How The Wolf Lost Her Heart by Sarah Brownlee

Author:Sarah Brownlee [Brownlee, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sarah Brownlee
Published: 2014-09-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

True to Raphael’s implications, dinner was served in carnivorous-style extravagance. The dining room consisted of one long twelve-seat table which sported several candelabras, each flickering a gentle flame. A plush red velvet carpet lined the floor and more paintings hung on the walls. The table was heaving with a number of dishes including sirloin steak, pork chops, duck, chicken breast, venison, lamb cutlets, leg of lamb, Yorkshire puddings and a few vegetables thrown in for good measure.

Lord Renzo, who was sitting at the head of the table when they entered, rose from his seat with his walking stick when he saw his son and his companion.

“Ah Raphael. Will you introduce me to your young friend?”

“This is Skye Archer, Dad,” said Raphael.

Lord Renzo took Skye’s hand and stared straight into her eyes. Skye felt terribly nervous being in his presence, but the lord’s gaze was not unfriendly or unkind in any way, and it was a smile that lingered gently behind his greying beard.

“You are most welcome,” said Lord Renzo, kissing her hand. “Please … sit down. We have a variety of dishes here; I trust some will be to your liking?”

He pulled up a seat to his left for Skye, who sat down and croaked her thanks. Raphael took the chair on his father’s right, opposite her. Rather overwhelmed at being treated in such a courteous manner by Raphael’s father, Skye could not think of anything to say and her hands twisted anxiously in her lap.

“Would you like some wine?” asked Lord Renzo, holding up a bottle enquiringly.

“Oh – no thank you,” replied Skye, rather hastily. Raphael hid a smirk.

“Ah … perhaps a non-alcoholic beverage then? I find that red wine goes very well with a confit of duck. You don’t mind if I drink in front of you, I hope?”

“N-no, of course not,” said Skye, awed that she would be asked this question at all.

Lord Renzo smiled.

“Raphael?” he said, as he poured some wine into his glass and gestured to his son.

“No thanks. I’ll just have some iced tea. Want some, Skye?”

Skye nodded.

The butler who had just delivered the remaining dish – oxtail stew – inclined his head in a slight bow towards Raphael and left the room to prepare some iced tea. Skye gazed in wonder at the dishes before her; it was an awful lot for three people, not to mention rich in terms of quality.

“Bon appetite,” said Lord Renzo. Raphael helped himself to the lamb, chicken and pork chops while Lord Renzo picked up the duck and Yorkshire puddings. Skye, true to her nature, went straight for the steak which – she noted – was deliciously rare.

“I would have had them raw if you preferred,” said Lord Renzo, turning to her, “but my son had not informed me how exactly you like to eat your steak.”

“Dad, I did tell you; the day I came back from Bert’s remember?”

“Did you?”

“Yes … I told you I ate raw steak with Skye. And I mentioned it three times after that too.

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