Amelia stood beside the preparation table with flour dusting her sleeves and a streak across one cheek. David was covered in even more of it. Valerie appeared only marginally cleaner. Mixing bowls, spoons, and ingredients occupied every available surface while several servants stood nearby wearing expressions of helpless resignation.
Gabriel’s eye twitched. Then he noticed David laughing. Not smiling. Laughing.
The boy was clutching his stomach while Grover sat beside him, hoping for dropped food. Gabriel’s gaze shifted towards Valerie. His niece was smiling as well, the expression bright and entirely unguarded.
For one shocking moment, Gabriel genuinely considered retreating before anyone noticed him.
Then Amelia looked up. Their eyes met.
Of course.
“Your Grace!” she called cheerfully. “Perfect timing.”
Gabriel remained where he was. “I sincerely doubt that.”
Amelia ignored the warning in his voice. “Come and help.”
“No.”
“You did not even consider it,” she pouted playfully.
“I considered it,” Gabriel replied dryly, “for less than a second.”
David laughed. Amelia pointed a wooden spoon towards him. “You are disappointing the children.”
“I suspect disappointing people is one of my more consistent talents.”
Valerie made a suspicious choking sound that looked remarkably like suppressed laughter.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. His niece immediately became interested in the mixing bowl.
Amelia seemed entirely untroubled by his presence. “Very well,” she said as she resumed stirring. “You may stand there and glower if you prefer.”
“I do not…” Then he stopped. He had no mind to correct the governess that he did not glower.
“I had assumed as much…” she teased.
Gabriel folded his arms. He had absolutely no intention of participating. Unfortunately, leaving seemed equally impossible.
He remained where he was while pretending complete indifference to everything occurring around him. The performance might have been more convincing had he not spent the next ten minutes observing every interaction. David was talking more than Gabriel had heard him talk in so long. Valerie occasionally contributed comments of her own. Amelia somehow managed to keep both children engaged while simultaneously directing servants and preparing food.
It is all deeply suspicious.
When the custard and other treats were finally finished, Amelia stepped back and admired the result as though she had completed a masterpiece.
“There,” she declared proudly.
Mrs. Jacobs looked impressed despite herself. David immediately attempted to sample it. Valerie slapped his hand away before he succeeded.
Amelia laughed.
Then, to Gabriel’s horror, she announced another plan.
“We shall eat outside—a picnic. It is a lovely day for it,” she said.
Gabriel closed his eyes briefly.
Strike two.
