really liked the woman. She was someone Anastasia secretly admired. She was married to a man who adored her, and now they were expecting a child together. The fact that she was Serenity’s dear friend made her feel like family immediately. For that, she was thankful. In her case, family did not mean comfort and support, especially after her scandal.
