“Too much,” her mother murmured.
Henry couldn’t help but notice Madeleine didn’t ask him a question in return. That left him to forge ahead. He already knew of Madeleine’s dislike of small tamed animals, as well as oranges, raisins, and now newspapers, but everything else was still a mystery.
Tapping his fingers upon his thigh, he realized all three Braysons were staring at him with polite half-smiles upon their faces.
“Have you traveled abroad much?” Henry had been to the Continent thrice, and there was much more he wished to see. He loved strolling the streets of Paris and discovering cafes with each Parisian trying to outdo the next with the perfect cup of coffee.
Lady Madeleine made a moue of dislike. “I cannot swim,” she said.
“No,” her mother murmured.
Henry was confounded.What the deuce did swimming have to do with it?
“There are ferries,” he pointed out, not meaning to sound rude.Was she under the impression she had to swim the English Channel?
“I know there are ferries,” Madeleine snapped, making her mother gasp in distress at her daughter’s discourteous tone. The young lady took a breath and softened her expression. “Those boats areonthe water, are they not, Your Grace? If something happened, I would sink below the channel.”
“Sink,” her mother echoed.
“If I had a bit more money,” the earl said, “I would build you a bridge, dear girl, from Dover to Calais.” That ridiculous statement was met with smiles from both the females as if it were a distinct possibility.
Henry supposed he could always travel alone when he so desired or with one of his chums.
“What about in Britain? Ireland is out of the question, what with the sea between us, but have you seen the sights of Scotland and Wales or, perhaps, the coast of Cornwall?”
She shook her head. “Are there any? Sights, I mean?” She gave a little chuckle and her parents joined in. “Is there anything greater than London and its outskirts, my lord?”
Her parents both murmured their approval of her response.
Henry supposed it was just as well she hadn’t traveled all over as they could do so together on their honeymoon. Whereas he had been on hunting trips as far north as John O’Groats at the tip of Scotland and been sailing off the tip of Penzance on the south Cornish coast, there was much in between he hadn’t seen and much he would like to share with her.
Until she added, “I have no wish to do so.”
“No wish to see your homeland?” he asked, surprised and unable to keep the disapproval from his voice. In this age of easy train travel, it seemed a shame not to explore one’s own country.
Her father, perhaps hearing Henry’s tone, sat up straight, scooting to the edge of his chair. “While no one wishes to force our Madeleine to a watery death, I’m positive she would be honored to travel with herhusbandaround the countryside, at least as far as that man’s country estate, whomever he may be.”
Lady Brayson smiled at this obvious ploy to get Henry to declare himself the man who would be her daughter’s husband.
Madeleine pursed her lips, glaring at her father, then looked at Henry. “I would go to my husband’s country estate, my lord, and glad to do so, but why experience the trouble of traveling farther afield when green grass is green grass everywhere?”
“True,” her mother said,sotto voceagain. Her mincing tone was starting to get on Henry’s nerves.
Another few minutes passed. He was feeling a little desperate to engage in some type of meaningful discourse.
“Coffee,” he blurted out. “Do you like it?” It might not be meaningful, but it was an important part of his daily routine.
Madeleine scrunched up her face, looking, if possible, even lovelier. “No. I think it too strong and terribly unpleasant. I don’t even like its pungent aroma. It’s so foreign, Your Grace. I prefer tea, or even hot water with lemon.”
“Lemon,” her mother agreed.
Henry decided against pointing out how very foreign the now-ubiquitous tea leaf was or even the once-exotic lemon. No need to borrow trouble. Besides, when married, he could go out to drink coffee whenever he wanted. He wouldn’t need to expose his new wife to its dreadful pungency at home.
Still, he sat back wondering how anyone could not like the delicious smell of coffee. The sole thing that rivaled it was stepping into Rare Confectionery and enjoying a noseful of the rich, decadent chocolate bouquet.
Nodding, for want of something better to do, Henry finished his last mouthful of port. Bored out of his mind and suddenly wishing he was anywhere rather than trapped in the Braysons’ drawing room, he realized he did not have to stay another instant. He was a duke,dammit all, and could come and go as he pleased without explaining himself to anyone. He could until such time as Madeleine became his duchess and these people were his in-laws. Then, he supposed, he would have to take greater care with courtesy. At present, though, he could escape at will.
To that end, he stood, causing her father also to get hurriedly to his feet.
