The footmen collected the bowls and then they were replaced by the next course. A fish course. It was Herring Pye (pie), herring and butter that was baked in puff pastry. And it was delicious. Amelia could not help but to make a sound in the back of her throat at her first taste of puff pastry. She closed her eyes and nearly wept with genuine delight... And then his words registered.

She darted a glance back to him. "Is that what you want, Mister Appleton? Or is it more than that?" she put her fork to the side for the moment and tilted her head, "Do you want this to be nothing but a business arrangement, or do you want me to fall in love with you? Tell me what you need out of this marriage. If it's affection, I've already been finding that easier to obtain than I thought I would."