Page 60 of Ruined by the Wrong Earl

This took him by surprise. Nora had arranged dinner in the library? Curious, he headed down the hall. When he stepped into the room, he froze.

His library had been transformed. A small table, elegantly dressed in white linen and fine china, sat before the hearth. Twin candelabras, flickering with warm candlelight, flanked a pair of covered silver salvers. A sideboard held a crystal decanter of claret and two glasses.

Nora stood beside the table, looking more lovely than he’d ever seen her.

Dressed in a simple gown of green muslin, the bodice drew attention to the soft curve of her breasts. Her auburn hair had been left loose, held back by a matching green ribbon. The colour of the dress accentuated her green eyes, and the candlelight caught the burnished highlights in her curls. She smiled in welcome. He had to remind himself to breathe.

‘Ralston,’ she said, her voice warm. ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’

He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving her.

At that moment, he wanted her more than ever before. ‘You arranged this?’ His own voice came low, hoarse with a tangle of disbelief and desire.

Her eyes sparked with mischief and some other emotion he couldn’t quite identify. ‘I have a surprise for you.’

His heart pounded. Whatever it is, it cannot rival the sight of you. He struggled to maintain his manners.

She lifted one of the silver covers, and a rich, spicy and unfamiliar aroma curled into the air. His mouth watered.

Her smile brightened the dim library. ‘I cooked for you.’

‘You…cooked?’ he repeated, dumbfounded. He knew his wife had talents. He’d seen her scientific notebook, but he’d never guessed she could also cook.

She nodded, her cheeks turning a charming shade of pink. ‘I’ve been learning. My father’s stepmother has been teaching me. Growing up, she was like an aunt to me. I want to please you. I remembered how fond you were of the dishes we shared at the tavern.’

‘You did all this for me?’ The words scraped out of his throat like dry parchment.

‘I did,’ she said, her blush deepening. ‘I shamefully admit that I thought cooking would be easy. I was wrong. I had many failed attempts and was about to concede defeat before I was successful. But I wanted to do this for you.’ She uncovered a small bowl on the table. ‘I even made hummus.’

He was speechless. No one, no woman had gone to such lengths to please him. She had to be busy preparing her notes and presentation in anticipation of presenting to the London Scientific Society after her meeting with the scientist, Mr Collins. Instead of focusing on her science, she’d taken time to learn how to cook for him.

‘I look forward to trying your dishes. But how did you do all this?’

‘Mrs Hanning helped me convince Cook to borrow her kitchen. Cook can be quite prickly.’

He chuckled softly. ‘You even bribed Cook?’

‘Not bribed,’ she said. ‘Negotiated.’

He could just imagine the scene. His cook could be most temperamental. He stepped towards the table and inhaled deeply. ‘It smells delicious. What is it?’

‘Dolma. Tomatoes and peppers stuffed with meat and rice and seasoned with herbs and spices. It’s one of my favorite dishes.’

His heart beat in his chest. Her time-consuming labor was far more intimate than a waltz at a ball, a shared trip to Gunther’s for ices or even a midnight garden rendezvous. His gaze met hers and her eyes shone in anticipation.

He held out a chair for her and his fingers itched to remove the pretty, green ribbon and bury his fingers in her long hair. He wanted her more than food. He took a deep breath to control his urge and sat across from her.

He watched as she served him and placed the food on his plate. He picked up his fork and tasted the dish. The food was delicious and different than the greasy fowl and chicken Cook would have prepared. But it was Nora herself who kept arousing his senses. She leaned forward, lips slightly parted, eagerly awaiting his reaction.

‘It’s delicious. I want to eat it all.’

Candlelight danced in her eyes. ‘Truly?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then let’s please eat.’ She picked up her own fork.

For the next half hour they ate and drank wine. The pleasantness of it was not lost on him. For not wanting to marry in haste, he’d never imagined enjoying time with a woman.