“Thank you. I do feel good except for being tired. Anyway, I’m so glad you came.”
“Where is your dashing duke?” Charlotte asked.
“Around somewhere. He’ll be in shortly. What do you think?” Amity held up the knitting needles with cream-colored yarn and a mass of tangled wool.
Charlotte couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing. “What is it?”
Amity didn’t bother to look miffed. “First, I thought I would knit the baby a bonnet, but rather quickly, I decided it had best be something straight, like a blanket.”
“What changed your mind to making a spider’s web?” Charlotte asked, lifting one edge of the disaster. They laughed together.
“I shall buy you a soft, beautiful bonnet and a blanket for the baby,” Charlotte promised. “Please don’t inflict this disaster on my little lambkin, be it a boy or a girl.”
Picking up the knitting, needles and all, Amity tossed it into the chair across from her as the door to the drawing room opened. The duke entered followed by Lord Jeffcoat.
At once, Charlotte knew the viscount was the surprise her brother-in-law had mentioned.
“Have you given up on the knitting?” the duke asked. “But you had me buy you a cart load of wool for that bonnet.”
“It was a blanket,” Amity corrected, as Lord Jeffcoat nodded in greeting and moved forward to lift the snarled wool from the chair before sitting.
“Was it truly?” he asked. “I think you’re both wrong. I think it’s a...,” he paused and lifted it up, then held it out, then shook his head. “I’m sorry, it is like nothing I’ve ever seen.”
Charlotte smiled at the viscount’s attempt to placate. He looked particularly handsome in dark gray, with a cream cravat.
“You are all having fun at my expense,” Amity said. “And I don’t mind a bit! Give the wool away to someone who has more patience.”
“Don’t give up, dear sister.” Charlotte patted Amity’s hand. “Many find knitting to be entertaining. Why don’t I find you an easy pattern to try. You have loads of time on your hands now that young Edward is nearly as good a chocolatier as you are.”
“Whoa!” Both of the men exclaimed at once, as if reining in a wayward horse.
Charlotte chuckled. “My sister knows two things, gentlemen. One, that I think the world of her and believe her to be the best chocolatier ever, no matter that we tease each other. And two, she knows we need Edward to become as good as he possibly can so we don’t offer our customers inferior confectionery.”
“Which brings us to the newspaper article,” Amity said. “It sounds as though you had a particularly bad day.”
“What article?” Charles asked, and the duke filled him in before either of the ladies had a chance to.
“In my defense,” Charlotte said, “I was unaware that the confectionery I was selling that day had been made almost exclusively by Edward. Bea never said a word.”
Amity shook her head. “Nor did I. I am truly sorry. I had him here for a couple days of experimenting. I had no idea what he made would end up on the shelves. I should have paid more attention.”
“My duchess is a little scatter-brained of late,” the duke said, looking fondly at her. “I find it utterly charming.” He crouched down beside her, lifted her hand to his lips, and kissed it.
Charlotte and the viscount exchanged a glance and a bemused smile until the duke took his seat.
“Be that as it may,” Charlotte said, “the reporter was not in the least bit charmed by anything at Rare Confectionery. I really cannot blame her. And I must hope I can find another reporter to give us a glowing review and undo the damage.” She took a deep breath. “But that will have to wait until after the construction starts.”
Three faces turned to her, although the viscount knew about everything.
Amity placed her hands upon her burgeoning stomach, and repeated, “Construction?”
Chapter Sixteen
“Yes,” Charlotte declared. It was time to tell her. “I am expanding Rare Confectionery.”
“You are expanding...,” Amity began and trailed off. “But I don’t see how that’s possible. Where are you expanding it to?”
“The only thing we need is a staircase,” Charlotte assured her. “I’ve signed a lease for the second floor.”
