Page 78 of A Foolish Flirtation

“Yes, and she always did enjoy an extravagant wager,” Jeremy agreed.

Teddy turned to Emmie. “Can I keep this box, Mama?” he asked. “It’s a useful sort of size. I might make it into a bed for Carruthers. It would fit into the turret room of my fort, just about.”

“Of course. How is Carruthers today? I hope his leg is not paining him too much.”

“It’s still missing,” Teddy answered sadly.

Miss Pinson looked startled. “Poor man! Is it a wooden one? My friends the Oxtons had a neighbor with a wooden leg. He suffered an injury from a piece of factory machinery and lost the limb from the knee down.”

Predictably, Teddy immediately wanted to know all about the wooden leg. Miss Pinson reeled off some pertinent facts and then Teddy excitedly gave his own theory that the Oxtons’ neighbor was in fact a pirate fleeing from justice.

Miss Pinson made feeble protests about Mr. Instow being of “the utmost respectability” but Teddy would not be swayed in his conviction. Neither would he believe that Mr. Instow’s leg had been mangled by machinery. Instead, he was sure it had been bitten off by a sea monster during a raging storm.

Emmeline cleared her throat and left them to their discussion as she returned to her list. Jeremy helpfully threw her a few more names her way, Reverend Ryland and his wife at the vicarage, their two sons whose names he still could not recall, Squire Pebmarsh, and his two daughters at the Grange, the Needhams at Benham Hall, and the Tavistocks at Vance House.

“In fact,” he concluded, “the sending of cake will no doubt initiate visits from them all. You will soon be inundated, Ballentine. I predict the vicar’s wife will be first to call.”

At this point lunch, a cold collation of savory pies, salads, and cold meats, was brought into the room and all talk of cake, neighbors and pirates abruptly ceased for at least half an hour.

No sooner had the remains of lunch been cleared away than Teddy informed Miss Pinson he was taking her to the dining room to show her the painting of his ancestress who had run away to sea.

“I hate to disappoint you, Teddy,” Jeremy cut in smoothly, “but Miss Pinson must see it another day, for she has important business of her own to attend this afternoon.” He explained about the arrival of their furniture from Bath. Miss Pinson was instantly out of her chair, all excitement. “You may take Colfax with you again and one of the grooms. You will need at least two men to unload the wagon.”

Miss Pinson thanked him profusely as Emmeline sat looking unsure of herself. Jeremy turned to her. “Would you like to see the wagon first,” he offered, “to decide what is to stay and what is to go to…” He glanced back around to her friend.

“Plumtree Cottage,” Miss Pinson supplied happily.

“Plumtree Cottage,” Jeremy repeated.

“Oh no.” Emmeline shook her head. “Hannah is to have whatever she wants. The only thing I would like to keep for myself is—”

“The small papier-mâché tea table that was your mother’s,” Pinky finished for her, beaming.

Emmeline returned her smile. “Precisely.”

“Well, in that case, Higgins can accompany Miss Pinson out to the wagon and fetch that particular item back,” Jeremy decided, pulling the bell cord to summon the footmen.

“Can I come with you, please, Pinky?” Teddy butted in, plucking at Miss Pinson’s sleeve. “I should like to see Plumtree Cottage, and I don’t believe I have ever been inside that one.”

Jeremy opened his mouth to reprove his son, but Miss Pinson had already replied in the affirmative, seemingly unaware of Teddy’s appropriation of her sobriquet. “If that is alright with his lordship,” she added anxiously, noticing his expression. “I would not dream of depriving him of—”

“That is quite alright, Miss Pinson. As long as you are sure he will not be in the way,” Jeremy assured her swiftly, suspecting Colfax would be less than enthusiastic about Teddy’s being underfoot during the fetching and carrying.

“And, would it be—I mean, could I possibly take a piece of wedding cake for myself?” Miss Pinson asked rather shyly, twisting her hands together.

“Of course, Miss Pinson,” Jeremy assured her, reaching for the top box on the nearest pile and passing it to her. “You may have as many pieces as you like.”

“Oh, just the one will suffice. Thank you so much,” she said, clasping it to her chest. Once Colfax appeared, she and Teddy trailed away in his wake, hand in hand, chattering brightly about bedsteads and footstools and whether they thought the walnut cabinet would fit in the front parlor.

Jeremy turned to Emmeline, who was gazing after them rather wistfully. “Your friend must be very fond of cake,” he commented, for he had seen Miss Pinson eat at least two pieces at lunch. “I really don’t know where she puts it all. A puff of wind would knock her over.”

“Oh, it won’t be for eating,” Emmeline answered absently. “Pinky isn’t fond of fruit cake.” At his quizzical look she explained. “She always puts wedding cake under her pillow.”

He tipped his head, wondering if he had misheard her. “Under her pillow?” he echoed.

“Yes. It’s meant to, well, induce dreams of your future husband,” she explained, looking a little embarrassed. “Have you never heard of that tradition?”

“No,” he said thoughtfully. “No, I had not.”