Page 9 of Her Sweetest Rogue (The Worthington Legacy #6)

L ater that evening, Trey stood near the hearth watching Judith and Nic carry on a conversation as they sat on the sofa. Trey didn’t dare admit aloud that Judith did an exceptional job with conversing. She laughed easily at Nic’s comments, yet it wasn’t in a flirtatious manner at all. Trey had seen it often enough when women tried their wiles on men, but in this situation, Judith was being herself and not overly-flattering. Perhaps she did know more than he and his mother expected. That would make his responsibility for finding Judith a husband easier than anticipated.

While she chatted with Nic, her gaze periodically wandered to Trey. Anger and distrust still flickered in the green depths, but thankfully, she never voiced her thoughts. She didn’t need to. He could read her mind already, and it wasn’t good.

He knew it upset her how easily she melted into his arms. Stubborn as she was, Trey figured she didn’t like feeling that weak. Although he shouldn’t have taken her to the gazebo, he certainly enjoyed how she’d fallen for his charm. If his mother hadn’t arrived when she did, the impending kiss would have been inevitable.

He shook off the indecent thought. Getting her out of his mind was essential to his plan. How could he find her a husband if he was infatuated with her himself? Their walk in the flower gardens hadn’t helped his way of thinking, either. She’d mentioned roses were her favorite, and he couldn’t believe how much that little confession had melted his heart. His favorite flower was the rose, as well. He enjoyed watching her smell the flower as the look of pure happiness spread over her expression. To be sure, that would be something he’d never forget.

Finally, a maid entered the room and announced dinner was ready. He stepped forward and offered his elbow to escort Judith inside, but she found Nic’s extended arm first and hooked her hand around his elbow, instead. From over her shoulder, she gave Trey a triumphant grin and haughtily walked into the dining room with the marquess.

Trey boiled inside, balling his fists beside him as he followed like an obedient dog. Perhaps he should have invited more guests tonight—more female guests who actually wanted his company.

She indicated to where he and Nic would be seated then stood before her chair. Trey jumped to her side to pull the chair out for her, but once again, Dominic arrived first. Seething, Trey waited until she was seated before taking his appointed chair at the head of the table.

He watched her at the other end of the table, waiting for her to give the subtle signal to the servants to start serving, but she didn’t. Maybe she didn’t know how to host a dinner party.

When she lifted her hand, her pointy finger above the rest, Trey breathed in relief that she would start things now.

“We are ready,” she yelled from across the room.

Startled by her loud voice, Trey nearly fell off his chair. After collecting his wits from her ill-mannered outburst, he glanced next to him at Nic, who bit his lip, appearing as if he tried very hard not to laugh. If his mother had been here, she would have swooned.

Trey groaned and rubbed his forehead. To think tonight was just getting started.

Once the food came, Judith dove into her meal like a starving person, leaning her elbows on the table and inhaling her food in an animal-like manner, using her hands and fingers more than the silverware.

Ashamed of her display, Trey shook his head and moved his gaze to stare at his own food. He definitely should have gone over instructions before letting her on her own. It was a very good thing his mother wasn’t present, indeed!

Nic remained quiet as he picked at his food. Trey held in an agitated sigh. Apparently, Judith had ruined his friend’s appetite, too.

When she was finished noisily slurping her soup, she pushed the bowl away from her and sat back. “Lord Trey?”

Trey raised his gaze and met hers. “Yes?”

“Are you ready for the second course?”

He shrugged. Might as well get this over with so he could retire to his room to ponder on her much-needed lessons. “Yes.”

She cupped her hands around her mouth. “Bring in the next course,” she shouted.

Once again, he groaned. Dominic covered his grin with a linen napkin.

When the food was served, she turned to Nic and started a conversation. Trey refused to speak for fear he’d snap at her for her improper decorum. But when he heard her garbling, he glanced up to find out why. The poor country girl talked with her mouth full of food!

Sighing in defeat, he rested his forehead in his hands. Oh, the embarrassment of it all. He’d never hear the end of this from Nic, that’s for certain.

Trey picked a small piece of lobster tail and dipped it in the sauce. This had been his favorite meal, but because of Judith’s manners, she’d ruined his appetite. Trying to ignore her outbursts of laughter, Trey slid the piece of lobster in his mouth and chewed. Immediately, his tongue burned, and the more he chewed, the hotter it became.

He reached for his glass of wine and quickly brought it to his mouth to sip, but the liquid only intensified the heat exploding on his tongue. In front of him on the table was a platter of bread, so he grabbed a piece, quickly shoving it in his mouth.

After the temperature in his mouth returned to normal, he took another bite of the lobster tail. Fire burned his tongue, more painfully than the first time. He shoved another chunk of bread in his mouth to take away the burn. His eyes watered and he blinked the moisture away.

Trey studied Dominic and Judith. They acted as if nothing terrible was happening at the table save for Judith’s outrageous behavior, of course. Why didn’t they act as if their food was spicy? How could only his food be hot and not theirs? Cautiously, he took a bite of the rice dish, but once again, the inferno in his mouth intensified.

Admitting defeat, he sat back in his chair and was content to eat bread, since that seemed to be the only food at the table that didn’t burn his mouth. He watched Judith to see if she had any reaction to his discomfort, but she was engrossed in Nic’s tale and didn’t glance Trey’s way.

Somehow, the situation seemed familiar. As if he’d been through this before. Yet he didn’t ever remember eating anything so horribly hot. Suddenly a memory crashed through. He and Judith were younger. Her family had visited for the weekend. He didn’t want to entertain her as his parents had forced him to do. Instead, he wanted to push her away from him. From his family. That evening, he tampered with the meal by pouring pimento and black pepper in her lobster sauce.

Coincidence?

He thought not. That little minx had planned this. He’d bet money on it.

Finally, she glanced his way. He gave her a knowing grin.

Confusion crossed her face, but soon it cleared and she smiled pleasantly.

Curse her. He still couldn’t tell if she’d planned this. But if she had, he’d get her to confess. Tonight, if possible. Strange thing was he looked forward to the confrontation, especially her temper afterwards.

A movement from the doorway yanked his attention away from Judith. His mother walked in the room, her eyes wide as she focused on the girl. Trey inhaled sharply. His mother would realize Judith didn’t know a thing about entertaining. Trey and Hawthorne rose to their feet.

“Mother? What are you doing here?”

The older woman smiled as she smoothed her palms down her dress. “I wondered how Judith was faring.”

“Uh…well, I don’t think Miss Faraday is quite ready—”

“Your Grace, please come in and join us,” Judith interrupted.

Trey swung his gaze to her. Instead of hunched shoulders and elbows on the table, the young woman sat with a straight back as she patted her linen napkin to her lips.

“How is your headache, Your Grace?” Judith inquired sweetly.

“Much better, thank you.”

Trey pulled out a chair for his mother. “Are you hungry?”

“Just a bit.”

Holding his breath, he waited for Judith’s holler for service. Instead, she subtly motioned for the servant to bring his mother a plate. What the devil?

Aghast, he watched the next little while as a different Judith emerged. Instead of the uneducated girl he’d witnessed since they’d entered the room, Judith was doing everything perfectly. After the servant brought his mother’s plate, Judith picked at her food like a proper young lady, and never once spoke with food in her mouth.

What was her game? Was she purposely trying to make a fool out of him?

Obviously. But he was on to her now.

He grinned. Taming her would be a chore, but an enjoyable one, he was certain.