Page 77 of A Foolish Flirtation

“He means the Startrites,” Emmie said hastily. “And no, we certainly shall not send any to that rascally family.”

“And then there is my particular friend Miss West,” Miss Pinson interjected. “Emmie was kind enough to say she would send her some cake as she sent a very pretty tray cloth which she had embroidered for you both as a wedding present.”

“Most generous of her,” Jeremy agreed. “I think she should have two pieces.”

“Oh, really?” Miss Pinson perked up at once. “Oh, she would be most grateful, my lord, for then she could give the second piece to her old mother, who would be thrilled. She’s an invalid, you see, and does not have much excitement in her life.”

Emmie amended her list. “Two pieces for Miss West,” she murmured.

“And I wanted to send a piece to Arbuthnot,” Teddy said. “His parents did not bring him to the wedding, so he missed out. I think he should have cake and they should get none, for being so mean.”

“Oh, I quite agree,” Jeremy concurred at once.

“Would that not look rather particular?” Emmie asked with a frown. “Besides…” She cleared her throat.

Jeremy caught on at once. “Oh, you think it would annoy Mrs. Arbuthnot more if she received a piece of our commemorative cake? You are probably right. Besides, Arbuthnot seemed an agreeable fellow. Put them down for three slices,” he decided generously.

“What about your godfather?” Emmeline asked Teddy. “Lord Atherton.”

“Oh, Lord Atherton, yes,” Pinky agreed. “He must certainly have cake. Such an agreeable gentleman.”

“That one’s a little tricky,” Jeremy said. “Atherton currently has no fixed abode. Instead, he is an eternal houseguest, bouncing from one host to another. As he has fallen out of favor with his uncle, I am not sure at which address we would find him. Perhaps we should save his piece for when he visits with us this summer.”

Emmeline scribbled a note. “Your sister, Mina, and—and your brother, William Nye,” she said, moving down the list.

“And Baby James,” Teddy reminded her.

“He cannot eat cake yet,” Jeremy cut in, “but we must certainly send some to Edna, Corin, and Herney, their staff at the inn. And, er—” He turned to Teddy. “What is the name of their new ostler?”

“Bert,” Teddy supplied promptly. “He takes snuff and has brown stains on his handkerchief.” Miss Pinson suppressed a shudder.

“They must certainly all receive cake. Now, how many is that?”

“Fourteen,” said Emmeline, totting them up.

“A perfect start,” said Jeremy.

“Perfect?” Emmeline looked doubtful.

“Well, once we have added all our servants and tenants to the list and a few others besides, I am sure we will have our quota.”

“Great Aunt Louisa?” Teddy suggested. “She is your godmother, Papa.”

“Yes,” Jeremy agreed. “She will certainly expect cake. Write down Lord and Lady Wickford,” Jeremy directed Emmeline. “The address is Grosvenor Square, London.”

“What about Grandpapa and Grandmama Tipton?”

Jeremy coughed. “That might seem a little tactless, my son.”

“Oh. And Mama—my other mama, I mean,” he said hastily, “did not send us any cake when she married that French man, did she, Papa?”

“He’s Italian,” Jeremy corrected him absently. Emmeline and Miss Pinson both turned to look at him in surprise. “He’s Italian but lives in France,” he explained.

“He lives in a den. Like a fox,” said Teddy, adding to their confusion.

Jeremy frowned. “He lives in Paris,” he said firmly. “And runs a rather exclusive establishment that caters to wealthy gamesters.”

Looks of comprehension dawned on Emmeline’s and Miss Pinson’s faces. “I did not realize that Lady Amanda had remarried,” Emmeline said quickly. “That must be an exciting life she now leads.”