Page 20 of A Cake of Cherries and Charm

His smile grew. “I enjoyed it.” And to Rosie’s surprise, as he bowed, she realized that she was rather sure he was telling the truth.

Unfortunately, when he was gone, and Rosie found herself alone with her work again, she realized that she suddenly felt his absence far more than she ought.

Chapter

Nine

Snow burst into the kitchen that night just as Rosie was using a long wooden paddle to pull a miniature cake out of the oven. It was late, and as Rosie had been working in silence for an hour and a half, she startled so much that she nearly dropped the cake.

“You were attacked by a troll, and you didn’t tell me?” Snow demanded.

Rosie sighed as she gently slid the cake off the paddle onto the table and turned to face her twin. Even in the low light of the fire from the oven and the few candles that were lit, she could see the deep circles beneath her sister’s eyes.

“Hello to you, too,” she said dryly.

“This is serious, Rose!” Snow snapped.

“I tried to tell you,” Rosie said, examining the cake from the side. “But you’ve literally been with the queen for the last four days. You’re gone when I wake up, and you get back after I tuck Mother in. And yes, I might see you at supper now and then, but as soon as we’re done, you’re gone again.”

Snow crossed her arms. “When you said protection from trolls, I thought you meant in general! I didn’t realize you’d survived one! I sit next to you at supper! Why couldn’t you tell me then?”

Rosie raised one brow. “Would you like to discuss our troll problem at dinner with everyone there to listen in and give advice?” That, and Snow was generally engaged in conversation with the king or the queen or her betrothed. The sisters had not shared a single private moment together for the better part of a week.

Snow glared at her, but Rosie just waved her off.

“And the troll didn’t attack me. I was the one who attacked her.”

“Her?” Snow echoed. Then she blinked. “Wait, you attacked a troll? With what weapon?” Based on the high pitch of her voice, Rosie’s twin would go into hysterics in a moment if Rosie didn’t calm her down.

“Yes, she. She is Frederick’s troll’s dear sister, come to avenge her departed brother. And I used a rolling pin.” Rosie pinched off a tiny piece of cake, burning her fingers as she did. But to her relief, the texture was perfect. She’d been worried that working in the castle ovens and with their pans might change the way the cake rose. “Here. Taste this.”

Snow glowered at the cake for a moment. But just when Rosie began to wonder if she’d refused, she huffed. “I’m going back to my room. As soon as you’re done, meet me there.” She glanced down. “And bring the cake.”

Rosie smothered a smile. “Whatever you say.”

Twenty minutes later, Rosie carried the little cake–which was still too warm to frost–to her sister’s suite. She also carried a stack of several plates, upon which rested a little bowl of frosting.

“It’s about time,” Snow pouted when she opened the door to Rosie. She had changed into a nightdress and had her fair hair pinned up in tight curls against her head. Their mother was inside as well, already reclining on Snow’s bed and wearing her own nightdress. She would likely just sleep with Snow.

“Here,” Rosie said, putting the little cake and the bowl of frosting on Snow’s vanity. “The cake is too warm for me to ice it decoratively, but you can still eat them together.” As she spoke, she took a small piece she’d sliced off and placed a spoonful of icing on it. Making the icing had been a dream. Such fine, white sugar was difficult to find in their old village, and Rosie had only gotten to use it a few times for large events like weddings, when someone else was paying to have the ingredients brought in from one of the big cities.

Rosie put the little piece of frosted cake onto a plate and gave it to her mother. Then she gave another to Snow and took the third for herself.

“So about this troll,” Snow said, glaring at Rosie over her cake. “What exactly happened?”

Rosie cast a furtive glance at her mother, but Snow must have already told her, for while she was pale, she was also calm.

“It’s basically what I told you,” Rosie said with a shrug. “The troll is the sister of the one who cursed Frederick, and she’s out for revenge.” Rosie studied her cake. “She tried to attack Jonathan, since he was nearby, but he and Frederick are apparently protected by their fairy godmother now. I can only guess their fairy godmother placed a heightened protection spell on them both after Frederick got back. Anyway, after she couldn’t hurt the prince, she turned on me.”

“But you didn’t kill her brother!” Rosie’s mother said, her voice indignant. “The prince did!”

“I guess I was next in line.” Rosie smiled slightly. “Of course, that was before I hit her on the head with a rolling pin. And then Jonathan threatened her with his enchanted sword.”

“Oh, Rosie.” Her mother put her free hand over her face and shook her head. “Why didn’t you just let the prince handle it if he had a sword? And an enchanted one at that!”

“She had temporarily separated us. So if you really want to give me protection, buy me a better rolling pin.” Rosie grinned. “I could have hit her harder if the one I’d had was made of marble!”

Snow chewed her cake thoughtfully. “So the princes are protected now. I’m very glad of that. But… what about us?” She cast Rosie a worried look. “I’m with Frederick most of the time, but what about you?”