"Yes," said Caroline, ducking her head as she threaded the frilly valance onto the curtain rod. She and her maid had been over this territory three times in the last hour and her story was sounding less believable with each telling. If only Abby's eyes weren't so sharp. Caroline had awakened early that morning, hoping to cart the tray of soiled dishes down to the kitchen before Abby saw them but the girl was already at the stove preparing breakfast and Caroline's secret was out. "And he brought you food?" Abby asked, her hazel eyes dancing with excitement. "Chicken with gravy and biscuits. Same menu as it was the last time I told you." Abby sighed. "Your wedding supper." "Do not make more of it than it was. We spoke only of business." And that was the truth for all else that had happened between them, had happened without words. Somehow last night they had stopped being enemies and had become if not allies, then something akin to it. He was a hard man, Jesse Reardon was, and not always a fair one and she wondered what it had cost him in the way of pride to show her the kindness he had showed her last night as they ate their wedding supper and pretended nothing had changed between them.
