“Of course,” she said a little frostily, and he could tell the mood had changed.
“I will come to your shop and pick out the chocolates myself,” he added.
She offered him a tepid smile, and he realized he’d spoken like a pompous twaddler, as if his very presence would be a gift.
She was tapping her foot now, impatient to get rid of him.Him!A duke with whom everyone desired to spend time. But Miss Rare-Foure had work to do.
“I shall leave you to it and come back tomorrow.”
Her eyes widened. “Whatever for, my lord? Don’t you trust me?”
He did! Her ability was obvious with the few samples he’d had. But he wanted to be a part of this creation. He’d never done anything like it before.
“I do, but since this is such a personal gift, I would like to oversee it. Will that be a problem?”
She frowned but could hardly refuse him.
“Perhaps tomorrow, you could show me the various types of chocolate. I know I tasted more than one today. I am certain I can discover more of what Lady Madeleine likes and report back to you.”
Now, her perfect dark brown brows rose up along her smooth forehead.
“You shall be like a Detective Sergeant in the Metropolitan Police, my lord.”
Was she mocking him?He didn’t much mind because her smile was back. Her right cheek rose higher as her pretty pink lips upturned in a sweetly crooked manner.
He should not be noticing her lips. Or her smile.
Then an irksome thought floated through his head — he had no idea what Madeleine’s smile looked like. In any case, he knew it wasn’t the least bit lopsided, nor did it alter the perfect symmetry of her exquisite face. If it did, he would have noticed.
“Well done. I shall be on my way. I am meeting a friend at White’s.” He didn’t know why he’d told Miss Rare-Foure that, either. She was going to continue working — albeit at one of the best tasks imaginable — while he was going to sip coffee. She probably thought him a topper, for sure.
Giving her a shallow bow, waiting while she curtsied in return, he added, “I will see you tomorrow.”
Because hewantedto. Because he could. Because he was a damned duke, and she’d better appreciate his custom.
Not that he would say any of that out loud.
