The Marquess of Cake by Heather Hiestand Read Free Book Online

“I prefer soda crackers. Better for the digestion. Huntley and Palmers makes an excellent product.”
    “Yes, like Redcake’s they serve the royal family, I believe,” Alys said.
    “They have a warrant here, as well as for various European royal families,” Lady Hatbrook said. “Does Redcake’s?”
    “No, we are a domestic concern,” Alys said.
    Lady Hatbrook sniffed. “I see.”
    “It’s more difficult to transport our baked goods,” Alys said, feeling the need to defend Redcake’s.
    Lady Hatbrook sniffed again. Thankfully, her son returned with a cup of tea.
    “With milk, just as you like it,” he said.

    Alys noticed telltale crumbs at the corner of his mouth. She’d never really noticed his mouth before. He had a beautifully plump lower lip. His top lip was thinner, though pronounced, but his mouth was very nearly oversized. She wondered if he’d have dimples in his cheeks if he smiled, to match the slight cleft in his chin. Overall, it was a very sensual mouth. How would it feel against her lips?
    “Did you enjoy the wafers, your lordship?” she asked politely.
    “I do not enjoy the flavor of lemon as much as some others,” he admitted, “but it is purely a matter of personal taste.”
    “It is the bride’s favorite flavor,” she said. “You can also find small strawberry jam tarts at the table.”
    “Sadly, they have all been eaten and the servant must go back to the kitchen for more,” he said.
    “How tiresome,” Alys agreed, glad not to force her smile any longer.
    “This is tiresome,” Lady Hatbrook said. “I’d like to sit now. It’s not as if her brother is here to discuss the army with you, and I don’t understand why you find it so interesting. Sometimes I think you wish you were the second son so you could have gone to India.”
    With a mother like her, Alys could understand why. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Hatbrook. Would you like me to see if we can procure a plate of soda crackers for you?”
    “No thank you,” she said, raising her chin and walking away. Lord Hatbrook shrugged in Alys’s direction and followed her.
    Alys permitted herself a small smile. Her mother might be dramatic and dreamy, but at least she was pleasant.
    Alys entered her shared dressing room at home, intent on removing her damp uniform and putting on a warm dressing gown. A cup of tea in front of the fireplace with The Vanished Diamond by Jules Verne, a book she wanted to read for the simple reason that the heroine’s name was Alice, were her plans for the rest of the afternoon. She wished her mother would allow her to change how she spelled her name, but her mother found “Alice” too common. She found “Alys” to be silly.
    Instead of solitude, she found her sisters bent over one of their new dresses, laid out on the dressing-room floor. As it was a rather small room, she had to edge around the rug to reach the wardrobe.
    “Is something wrong with the dress?” At least the fire was going and the room was toasty. She unpinned her hair in hope that the damp edges would dry.
    “Change into something suitable,” Matilda hissed. “We have a caller.”
    “You do?”
    “Yes. Lady Lillian sent a note around. She’s coming for tea.”
    Lady Lillian Cander was the youngest daughter of Earl Gerrick and had been at finishing school with Rose, though she was around Matilda’s age. Alys suspected her of being a bad influence, though she’d never actually heard her say anything truly inappropriate. Still, many a conversation ended abruptly when she entered a room when the girl was in town.
    “I don’t need to join you,” Alys said. “I just want to relax with a book. You have no idea how beastly the weather is today.”
    “If it wasn’t so bad I’d have gone shopping,” Rose said. “Lily is bringing us an invitation to a musicale. We’re trying to decide if this dress is suitable.”
    “I should think not. It’s a ball gown.”
    “What do you wear to a musical