Million Dollar Stud. Meg Lacey
what this young man has brought me, Silver?”
Darcy watched as Silver strolled up the hallway. She looked different now, more casual, her suit, heels and pearls replaced by sage-green slacks and a sleeveless cotton sweater. She still looked cool and delicious to Darcy’s hungry eyes. “Hello, again,” he murmured.
Her eyes glinted as she glanced from the nosegay in her mother’s hand to him. “Flowers?”
“It was nice of him to think of me, don’t you agree, Silver?”
“Very nice, Mama.”
“Why don’t you show Darcy into the dining room? I’ll put these in water, then round up your father and we’ll be ready to eat.” Aggie bustled away, pausing at the kitchen door to say, “I hope you like Southern fried chicken, Darcy.”
“I love it.”
“Those flowers seem a bit familiar.”
Darcy slipped Silver a sideways glance. “How so?”
“They remind me of the ones growing in the flower patch alongside the stables.”
Darcy grinned. “Really? Fancy that.”
“What an unbelievably cheesy thing to do—pick flowers just so you could charm your way into my mother’s good graces.”
“Surely you’re underestimating your mother. I think it would take more than a few flowers.”
Silver glared at him. “Just so you remember that.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And don’t call me ma’am.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Of all the annoying…” Silver turned on her heel, still muttering under her breath as she led the way through a wide archway off to the left. “Come on, dinner’s on the table.”
Darcy grinned and followed Silver into a spacious airy room with large windows that overlooked a beautiful backyard garden. He was surprised to see a number of pricey antiques, from the cherry table and chairs to the sideboard covered with old silver. Whatever money problems the Braybournes might have at the moment, clearly that hadn’t always been the case.
Harden entered just then and sat at the head of the table, his posture as erect and proud as Darcy’s own father’s would be in the same situation. His wife took a seat at the other end, directly across from him. The familiarity of the scene gave Darcy a shock for a moment. He nodded in Harden’s direction. “Sir.”
Harden inclined his head and waved his hand toward a chair. “Sit down there, boy. Sit down.”
Darcy waited and held a chair for Silver, then took his own. He gave the laden table an appreciative glance. “This looks delicious.”
“I’m glad,” Aggie said. “Harden, you’ll say grace, won’t you?” After the brief blessing, obviously not one of Harden’s talents, Aggie smiled and picked up a platter of fried chicken and passed it to Darcy. “Now we won’t stand on ceremony. You just dig in and help yourself.”
The next forty-five minutes were spent in light conversation as they passed chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, homemade jams and biscuits around the table. Darcy couldn’t remember when a meal had tasted so good. Finally, the table was cleared, and Aggie brought in a cream pie topped with curls of chocolate. Silver followed with an antique silver coffeepot. To Darcy’s great appreciation, Aggie placed a huge slice of the pie in front of him, while Silver poured a cup of strong, rich coffee into his china cup.
Darcy gave the dessert an appreciative look before sliding his fork through the mound of whipped cream and into the dark chocolate pudding beneath. After tasting a bite, he nearly rolled his eyes with pleasure. “Damn—Excuse me, this is delicious, Mrs. Braybourne.”
“Aggie.”
“Aggie.”
“Well, I wish I could accept the compliment, Darcy, but I didn’t make it. Silver did. It’s her special recipe.”
“A special recipe?”
“I call it Braybourne Bourbon Pie.”
Darcy licked his lips. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted. And I’ve tasted the—” He caught himself before he told her about the various chefs who’d worked for him over the years. “I mean, it’s absolutely delicious.”
“Why do you look so surprised?” Silver demanded. “I’ll have you know that I’m an excellent cook.”
“Yes,” Harden said, with a proud smile. “My Silver will make some man a very good wife.”
“Daddy…” Silver said warningly.
“And I know just the man.”
“Daddy, please don’t—”
“He’s itching like a racehorse at the gate.”
“Harden.” Aggie’s smooth voice broke in. “Stop teasing Silver in front of Darcy.”
“I wasn’t teasing,” Harden blustered.
Silver was unable to hold back any longer. “Well, you should have been.”
Darcy cleared his throat and changed the subject. “I’ve been admiring your garden, Aggie. My mother would be so envious she’d be asking for cuttings.”
Aggie beamed at the compliment. “You know, Darcy, I’ve been working on that garden out there ever since I came here as a bride.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Silver, why don’t you take Darcy outside and show it off for me.”
“What? No.” She shook her head and her mother looked surprised. “I’d rather not.”
“Sylvia,” Harden boomed, “don’t speak back to your mother like that.”
“Excuse me, Mama,” Silver said automatically. Then she set her jaw, sending her father a lightning-bolt stare. “Really, Daddy, there’s no need to—”
Aggie started to interrupt, but Darcy stood up instead and got everyone’s attention. He was anxious to escape an uncomfortable situation—and afraid he’d accidentally stick his foot in his mouth again. It had been hard enough watching every word as it was. “I’d really like to see the flowers, Silver, if you wouldn’t mind. Maybe walk off your pie a bit before I turn in.”
Silver hesitated for a moment, then pushed her chair back and rose to her feet. “If you’d like.” Darcy fought back a grin. The resignation in her voice would have done justice to an aristocrat on the way to the guillotine. He followed her through the archway and into the hall, admiring her fluid stride as she led the way out of the house, onto the front porch and around to the side garden.
Silver stopped, waving her arm. “This is the garden.”
Darcy chuckled. “So I see.”
Dusk was falling, and the garden glowed with serenity as it waited for night. All around were the sounds of chirping crickets and the low guttural cry of frogs in the nearby ponds. Darcy could feel the peace seeping into him. It was the same sense he remembered as a child strolling with his grandfather over the fields and through the woods of Virginia. He really missed his grandfather.
Sighing, Darcy strolled over to a stone bench and sat down. He patted the seat, inviting Silver to sit next to him. When she didn’t move, he added an incentive. “Afraid?”
Silver stalked over and plunked herself down. “Of you? Hardly.”
“I thought I might make you nervous, is all.”
“Why would you think that?”
Placing his hand on her bare arm, Darcy gently slid his fingers down until they reached the back of her hand.