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“You enlisted the help of Mrs. Hart?”

“She was nervous about your not looking at the menu. She doesn’t believe a gentleman could possibly plan a meal,” he said.

“Little does she know about your years as a bachelor fending for yourself,” she said.

He chuckled. “If I told her that I used to toast bread on the fire in my rooms, she would expire from shock. She’s a snob when it comes to cookery.”

A little smile tugged at her lips as she took a stoneware bowl wrapped tightly in a tea towel. “It hasn’t taken you long to figure that out.”

His gaze slid up to her again before quickly dropping back to the basket. “I should’ve been more help to you in setting up the house.”

She was about to absolve him of responsibility, but instead she nodded. “I would’ve welcomed your assistance. You might’ve saved me from my aunt, who couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to employ four footmen.”

“Where would we have put four footmen? There’s hardly room for Ruth, Norris, Mrs. Hart, and the maids,” he said.

“Planning isn’t Aunt Jacqueline’s strength. She was rather enamored of the idea of a grand household but chooses not to think about what paying and feeding all of those people costs.

“I suppose now is as good a time as any to let you know that Norris probably wishes you would find a proper valet,” she continued. “I’m sure he doesn’t mind helping you for now, but he does have other duties.”

“Is it important to you that I have a valet?” he asked while he set about opening a bottle of wine.

“I only mention it because it’s making Norris’s day more difficult. He has to stop what he’s doing and make himself available. I doubt he’d be so bold as to say anything to you.”

“But you know it bothers him?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said with a shrug.

“I hadn’t thought about that. Well, if it’s for Norris’s sake, I suppose I can ask him to inquire whether there’s anyone who would be suitable,” he said.

“You’ll need to interview them too,” she said.

“Would you do it with me?”

“Oh, of course.” Hiring a valet usually fell to the gentleman of the house, but she was flattered her opinion mattered to him.

“The truth is, although I borrowed my brother’s valet on school holidays, I left home shortly after Cambridge. And then I never had the money to pay for a man outside of the college stewards. It’ll be new for me.”

Cautiously, Ina asked, “Does it make you uncomfortable that the house and carriage and suppers are paid for from my marriage settlement?”

Rather than answering, he beckoned her. “Come, sit.”

When she sat, he pushed her chair in for her and settled down across the table from her.

“I will admit it hasn’t been an easy transition from living on a scant two hundred pounds a year to having an income many times that,” he said.

“Why?”

“It’s petty, but there’s something unmanly about having your situation elevated so swiftly because of your wife’s accounts. I’ve been raised to expect to provide an income for my wife if I ever were to marry.”

“That’s why Mr. Moray’s job was so important to you,” she said, realization dawning on her.

“It wasn’t just about writing again. It was also about being paid and contributing,” he said. “I’m not the sort of gentleman to scorn hard work.”

“I should’ve realized. Aunt Jacqueline had no interest in running my father’s house, so I’ve been making decisions and keeping the household economy on my own for so long I hardly think about it any longer.”

“I know marrying you was never about your money, but I have to also feel that way,” he said.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his hand stretch across the table to hers.