“Pray, please tell me. I really would love to do this with Kentwood. In fact, I could even try this with my brother, Adrian.”
“Well, you wait until it is dark outside, and then you…”
Collin listened intently as she told her stories. He loved a good story, and it was more comical when a man who was way into his cups was involved. He was enthralled with her knowledge, and he suspected that being married to her would never become boring.
When the eggs were cooked, she scooped them from the skillet to a plate and gave him a fork. They both sat at the kitchen table as he ate the best scrambled eggs he had ever had. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her. She was too angelic and entertaining to look away. But it was more than that, because her pretty blue eyes danced with excitement as she told her tales.
In all of her experiences, she had shared them with her siblings. For a moment, he found himself jealous that she was close to her brothers and sister, yet Collin couldn’t be in thesame room with his brother for more than an hour before the two of them were arguing. He wasn’t certain if it was because he and Adrian were close in age, but that man had always irritated Collin.
After he was finished eating, they moved from the table to the washbasin. She began washing the dishes, and he gently pushed her aside and released some of the quilt to slide a hand into the soapy water.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“You can’t tell?” He arched an eyebrow.
“Of course I can tell. I just want to know why you think you should do the dishes.”
He couldn’t hold back his laugh from her shocked expression. “My sweet Cass, I have never washed a dish in my life, and I want to do so now.”
She moved one step back, folding her arms. “And I suppose you want me to demonstrate how it is done?”
“Actually, all I require is that you tell me if I’m doing it incorrectly.”
“If you insist.”
He nodded. “Indeed I do.”
She stepped back beside him as he fastened the quilt securely around his waist, not caring that she could see his completely bare chest now. Although she tried to watch his hands as he washed the plate and fork, he noticed her attention dipping quite a bit to his wide chest before lifting her attention quickly.
She smiled. “Collin, you are a natural.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
She took the hand towel and dried the dishes before emptying the washbasin. She handed him the towel to dry his hands, then she dried hers.
They stood staring at each other for a few awkward moments, and he supposed she was wondering what to do next, like he was.Without asking, he grasped her hand and led her to the sofa, where they sat.
“I fear,” she said, her voice quivering slightly, “that I have talked too much about my family. Now it is your turn.”
He shook his head. “Sadly, I have no stories to tell that can compare to yours. My brother and I were raised by a governess, and our parents rarely spent time with us. Mother took us boys on outings more than our father. She explained that Father was at work, building our inheritances.”
Cassandra cocked her head. “Do you think she was being truthful?”
Collin shrugged. “I did at the time, but now I think differently. When my parents were together, they rarely talked to each other, and I never once saw them share any kind of affection.”
Her smile dropped and she touched his arm. “I’m sorry, Collin. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“They are only bad memories when I see parents together who show their love.” He sighed, wishing she would touch his chest instead. “But I suppose that is what happens when two people are forced to marry when they aren’t in love.”
Her gaze moved slowly over his face. “Collin? Do you believe in love?”
“I want to, even though I don’t have close relations who show it to one another, but some of my friends have married for love. Even some of my cousins have married for love.” He paused. “Have you met the Duke of Kenbridge?”
“I have not met him, but I have heard of him.”
“Trevor Worthington is a cousin. Both he and his two brothers married for love. They are all very happy, and, well…” He sighed heavily, looking down at the hands resting on her lap. “Sometimes I wish I had that.”
“Then why don’t you try to find it?”
