AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There was something different about her today. What was it? Ah, the braids were gone, replaced by a simple swirl of auburn with loose curls on either side of her neck.
The plain black gown was gone as well. But it definitely hadn’t been replaced with a voluminous smock.
She wore something elegant and simple in a blue-and-white-stripe with a white apron over the top. She looked far more delectable than the bread.
“I’m afraid our jokes aren’t suitable for polite company,” Edgar teased.
“Are they about breaking wind?” asked Michel with a devious grin. “Because I know a good one about that.”
Miss Perkins stared at Michel with mock censure. “You know, Michel, he who says the rhyme did the crime.”
Adele giggled. “He who declares it blares it.”
Edgar laughed. Ah... flatulence. The age-old subject for merriment. “I’m shocked.” He laid a hand over his chest. “Is this what you discuss during your lessons, Miss Perkins?”
“We were reading Chaucer’sThe Miller’s Taleand the subject may have... arisen,” she said primly.
Adele giggled.
“I’ll endeavor to change the subject,” said Edgar, catching Miss Perkins’s eye. “Have you changed the style of your hair?”
She touched one of the soft red spirals at her cheek. “Why yes, Your Grace.”
“It suits you.”
She blushed. She didn’t like compliments, he noticed. Wasn’t comfortable with them.
“Will you have some bread, Father?” Michel gestured toward the loaf of bread on the table. Edgar hadn’t planned to linger. He needed to be on his way to the park, to escort West’s sister, Lady Blanche, on a carriage ride in order to make her suitor jealous. Of all the harebrained schemes. He’d rather poke out his own eye with the butter knife. He could put off the dreaded carriage ride for a while longer.
“I might have a piece of bread at that.” Edgar removed his hat and sat across from Miss Perkins.
“Thank you for hiring Miss Martin to cook for us,” Michel said.
“You’re very welcome. Though I was under the mistaken impression that our bread here in England was perfectly adequate.”
“This is far superior,” said Adele.
“You can’t cut it with a knife. It must be torn.” Michel tore off a piece and held it out.
“So you approve of the bread?” Edgar asked.
Michel nodded, his mouth too full to speak.
Edgar tried to catch Miss Perkins’s eye. Did she approve?
“You were listening to me,” she said, with the barest hint of a smile.
“Of course I was listening. You gave me an assignment, and I completed it.”
“High marks for listening,” she said.
“She gaveyouan assignment?” asked Michel with a puzzled expression.
“That’s right.”
“Does the bread meet your exacting standards?” he asked the twins.
“The crust is hard.” Michel tapped on the bread with his fingernail. “And inside... fluffy like clouds. Melts on the tongue.”
