The Chocolate Maker's Wife by Karen Brooks

Author:Karen Brooks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2019-05-13T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-NINE

In which there is a surprising homecoming

Rosamund firmly believed Matthew’s homecoming was imminent now spring was here. The Thames had begun its slow sinuous flow again after being frozen for weeks, and her growing excitement manifested as impatience — something those around her were unaccustomed to seeing. The result was, as days went by with no sign of him, she became distracted and clumsy, even when preparing drinks for regular customers.

After she’d inadvertently added two pinches of valerian to John Evelyn’s chocolate instead of his usual one, rendering the poor man unable to write let alone think for a few hours, and tipped far too much rose-water into William Chiffinch’s bowl, and Robert Boyle’s was knocked over by her errant elbow before he could drink it, Filip suggested that Rosamund and her customers might be better served if she went home.

‘You’ve been here since dawn and haven’t stopped looking at the doorway. I fear the time for his arrival — at least at the chocolate house — has passed. The tides have retreated and no more ships will drop anchor till the morrow. Go home, querida señora, and save —’ He hesitated, biting his lip.

‘The reputation of our chocolate?’ finished Rosamund, looking in dismay as yet another customer coughed while he drank and then flapped a hand before his mouth.

‘Chilli,’ said Filip and Rosamund in unison. There was no need to add ‘too much’.

They both laughed.

‘I was going to say, your enthusiasm for another day,’ chuckled Filip.

‘Aye, you’re right,’ sighed Rosamund. Filip didn’t even need to say whose arrival. He knew. They all knew. Was she so transparent? Apparently. Last month she’d received a missive from Matthew informing her he’d failed in his personal quest and was heading home. Alternately delighted she would see him sooner than she hoped and despondent that his intentions had been thwarted and what that meant, she could scarcely sleep, let alone make chocolate, for thinking about him.

‘I just thought…’ she gazed wistfully towards the doorway, ‘he might be back today.’

Or the day before, or the one before that…

‘So did I,’ said Filip and placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Perhaps he’s yet making his way and will find you at Blithe Manor.’

Her face brightened. ‘Do you think so?’

‘Think, si. Know, no. Now, go. We will manage. You work far too hard, señora. Go and enjoy the snow while it still lasts.’

They both glanced wryly towards the windows. Despite spring’s arrival, snowflakes twirled and kissed the glass, dropping to form a white blanket upon the ground. It had been a long, cold winter replete with dangerous black frosts that brought with them a number of terrible accidents and deaths. There were many who complained they couldn’t recall such a bitter freeze.

No-one in their right mind enjoyed the snow, not when it was so relentless, the cold so piercing. Where were the spring rains? It hadn’t rained since last October when the new Lord Mayor, Sir John Lawrence, was installed and he and Their Majesties were drenched.

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