Devil's Daughter (The Ravenels #5)(20)

“Polite small talk is wasted on me. I spend most of my time around farm animals.” Mr. Ravenel waited for her brief smile to fade before continuing. “Your husband must have been a man of great inner strength. If I’d been in his place, I wouldn’t have been sweet or good-natured. In fact, I’m not that way even when things are going well.”

The praise of Henry caused some of her buried animosity to melt. It was far easier to hate a person when he was a distant figure, a concept, than when he was a living, breathing reality.

Thinking over his last comment, Phoebe asked, “Do you have a temper, Mr. Ravenel?”

“Good God, haven’t you heard? Ravenels are powder kegs with quick-match fuses. It’s why there are so few males left in the family line: constant drinking and brawling don’t usually lend themselves to happy old age.”

“Is that what you do? Constantly drink and brawl?”

“I used to,” he admitted.

“Why did you stop?”

“Too much of anything is tiresome,” he said, and grinned at her. “Even pleasure-seeking.”





Chapter 7




As it turned out, the purée of spring vegetables exceeded Mr. Ravenel’s description. The soft reddish-orange emulsion really did taste like a garden. It was a bold, creamy harmony of astringent tomato, sweet carrots, potatoes, and greens, bound together in a lively snap of springtime. As Phoebe bit into a half-crisp, half-sodden crouton, she closed her eyes to savor it. God, it had been so long since she’d really tasted anything.

“I told you,” Mr. Ravenel said in satisfaction.

“Do you think your cook would share the recipe?”

“She would if I asked her to.”

“Will you?”

“What will you do for me in return?” he parried.

That surprised a laugh out of her. “How ungallant. What about chivalry? What about largesse?”

“I’m farmer, not a knight. Around here, it’s quid pro quo.”

The way he spoke to her had none of the deference and sympathy people usually accorded to widows. It felt like . . . flirtation. But she couldn’t be sure. It had been so long since anyone had flirted with her. Of course, he was the last man she would ever welcome that kind of attention from, except . . . it flustered her in an oddly pleasant way.

An endless round of toasts began, to the happiness and prosperity of bride and groom, the well-being of the families about to be joined, the queen, the host and hostess, the clergyman, the ladies, and so forth. Glasses were repeatedly replenished with fine old wines, the empty soup bowls were withdrawn, and tiny plates of chilled ripe melon slices were set out.

Each course was more delectable than the last. Phoebe would have thought nothing could have surpassed the efforts of the French cook at Heron’s Point, but this was some of the most delicious fare she’d ever had. Her bread plate was frequently replenished with piping-hot milk rolls and doughy slivers of stottie cake, served with thick curls of salted butter. The footmen brought out perfectly broiled game hens, the skin crisp and delicately heat-blistered . . . fried veal cutlets puddled in cognac sauce . . . slices of vegetable terrine studded with tiny boiled quail eggs. Brilliantly colorful salads were topped with dried flakes of smoked ham or paper-thin slices of pungent black truffle. Roasted joints of beef and lamb were presented and carved beside the table, the tender meat sliced thinly and served with drippings thickened into gravy.

As Phoebe sampled one offering after another, in the company of her husband’s lifelong enemy, she enjoyed herself immensely. West Ravenel was worldly and wickedly funny, making audacious comments that managed to stay just within the margins of respectability. His relaxed interest seemed to wrap gently around her. The conversation was easy, pleasurable, like an unfurling bolt of velvet. She couldn’t remember the last time she had talked like this, her tongue going on like a mill-clapper. Nor could she remember consuming this much food in one sitting in years.

“What courses are left?” she asked as palate-clearing sorbet was brought out in miniature crystal cups.

“Just cheese, and then dessert.”

“I can’t even manage this sorbet.”

Mr. Ravenel shook his head slowly, regarding her with somber disappointment. “What a featherweight. You’re going to let this dinner defeat you?”

She sputtered with a helpless laugh. “It’s not a sporting event.”

“Some meals are a fight to the finish. You’re so close to victory—for God’s sake, don’t give up.”

“I’ll try,” she said doubtfully. “I do hate to waste food.”

“Nothing will be wasted. The left-over scraps will go either to the compost heap or the pigs’ trough.”

“How many pigs do you keep?”

“Two dozen. A few of the tenant families also keep pigs. I’ve been trying to convince our smallholders—especially those with less productive land—to farm more livestock instead of corn. But they’re reluctant. They consider raising stock—especially pigs—a step down from growing crops.”

“I don’t see why—” Phoebe began, but she was interrupted by Pandora’s cheerful voice.

“Cousin West, are you talking about pigs? Have you told Lady Clare about Hamlet?”