Cook glanced at Felicity, her lips twitching. “What fillings would you like, my ladies?”
“Rhubarb!” Pandora whooped, twirling herself around, plait whipping wildly.
Felicity let out a soft snort. The girl’s exuberance was catching. “Lemon, for me, please.”
“Perfect, we have ingredients for both of those. You two get to cutting and kneading, and I’ll collect what we need for the filling. Make sure to flour the counter and your hands generously.”
Within minutes Felicity and Pandora were covered nearly head-to-toe in flour—the girl was a bit enthusiastic with her pie preparations.
“So, pistols?” Felicity asked, pressing the heel of her hand into her dough. “Is that something you and your father partake in often? I’ve never shot a pistol before.”
Pandora’s blue eyes widened as she smashed her dough with her knuckles, poofs of flour billowing into the air. “Never?”
Felicity shook her head.
“Don’t worry, I am sure you will catch on quickly. Papa will show you. He is the most excellent tutor. He is the one who has instructed me on my dressage. He is truly the best of fathers.”
Felicity was coming to see that. He may appear gruff and withdrawn, surly even, but it seemed to be just that—an appearance, an act. Felicity had no idea what the reason behind the facade was, but if the smile he shot his daughter earlier was any indication, the love the man held for his daughter surpassed all measure. She was desperate to find out more about the man.
Pandora leaned forward, her eyes narrowing conspiratorially. “My goal is to be a better shot than both my brothers. I plan to best them both at my birthday in pistolsandarchery. That is if Jacob shows. But Colborn always comes, and I will most definitely best him.”
“An admirable goal, one I can’t say I wouldn’t secretly have as well.” Felicity leaned into her dough as she pressed her knuckles into it, working the dough and the anxiety of the near-accident out of her system.
Pistols, dressage, breeches. While Felicity loved everything that made Pandora unique, the girl did need to behave as a lady ought when she was out in society, at least for appearances sake. To survive in this world. As unfortunate as that fact may be.
“Pandora, do you happen to have a governess? I haven’t heard mention or seen one and usually a weekday is not a day a governess would have off.”
Pandora stilled, and then immediately began flattening her dough again. “Urm. No, I do not. Papa has had trouble finding one who is the right fit. None of them stay very long once they begin working with me. It is unfortunate Papa cannot teach me how to be a proper lady. But not being one himself…” She bobbed her shoulder. “I hate disappointing him.”
She looked up at Felicity and there was such innocent sincerity shining in her blue irises it made Felicity’s heart ache. Felicity reached over and squeezed Pandora’s wrist, leaving a floury handprint on the girl’s arm. They both looked at it and broke out in giggles.
It was difficult to learn of this dynamic between Pandora and the Duke, that he was nothing like his wastrel son and everything like what Felicity had imagined for her future. Fondness and acceptance and loyalty.
But she shoved those thoughts aside, because if she didn’t succeed withThe Planshe was ensured to never have a chance at any of those things. It was quite clear Colborn was not his father and, unfortunately, Felicity was betrothed to Colby and not the Duke.
She frowned at the errant thought.
She gave her dough some extra hard thumps, beating away her runaway thoughts. “Would you tell me a bit about what you struggle with, Pandora? Perhaps I can be of assistance.”
Pandora’s blonde eyebrows twisted together, and she went slightly cross-eyed as she contemplated. Felicity bit back another smile.
“I suppose I find the typical ladylike activities rather boring. I struggle with sitting still, so embroidering and watercolors and sketching drive me batty. The pianoforte wasn’tsobad because at least my fingers and feet were occupied. But my mind would wander and then I would lose track of what I was supposed to be playing, where I was on the sheet of music.
“And goodness, wearing dresses is so inconvenient. And they wanted me to know all these rules about how to act in society and be graceful.Me.” Pandora scoffed and then chewed on her lip. “I think they would get frustrated with my lack of interest and quit on me. I do try,” she added quietly.
“Hmmm,” Felicity hummed thoughtfully. “I don’t think you need to force yourself to practice activities you do not like. Did you know archery is considered an acceptable accomplishment for a lady?”
Pandora’s face lit up. “Truly?”
“Yes, though I don’t think pistols would be. So perhaps just like I keep baking a secret, you keep that one to yourself as well.” She winked at Pandora, and the girl’s face split in a dimple-popping smile.
“It’ll be our secret! Our friendship secret.”
“Exactly,” Felicity said, grinning back at the girl. “Now, you have archery, which is fantastic. But an activity you must be accomplished in, no exceptions, would be dancing. Have you had a dance instructor?”
Pandora’s face fell. “I did, but I broke my last one’s foot.”
Felicity’s eyebrows shot to the ceiling. “Pardon?”
