Free War Chest: Even Gods Fall in Love, Book 5 by Lynne Connolly Page A

could ask them, but as it was, she needed to pass myriad closed doors before she found a corridor she recognised.
    She would navigate through the staircases. They appeared to be the one fixed element in the whole arrangement. That and the view through the windows, when she could see them. Maybe she should find herself a compass.
    Still smiling at the thought of holding a compass to steer her way through the house, she pushed open a door and found the breakfast room. Although the morning was advanced, the leisured classes tended to eat at this time, or even later. If they rose earlier, they ate a small meal in their rooms.
    The duke was sitting at the table in his shirtsleeves. He had not waited for her before beginning his own repast, but breakfast was frequently an informal meal. At home, food was doled out on small plates, as someone once told Ruth’s mother smaller plates made what was on offer look more generous. It did not.
    He glanced up, then got to his feet and motioned to a place far too close to his for Ruth’s liking. “Help yourself from the buffet, Miss Carter. Would you like tea or coffee?”
    After thinking wistfully of the hot chocolate the nursemaid had received, she answered, “Coffee, please.”
    “Ah. You wanted something else? Milk, perhaps?”
    “No, sir. Coffee is fine.” She refused to tremble, or to show him anything but the politest of manners, but it cost her to do so.
    “You should be more honest. I shall speculate as to what you prefer, since I don’t intend to waste my question for the day on such trivial matters.”
    Her mind was in such turmoil, she had forgotten that foolish pact. She must think of something relatively innocuous, so he did not press her too hard in return. Above all she wanted to create distance between them.
    Annoyingly, the serving spoon rattled against her plate when she helped herself to some scrambled egg. She took her plate to the table.
    He shot a glance at her meal. “Ruth, you will not last until dinnertime if you don’t eat more. You need sustenance. I insist.” He got to his feet and picked up a plate, even though he already had one at his place. She didn’t look around, but heard the chink of spoon on plate. Then he reached over her shoulder, removed the modest helping of scrambled egg and replaced it with a brimming plate of viands. Everything, from devilled kidneys to chops, eggs, ham and bacon was arrayed there. “That is a proper breakfast,” he said.
    “I’ll never eat all that!”
    “Then leave what you don’t want. The pigs on the home farm will be glad of your leavings.” As he took his seat, he smiled crookedly. “Nothing goes to waste.”
    “I’m glad to hear it, sir.” Ruth took up her knife and fork and attacked her food. After her third mouthful, she laid her cutlery neatly on the plate. “I don’t wish to keep you, sir.”
    “I have nothing better to do.” He picked up the folded newspaper that lay by the side of his plate. “Shall I read to you?”
    “I could not possibly—” What? Impose on him? If he wanted to, she could hardly ask him to desist.
    “As I said.” He shot her a sharp glance over the top of the paper. Shaking it out, he scanned the page. “This is the court page. Utterly tedious, but perhaps you enjoy hearing of the acts of the frivolous. In any case, most of society is out of town. Apparently the king is once again indisposed.” He glanced at her.
    Ruth pretended not to notice and continued to eat as he summarised the court page for her. Even she had heard of some of the people listed. It was as if the night before had not happened, that he had not met her in a state of undress and stolen the most devastating kiss she’d ever experienced in her life. Not that she had much to compare it with, but still, she couldn’t imagine anything else affecting her more.
    No more kisses. She could not bear it. It appeared the duke did not want to revisit his action. That was just as well, because she certainly