Page 33 of The Chef and the Countess

Celia hurriedly made sandwiches and arranged the tray as Enya gathered a teapot and two teacups from the prep table. “What is that about?”

“Viscountess Hampton. She comes once a week without fail and asks to see Liam. She fawns over him and usually brings a different friend each time to show him off like a prized stallion.”

“Oh,” Celia replied quietly. She had never heard of the woman, but then, she hadn’t met many peers through the years. “Is he involved with her?”

Enya snorted. “Not likely. But that doesn’t stop her from trying. I’ll be back for the tray.”

Enya departed, served the tea, then returned for the tray. Celia followed her to the swinging door and cracked it open wide enough to observe what was going on. Luckily, the nearly empty restaurant made listening in easy.

The viscountess and Liam were facing Celia, and the look of rampant lust on the woman’s face was hard to miss.

“Is he not everything I said he would be, Baroness?” the viscountess crooned as she stroked his arm.

The baroness nodded in reply, giving Liam the once-over. How disrespectful.

Liam gently but firmly removed the viscountess’s hand, then held out her chair. “Your tea is getting cold, my lady.”

She sat, and he pushed the chair in. Liam’s mouth was pulled into a taut line of displeasure.

The viscountess grabbed his hand before he could pull it away from the chair. “The offer still stands. Be my personal chef and I will pay you 250 pounds per annum. Or name your price. There would be considerable benefits, as you can imagine.”

It appeared men had to endure this kind of behavior as well—being mauled, propositioned, and treated like a piece of prime beef. The viscountess wanted Liam for more than her chef. The sultry tone of her voice made that plain. Celia felt sickened and angry on his behalf. She would do well to remember not to treat Liam as the viscountess was doing. He was more than the outer handsome shell. That was something the viscountess and those of her ilk would never understand.

Liam pulled his hand away. “I thank you for the generous offer, but I’m entirely content here running my own business on my terms. Besides, the staff depends on me.”

“Well, bring along your scullery maids!” the viscountess said, dismissively waving her arm. The baroness chuckled.

Liam’s face looked like thunder. He bowed stiffly. “Enjoy your tea, my ladies.”

He marched toward the door, and Celia hurried to her station. Standing before the stove, Liam grabbed the iron skillet and started cooking. His jaw worked angrily, and Celia thought it best not to say anything. She kept herself busy cleaning up her area, placing her leftovers in the assigned containers, and taking them to the larder and the icebox as Fiona had shown her yesterday.

By the time she returned, Liam held out a plate toward her. “Don’t let it get cold.”

“What about you?”

“I’m not hungry. Teddy, Tommy, Timmy, get your supper and clean up this mess!” Liam yelled. The boys snapped to attention. “Finish the dishes after you eat, then mop the floors and clean the walls and the stoves.”

Liam tore off his apron and exited the rear door, slamming it hard.

“Don’t mind him, Miss Celia. He don’t—doesn’t—mean it,” Timmy offered. “It’s hard being the boss.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Celia said, smiling as she carried her plate into the dining area. The boys followed, and they joined the other employees at the table. The food, as always, was delicious and perfectly cooked. As Celia was introduced to the nighttime pub employees, she couldn’t stop thinking about Liam. Should she check on him later, or would that intrude on his private time?

All she knew was that no one should be treated with such contempt. After finishing her meal, Celia ladled still-hot mushroom soup into a large crockery bowl and grabbed bread, fresh tea, and a spoon to take to Liam. He had to eat. Besides, she was concerned for him and could not relax until she knew he was all right.

Yes, her feelings were growing with each passing day. Celia would have to do her best to keep them hidden. So far, she seemed doomed to fail.