“Something wrong?” Miles asked.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m irrationally irritated because someone has apparently taken me up on my completely insincere offer to help organize the Harvest Festival.”
“Ah. I see. So would this be a bad time for me to ask what I’m supposed to bring?”
Piper sighed. “What would youliketo bring?”
He scratched his head and looked up at the sky. “Well. Um. My wife was our household chef. But she passed away. Two years ago, about this time. Ovarian cancer. And I’m afraid I haven’t learned much in the way of cookery since she ... left. I can make a lovely spotted dick, though.”
Piper had watched just enough episodes of theGreat British Baking Showto know this wasn’t an inappropriate sexual innuendo.
“Can you remind me . . .”
“Oh yes, of course. Spotted dick is a steamed pudding. Quite lovely.”
She pinched her lips together, stifling a juvenile desire to giggle. Why couldn’t they have one of those English people who whipped up coronation cakes or a Victoria sponge with Italian meringue? It was like getting an American who didn’t know how to make apple pie. Although come to think of it, she’d never actually made an apple pie herself.
“I’m sure your ... spotted dick ... will be perfect,” she said, glancing at Rosamund, who was staring at their neighbor with a thoughtful expression.
“So what exactly do you teach at Georgetown?” Rosamund asked.
“Ah, yes. Well, I teach biology classes to freshman, of course, when it can’t be avoided, but my real area of expertise is wildlife biology, with a particular interest in the North American red fox. In fact, I’m running a research study right now. A couple of our neighbors have just given me permission to place wildlife cameras in their backyards, and also here in the cul-de-sac, as I attempt to learn more about their habits in heavily populated areas. In fact, if you ladies would be willing ...”
Piper’s heart leaped. She wouldlovecameras in her backyard. And more cameras in her front yard to augment the Ring camera too.
“Absolutely. Front yard. Backyard. Anywhere you like, as long as I can look at the footage every now and then ... you know ... just for fun,” she added.
“Thank youever so much,” he said. “This is very helpful.” He turned to Rosamund. “And would you be willing also, to donate your backyard to science?”
“How about a trade,” Rosamund said. “You can put cameras in my backyard ... but in exchange you become a guest lecturer at the Beaverbrook Academy for Inquiring Minds. You teach our kids about the scientific method, about wildlife biology and the North American red fox.”
A smile creased his face. “I would be honored. But I’m afraid I must ask for additional compensation for my services.”
Rosamund raised an eyebrow. “What kind ofcompensation?”
“Well, I don’t need money. But I could use some cooking lessons.”
Piper watched as Rosamund’s face lit up, making her every bit as lovely as Sigrid Thovaldsdotter, the Shield-Maiden of Stamendahl from one of Rosamund’s romance novels.
“Deal.” Rosamund gave him a brilliant smile. “We’ll start with sausage and mashed potatoes.”
The corner of his eyes crinkled as he smiled back. “Bangers and mash?”
She inclined her head in a little bow. “I look forward to it.”
Piper glanced from Miles to Rosamund as they gazed at each other for just a second longer than necessary for polite conversation.
Potluck suppers. Wildlife cameras. Secret diaries. And now,romance?
What could possibly happen next? An alien abduction?
She picked up her coffee mug and tried to hide a smile as her exhaustion temporarily melted away.
Chapter Forty
Lillian
A little more than a week later, Lillian Landry sat on her front porch, binoculars clutched in her hand. Major events were happening next door.
