Beautiful wooden cabinets lined the walls, and Isabelle showed Gwen where the dishes and utensils were kept. For such an imposing room, it was just as charming as the rest of the house, especially the island where they stood. It only needed flowers. Then it would be perfect. There were three sinks, too, and each had a water pump and a drain.

They had plumbing after all.

After a while, the silence became deafening and Gwen had had enough. She wanted to enjoy her time with Gavin and Isabelle, and that’s just what she intended to do. “Gavin, would you light the stove for me and put some stools around the island?” she asked. “That table’s too big for just the three of us.”

Gavin quietly went about the duties that she asked of him, and Gwen turned to Isabelle next. “Isabelle, why don’t you set the table, but find a fry pan and a small boiling pot first.”

“She’s bossy isn’t she, Bella?” Gavin asked with a soft smile.

“Aye, Gavin, she is,” Isabelle replied with a cautious smile herself. “But we are going to keep her.”

“Aye, Bella,” he answered, returning her smile. “We are.”

Their exchange hit Gwen so hard she almost cut herself. They were in love with each other. Deeply in love. Gavin obviously had a reason for keeping his distance. But Gwen was determined to find out what it was. Then she would put an end to it.

Thinking of how to approach him when she had the chance, Gwen put the fry pan on the stove and added the meat she’d cut into small pieces. She walked to the cabinets again, digging around. “Yes!”

“What have you found now, lady?” Gavin asked dryly.

“A new job for you,” she answered with a smile. She handed him the bowl and pestle, then scooped some coffee beans from the canister she’d placed them in earlier. “Not too fine, Gavin,” she instructed, “or we’ll be drinking mud.”

Gwen went back to the stove, adding diced potatoes and onions to the pan. Then she boiled water for the coffee.

“Isabelle, will you find some teacups and grab the sugar, too, please?”

“She’s bossier than I ever imagined, Gavin.” Isabelle laughed.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Gwen said defensively, “we’re almost done, and I promise you’ll be happy. Gavin, we need one more thing, please.”

“Aye, lady, what else can I get for you,” he muttered with a sigh. “I swear, next time you’re hungry, you’re waiting for Cook or Anna.”