When we’ve finally quieted down, I start gathering up the plates. Rupert frowns at me, that big lion’s mouth of his tilting down and showing his lower teeth.
“What are you doing, Ms. Austin?”
“Cleaning! You did all the cooking.”
“You cook and wash up for every meal.” Rupert rises to his feet, which means he’s now towering over me. “Let me clean the mess I made. Please?”
I’ve never had someone beg me to clean before after they just spent all day cooking, but he seems to really want this.
“Fine.” I make it clear I don’t enjoy handing over my responsibilities, but a part of me finds it adorable. He wanted to spoil me, and if this is the result, I don’t mind being spoiled. “But you have to tell me, where did you learn that?”
Rupert cocks his big head. “Learn what?”
“How to make a perfect beef Wellington!”
I love Rupert’s shy smile as he takes the plates out of my hands.
“I attended the Culinary Institute for a few years. I thought I was going to be a chef. But then my father died, and things changed after that.”
He doesn’t elaborate, instead taking our plates away into the kitchen. I give Kellen a perplexed look, but he shrugs like it’s not his story to tell.
While Rupert cleans, Kellen pulls out a box of checkers. Something feels so homey, so peaceful, about playing a gameof checkers after a big meal, that for the first time in years, I feel happy. Satisfied.
When Rupert returns, I’ve just defeated Kellen. Rupert steps in, and he’s a much better player. I observe his huge hands as he deftly picks up a red piece and places it on the next square, marveling at him.
What a wonder of the world.
“Mr. Edgewood?” I ask.
Rupert pauses as he kings one of his pieces. “Yes, Ms. Austin? You can call me Rupert.”
“Then you can call me Peony,” I shoot back, and Rupert laughs. I like how easy it is between us, as if we’ve known each other a long time. “Well, I hope someday,Rupert, you might feel comfortable telling me about how you ended up here. How you became what you are.”
He pauses, those piercing eyes of his jumping up to mine. He studies me for a long moment, and I feel as if I am being dissected, opened up,seen.
“All right.” He nods. “Tonight is not the night, but perhaps… next time?”
“Oh, yes!” I clap my hands together. “Next time would be wonderful. Could I cook?”
I think the question has pleased him.
“I would love that, Peony.”
fourteen
. . .
peony
We play two more games of checkers that night, and I beat both Kellen and Rupert handily. I crow with victory at the end, and Rupert slaps the table.
“She’s scary at this game,” he says to Kellen.
Because it’s getting late, we all say goodnight. Kellen departs, leaving Rupert and me standing alone in the dining room together.
“Peony.” He stops me before I can head out the door. “It was so lovely to meet you in person. You are… charming. And quite lovely.” His eyes travel down my body, then, as if he realizes what he’s doing, they dart back up to my face again. “Thank you for attending my dinner.”
“It was absolutely my pleasure.” I hold out a hand, and Rupert looks at it curiously. Then, he extends his own clawed hand to take mine. I think we’re going to shake, but instead, Rupert kneels before me with his big mane of hair billowingup behind him. He did this earlier, too, and I wonder what it means.
