I glanced up at her and attempted to hide a wince. No wonder the housekeeper was curt. Davina’s hair was spilling from her remaining pins. I’d have assumed it was mussed from a lover’s caress if I hadn’t known better. “Not everyone’s father was a duke,” I replied.
“Your grandfather was an earl,” she retorted.
I shrugged, giving her credit for a point well struck. Tentatively, I took a bite of the bread, regretting it almost immediately. “Or there’s sawdust in the dough, that would lessen the rise.”
“That bad?” she asked, disappointment written across her face.
“Worse.”
“Ugh, I was hungry too.”
“I’ve got a bit of bread in my bag. We can stop at the next inn,” I offered, taking a minuscule sip of tea. It was, perhaps, more unfortunate than the bread—it may have seen a tea leaf in its lifetime, but it certainly hadn’t been touched by one, too bland even for the name.
She nodded, eagerly accepting my offer.
“We’ll be off,” I called to the housekeeper.
“It’s three shillings,” she shouted back.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me.”
“One shilling, no more,” I replied. “It was barely edible,” I added under my breath. From my periphery, I saw Davina catch her lip between her teeth and bit back my own answering smile.
“Are you insulting my cooking?”
“Yes,” I muttered, and Davina covered a chuckle with a dainty cough. “Merely the price of it,” I added louder. I tossed a shilling onto the table, still far too much for such fare. “One shilling. We didn’t finish it and I’m certain you plan to serve it to the next unsuspecting patron. They can pay your three shillings.”
Davina’s hand slipped into mine and tugged me along before the housekeeper and I could get into a more expansive discussion about the legalities of her business.
As soon as the door swung shut, she broke away and burst into bubbling laughter. One hand found her chest, and her head tipped back, glee etched across her face.
Behind her, I caught Alfie peering from around the barn door. “It’s all right, Rory. She’s laughin’ not dyin’,” he called out.
“Not that I don’t appreciate the enthusiasm, but it wasn’t that funny,” I said.
“No, it was just—” Giggles erupted again. “Your face,” she added between chuckles.
“Well, now I find the enthusiasm a little more insulting.”
“No, I’ve just never seen you look anything other than sullen. I’ve started categorizing that thing you do with your lip that I believe is your version of a smile. But your face when she said three shillings...” She curled up one lip and squinted the eye above, furrowing the same brow in some absurd sort of mimicry.
“I make that expression every time your brother arrives to tell me of another one of your exploits.”
“I’ve been responsible for that expression?” There was too much excitement in her tone. “That may be my greatest accomplishment.”
“Oi,” Rory called, pulling my gaze to the newly readied carriage. “Thought ye were breaking yer fast.”
“Trust me, you want to wait until the next inn,” I replied as she sidled up to us.
“That bad?”
“Worse, three shillings worse.”
“Three shillings? That’s highway robbery. And what’s got her cackling?”
“My face, apparently.”
