The Other Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys #3)(65)

“Enough for them to call the design a success.”

“Now that is something I love,” Poppy said. “To take a problem with no solution, none at all, and then to solve it in such a sideways fashion. To me, that is true genius.”

“And that’s not all,” he said, taking her back outside and onto the wide pedestrian street. “Look at the fa?ades. You might think them plain—”

“I don’t,” Poppy cut in eagerly. “I find them quite elegant.”

“I do too,” he said, and he seemed quite pleased with her statement. “But what I was going to say is that most of these buildings, or rather, most parts of each of these buildings were put together elsewhere.”

Poppy looked at one of the buildings and the back at Andrew. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

He gestured to a nearby fa?ade. “Most of the pieces of the buildings were put together at another site, one with a great deal more room, where stonemasons and carpenters could all work on one type of thing at a time. There is great economy—both of time and of money—in doing, for example, all of the window frames at once.”

Poppy peered up and down the street, trying to imagine some vast field filled with unconnected walls and window frames. “And then they brought all of the pieces here? On carts?”

“I imagine so. More likely by barge.”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“It’s not often done. They call it pre-fabrication.”

“It’s fascinating.” Poppy shook her head in slow wonder, taking it all in—the architecture, the fact that she was actually in Lisbon, and people were speaking Portuguese, and—

“What?” she asked. Andrew was looking at her in the strangest fashion.

“It is nothing,” he said softly. “Not really. It’s just that most people don’t find this interesting.”

“I do,” she said with a shrug. “But then again, I’m curious about most things.”

“It’s what got you into this mess,” he said wryly.

“Isn’t it just.” She sighed. “I really should have walked the other way down the beach.”

He nodded in slow agreement, but then surprised her utterly by saying, “And yet right now—just this afternoon, mind you—I’m rather glad you didn’t.”

It was all Poppy could think about for the rest of the afternoon.





Chapter 17




Andrew took Poppy to a small tavern near the port. He’d eaten there countless times, as had most of his crew, and while he would never take a lady to a comparable establishment in England, the rules did not seem to apply in the same way here in Portugal.

Plus, the tavernkeeper’s wife was a superb cook, and he could think of no better place to take Poppy for true Portuguese cuisine.

“This will not be quite what you’re used to,” he warned as he reached out to open the door.

Her eyes lit up. “Good.”

“The patrons can be a bit uncouth.”

“My sensibilities are not so tender.”

Andrew opened the door with flair. “Then by all means, let us go forth.”

They were greeted immediately.

“Captain!” Senhor Farias, the middle-aged owner of the establishment, came bustling over. He had learned some English over the years, and he spoke it far better than Andrew did Portuguese. “Is so good to see you. I am told that your ship is here and I wonder where you are.”

Andrew grinned. It was always a joy to be greeted like an old friend. “Senhor Farias, it is my pleasure entirely. Tell me, how fares your family?”

“Very good, very good. My Maria is now married, you know. I will soon be—how do you call it—not father, but . . .” He rapidly snapped his fingers in the air, his preferred motion whenever he was trying to think of something. Andrew had seen him do it many times.

“Av? , av? ,” he said. “Not father, but—”

“Grandfather?”

“Yes! That’s it.”

“Congratulations, my friend! Senhora Farias must be very pleased.”

“Sim! Yes, she is very happy. She loves the little babies. But who is this?” Senhor Farias finally noticed Poppy standing just a little behind and to the side of Andrew. He took her hand and kissed it. “Is this your wife? Have you been married? Parabéns , Captain! Congratulations!”

Andrew stole a glance at Poppy. She was blushing furiously, but she did not seem to be truly embarrassed.

“She is my cousin,” Andrew said, since that seemed the safest lie. If his men had not already come to Taberna da Torre for a meal, they would soon, and would surely impart the news that the Infinity had been sailing with a woman on board. “She is a guest on our voyage.”

“Then she is a guest in my taberna ,” Senhor Farias said, leading her to a table. “I will bring only our best food.”

“Are you telling me that some of your food is not the best?” Andrew teased.

“No,” Senhor Farias said with conviction. “My wife cooks nothing bad. It is all best. So I will bring your cousin everything.”

Poppy opened her mouth and for a moment looked as if she might refuse, but instead she said, “That would be wonderful .”