“Oh, just eat the damn cake thing.” She pressed a fork into my hand. Her gaze was eager.
On closer inspection, these were not precisely the same as Mrs. Ainsley’s fairy cakes. The lack of frosting was the least of my concerns, but I took a tentative bite. As expected, the center was more or less uncooked. But strangely, the outside had a sharp burnt flavor and texture to it. Worse still, were the lumps of unmixed flour sprinkled throughout.
“It’s good,” I warbled through a mouthful, questioning the wisdom of swallowing.
“You’re a shit liar, Summers,” Sydney retorted. Lizzie’s repressed laughter escaped an in indelicate snort.
“I know there’s no icing, but we got distracted,” Davina confessed.
“Darling, I know you’re soused, but don’t make him eat that,” Sydney added, this time to his cackling wife.
“Are they that wrong?” Davina asked, concern shifting over her brow. “I know they don’t look like Mrs. Ainsley’s, but I thought they might be all right.”
Finally, I swallowed, regretting the choice almost immediately. “I should have warned you. Lizzie is a terrible baker on her best day. After five-eighths of a bottle of whiskey, it was always a risky endeavor.”
In spite of my assurances, her face fell a little. I caught her hand again and laced her fingers through mine. I could feel the cool band of Mum’s ring against my finger, waiting for Davina’s. I tamped down the urge to slide it on without permission,resisted the urge to make her mine. “Don’t be sad. If you really wish to learn, we can ask Mrs. Ainsley if she might teach us a simple recipe.”
“You think she’ll agree to it?”
“Will and I are her best customers. I suspect she might be willing to do us a favor.”
“Ugh, you both ruined my fun,” Lizzie said. “I wanted to see if he’d eat the entire thing just to keep from hurting your feelings.”
“Go to bed, Lizzie. You’re in the wind,” I suggested.
“Can’t.”
“Why not?”
“’Cause I like your wife now. And that means I can’t use my first plan anymore. I was going to have you sleep with the boys and her with the girls.”
“Oh, I don’t mind—” Davina began.
“No, you do. Sarah kicks and Maddie sleeps sideways.”
“And where do we sleep now that you like her?” I asked.
“You’re gettin’ our room. But only for tonight. If you stay any longer, it’s flying feet and head smacks all night long.”
Sydney merely sighed, wearing a look of affection for his wife. “You heard the lady. Best hurry before she changes her mind.”
Abandoning the children to their games, Alfie chose that moment to sit down and snag a fairy cake. He dug a nearby spoon into the ramekin and took a bite, seemingly oblivious to the eyes watching him with weary anticipation. And then he took another bite. And another. Until the ramekin was empty but for crumbs.
“This is great. Do ye mind if I have another one?”
We all shook our heads, watching with astonishment as he made quick work of a second before starting on the third. In the end, they were all cleared and stacked on the table besidehim. He tipped the chair back on two legs, rubbing his belly in a pleased manner.
“And on that note, we’ll be heading upstairs now,” I said, tugging Davina along behind me for once, nerves and anticipation fluttering in my chest.
Nineteen
EARNSHAW RESIDENCE—APRIL 11, 1817
DAVINA
The whiskey didnothing to steady my nerves when I realized where Kit was leading me, though, truly, Lizzie had consumed the majority of the bottle.
But I knew what lay behind the door he was opening. And it was one very moderately sized bed. There was no settee, no lounge, not even a fluffy rug. Only a bed, a vanity, a wardrobe, and a tub behind a screen. And just one of those was conducive to sleep.
