She sighed, leaned back some in his arms, and feigned boredom. “I think neither. I am sure it is only a transparent attempt to charm me. I shall just rummage around the pantry and have some bread and cheese whenever you decide to put me down. There is no hurry of course, as my feet are still slightly chilled.”

“I am glad to hear that. Especially since I would see teaching you how to cook as a complete waste of time.”

“True, true,” she admitted. “And I would not wish you to waste your time on me, Fitzwilliam, when you have so many other things to do here on this island. Please, do put me down and go and do them. I will not mind.”

“Put you down? Certainly not,” Darcy shifted his hand supporting her bottom to firm up his hold on her. “You have made me quite hungry now.”

She laughed, “So you exert yourself by holding me up so that your appetite will increase? Is that your strategy? Well, if you had only helped me build a fire in the stove, I would have had pancakes for you in a very short while,” she said slyly. “But then perhaps that is not the hunger you speak of? You do not want me as a cook?”