Again Everett found himself chuckling. "You mean vino and graci isn't a rudimentary understanding?" He leaned back in his chair, finding himself rather enjoying this evening after all.

The smells of the kitchen wafted around them and Everett inhaled. "Well, I hope you enjoy the meal as much as you languages." Was it safe to assume she liked languages? To hide his overstep he leaned toward her slightly and admitted in a lower voice, "I confess I've never eaten Italian food. I can only hope it is good." And definitely that he didn't get food poisioning. That would definitely put more of a damper on their trip than the rain currently falling outside.

  

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Thank you MJ <3

She shook her head with a hint of an amused smile. "No, not nearly enough." In her opinion, to conduct a professional meeting with someone of a foreign language and only know two words was insulting. That was, however, not an opinion she would share with him at any point. Hopefully in time he could be coached to be a smooth professional.

"I hope to enjoy it," she said, her smile dipping back into the polite one she'd had on all evening. "Neither have I," she then admitted. The food certainly smelled delicious, though. Perhaps there was something Italy might have held over France after all.

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set by mj

"It looks like we won't have to wait long to find out." Everett nodded at the server making his way to their table at long last. The smell of herbs washed over the table and Everett found himself inhaling as the food was placed in front of them. Everett could honestly say he had no idea what the food was on his plate, but it looked as delicious as it smelled.

"Graci." Everett nodded as sincerely as he could manage, hoping that Verity would step in if his praise was not effusive enough in a mere thank you.

Once the waiter had left Everett waited for Verity to take a bite before doing the same. It was delicious. Wonderful. Flavorful. Dare say better than anything he might have had at home (although that might be because he more often than not ate at the pub than at home). He leaned forward again with a low voice to admit, "I have no idea what this is, but it is delicious." Then realizing he was likely being rude in some manner by not asking about her food first he leaned back and looked at her, "How is your's?"

  

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Thank you MJ <3

The meal set before them was unlike any Verity had ever enjoyed. Even before having a bite of it she knew it would be the best food put to her mouth. The creamy sauce was divine and, rather suddenly, she found herself ravenous for the first time in weeks. She very nearly forgot Everett was across from her altogether, and would've been content to eat in silence had he not spoken.

The two bites she had managed were still only just swallowed when she nodded in agreement. "It's incredible." Verity agreed enthusiastically whilst forcing herself to place her fork down so that she wouldn't appear to be a glutton. "I wonder what sort of cheese they use to give it such wonderful flavor." Cheese was one of the most potent flavors in the dish for her, at least. That and the herbs used to season.

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set by mj

Having had no reason in his life to step into a kitchen (he had a valet for a reason after all) Everett couldn't have told Verity a thing about cheese. Or herbs, or literally anything beyond the dish was the best he had ever had. "Whatever it is, I wonder if they have employed angels to make it?" That was likely toeing the line of blashphemy but Everett had never been truly devoted to his faith so toeing the line from time to time seemed fair enough.

Everett took a sip of his wine and set the glass down. The combination was even better than either on their own. "Try it with the wine." He encouraged enthusiastically nodding at her glass. "I don't know how it can get better, but the wine pairing does it."

  

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Thank you MJ <3

For the first time that day since before joining him at the altar, Verity froze for a moment. She had forcibly stopped herself from drinking the wine so that she wouldn't become inebriated and lose touch with her senses. The last time she had enjoyed more than a half glass of champagne she'd been taken from a ballroom. Even now, months later, she still remembered the dig of the wand at her side. She still remembered looking frantically for Noble as if he might somehow save her.

Was Everett hoping the wine would relax her for later? Or was he truly enjoying the meal and wishing to share with her? Verity blinked once to push herself back into reality, to remove the blank expression on her face and resume the easy meal they'd been sharing thus far. Her pause lasted but a second, easily missed if he wasn't paying her any attention. Merlin, she was going to have endure that all over again.

Raising her glass to her lips, Verity took a single sip and returned it to its place on the table. While he was right that it paired wonderfully with the meal, she was now too fearful to truly enjoy it. "You're right. They do go together amazingly. Their chef is certainly talented." She commented. Small talk would distract them both, she hoped. At the very least, it would be light enough that she would be able to focus on anything else but her now racing thoughts.

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"He truly is." Everett nodded with enthusiastic agreement. "How much of a traitor to Queen and country am I, if I were to say there is nothing as marvelous as this back home?" The British people were a proud people after all and Everett would always count himself a Queen's man, especially given his profession, but was it treason to admit that the Italians, or at least this particular chef, was beyond anything England could create on its own?

  

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Thank you MJ <3

Relieved that he hadn't noticed her momentary break, Verity paused their conversation to take a small bite of her food. Although it tasted exactly the same, it now bore the weight of her stress and she was uncertain how much she would actually manage to eat. "There are a great many things you may say about our country. However, that we are culinary masters is not one." How could they be when such exemplary foods existed elsewhere?

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"You mean to tell me," Everett started pulling his face into a look out disbelief, "That meat pies aren't as good as this?" He pulled a face but then grinned. "Well, we oughten let anyone catch on, it might be considered traitorous to suggest that the British aren't good at everything." Everett took another bite and sighed. "But between you and me," He added when he finished his bite, "I quite agree."

  

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Thank you MJ <3

"I could live my entire life and not have another meat pie." She replied seriously. The meal was a staple in any English house and was by far one of her least favorites. Even a bland stew was better than a meat pie. "Especially if it meant enjoying this every day." She added after a small bite.

Fighting through the onset of panic was difficult, even with his charming smile and sincere laughter. "Of course, once we return to Hogsmeade meat pies will resume their place as my favorite. You won't be named the husband of a traitor."

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Everett's brow creased slightly at that, Verity seemed serious enough though and Everett prided himself on his perception of facial expressions (otherwise he certainly wouldn't be as accomplished at his job as he was). Which was why he felt the need to assure her, "You needn't eat another one. Once you've hired a cook you can permantly take it off the menu." Everett on the other hand didn't mind a meat pie from time to time, but there was always a pub supper for that. Not that a meat pie could compare to this.

Again she surprised him with her wit and Everett laughed, although part of him wondered if he had mistepped in assuming her dislike of meat pies vesus meat pies compared to whatever it was they were eating right now. "I shall endeavor to do the same then." To cover up his discomfort he grinned as he said this statement then settled in to eat his meal in earnest. It would be a waste if it went cold, even if they were having a delightful conversation.

  

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Thank you MJ <3

It was near impossible to imagine what they would eat if not meat pies, at least on an infrequent basis. She'd endured so many of them within the last few years that having other options stunned her for a moment. After all, she had assumed he already had the basic staff in place. A housekeeper, a cook, perhaps a footman or maid. That he was expecting her to hire staff herself was both disorienting and exciting. "Perhaps not permanently, maybe just once every fortnight or so." She replied diplomatically. Just because she had a dislike of them didn't mean that he did.

Verity returned to her meal then. It would be a shame for the delicious food to turn cold.

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set by mj

"As you wish." Everett nodded his assent, not particularly caring about the menu. As a bachelor he more often than not ate at the pub or the club for supper and rarely dined home, making the idea of a meal at home sound wonderful.

The rest of their meal was amiable although a tad more quiet as they enjoyed their meals. Everett noted that Verity's wine glass was remained untouched even as a dessert was served. As the server removed the last of the meal, Everett looked at Verity, was it just him or did she look tired? He couldn't blame her, it had been a very long day.

As Everett stood he had to resist the urge to stretch, sitting in a cramped chair for a long time always made him stiff. At least it hadn't been a dinner party back home where he remained seated for hours at a time. Those were always tougher to sit through. Instead, with thoughts of his waiting feather bed, Everett walked around to Verity's chair and pulled it out, offering her a small bow and then his arm. "Shall we?"

  

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Tension slowly crept up her neck the closer they drew to concluding their meal. Soon, they would be walking back to her bedroom and she would have to endure the intimacy of married life. Verity had nearly caused her palms to bleed while listening to her mother's flowery take on the subject. Even if it was a match of true love, she couldn't fathom how the act could be anything but painful. It had taken her weeks to fully recover from the first time.

After watching the dessert dishes be taken from the table, Verity turned her attention back towards him and felt her blood run cold. Already? Surely they didn't have to go so soon? But, he was already standing and awaiting her arm and what choice did she have? Verity stood as gracefully as she could and took his arm. Whatever came next, she would be brave.

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set by mj

It was a surprisingly quiet walk back to the room given how chatty they had been (much to Everett's surprise) during supper. Everett chalked it up to Verity's tiredness - and, well, his own. It had been a long day for both of them after all and the meal had been heavy and the wine good. He supposed he couldn't blame either of them for being quiet.

Slowly they made their way up the stairs and down the hall to Verity's door. Everett stopped and looked down at his wife. His wife whom he was rather unsure he would ever be able to call wife in the true sense of the word.

Had Everett not been the one to rescue Verity. Had he had seen the stains and her own fear himself, things might have been different. But he hadn't married her for anything other than her own sake, he would not unfairly force her into anything she did not wish (except perhaps a marriage to save her reputation). So he waited for her to let go of his arm then turned and bowed, "Good night Mrs. Swann."

  

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Thank you MJ <3

Nerves kept her quiet as they walked through the hotel back towards her room. Memories of the last time played on an endless loop with each one leaving her a breath more panicked. Her mother ensured her there were ways to make it pleasurable for them both, but who was to say Everett was aware of such methods? What if he was as forceful as her captor had been?

Her only saving grace from Everett becoming aware of her growing panic was her determination to not be weak in front of him. He had witnessed the immediate aftermath and how desperate she'd felt in that moment. It left her powerless and completely at his mercy. Never again would he see her unravel as much as she had that day. He would have his way, she would endure it, and then he would leave. Only then could she break under the stress of the day.

Except, when they reached her room he bowed as if to leave her for the night. Verity untangled herself from his arm and took a small step towards the door before looking up at him fully. A dutiful wife would invite him in, but she was no dutiful wife. "Good night, Mr. Swann," she returned with a small curtsy, her expression an unreadable mix of confusion and relief. "Until tomorrow."

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set by mj