Brandywine: Regency historical romance (The Brocade Series, Book 1) by Jackie Ivie

spot of tea like a lady, I might.”
    Gil glanced at her mittens and then at her. He had a strange look on his face. Her belly sent a warning. She ignored it.
    “I’m certain Mrs. Wright has a reason for her tortures, my dear. But I have prior experience. She’s a devious sort, isn’t she?”
    He winked and she instantly looked away.
    “Cor,” she said to the wall, “the stupid wench thinks to improve the texture of my hands, she does. Can you believe it? Wastin’ such an effort on a common whore. You should look harder for your help.”
    “Well, we happen to think you’re far from common, Brandy, so we’ll have to forgive her. Shall I do the honors, then, and pour for you? I’d hate to see Madame Violet expire of thirst while we talk.”
    Brandy watched him pour liquid into the teacup set before the flower and forced down the flicker of something very odd through her stomach, as if an illness threatened. She couldn’t remember ever being ill and now wasn’t an officious time to start. Such a thing made one vulnerable. She swallowed and answered.
    “Thank you much, kind sir.”
    She caught her lower lip between her teeth at his expression, noticing then how much easier it was to move the left side of her face. Perhaps there was a God after all. And maybe he did really listen to her. She released her lip and smiled at the dream man looking just right sitting among her flowers, holding a tiny teacup.
    He paled.
    Damn. She’d forgotten her looks. Brandy turned her attention to something among the leaves the Duchess Rose was budding between.
    “This tea could use a bit more warmth, Brandy- love.”
    She watched him swallow and couldn’t resist.
    “That’s probably true, My Lord, but the ladies don’t seem to mind. And we’ve all heard how restorative old bath water can be.”
    “Bath water?”  He sounded angry, but she couldn’t tell for sure, since he turned his gaze to something outside the window.
    “It’s very clean bath water, Guv. I swear it. I’m certain sure Mrs. Wright would’ve caught any lice or vermin long a-fore it washed into that little ol’ glass. It’s just the thing for cleanin’ out the innards, too. Or, so I’ve heard. It was very brave of you to try it. Very.”
    She was nodding while she said it, making her expression as vacant as possible. That actually made his reaction easier to withstand.
    “What the hell are you trying to do, poison me?”
    She froze as he turned back to her. She put both swathed hands in her lap to hide their trembling.
    Trust a man to hide his true emotions and then slam the nearest available indefensible thing in anger, she thought.
    She watched him stroke the pansy’s petals to his right. For some reason, the thought of him wreaking vengeance on that helpless plant made her want to cry. And then he caught her expression with a look from under his eyebrows. She carefully blanked her eyes again and sniffed the emotion from existence.
    “I suppose that was my fault, My Lady. Perhaps next time I join your tea party, I’ll bring my own refreshment. You won’t mind, will you?”
    “Yer—yer not goin’ to hit Brandy? Why would ye let an opportunity slip by you like that?”
    “I wi sh to hell it hadn’t happened, love, but hear me now. I’ll never hit you.”
    “Sure. That’s what they all say.” She twisted her mouth and studied him. “Are ye certain sure that ye wouldn’t like to have just a wee swing? I wouldn’t stop ye, ye’re that handsome, Guv.”
    He smiled. It was such a sad smile that Brandy’s heart tightened within her breast. Now why would that have such an effect when nothing has meant a thing since Sherry deserted me?
    “I wouldn’t dream of punishing you for my own stupidity, Helene.”
    She sighed dramatically.
    “I keep tellin’ ye, Helene’s gone. I’m beginnin’ to think yer touched, my man. And there’s no fixing that.”  She shook her head and spoke in Nurse Gunther’s voice.
    “You know...I looked up