Page 41 of The Pureblood Princess
“Because Dorota Kazamir is awoman, and my methods only work on men.”
“Ah, now that’s where you’re wrong.” He reaches for her, and she allows him to pull her close.
“How so?” she asks, her voice having dropped to a breathy whisper.
Theodore bends to press a kiss to Nadia’s exposed clavicle, and it sends goose bumps dancing across her skin. His lips leave a trail of kisses up her throat and across her jaw, but he stops before reaching her mouth.
“You greatly underestimate your charms,” he whispers. Then he presses one deep, slow kiss to her mouth, leaving her hungry for more. “Good night, my bride.” His fingertips brush across her cheek, and he pushes a dark strand of hair behind her ear before placing a kiss upon her forehead. “Perhaps we’ll have answers to all these mysteries yet.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Would you prefer the fruitcake or the frosted pound cake, Miss Magdalena?” asks the Rosettis’ cook, Mrs. Wilkinson. Maids bustle about as she stands in the lively kitchen before two beautiful cakes. The younger women flow around her in a fluid dance, never so much as spilling a drop of tea or a smidge of sugar.
The delectable aroma of fresh-baked goods fills the air, making Nadia’s mouth water.
She gazes at the cakes sitting atop the wooden table, unsure which to choose. The fruit cake has rich dark layers adored with candied fruits and nuts, while the frosted pound cake looks velvety and plump.
“I’d like to try them both,” Nadia says, and Mrs. Wilkinson swiftly cuts two small pieces of cake, putting them onto a dainty plate and fetching a fork before handing them to Nadia.
She starts with the fruit cake, and its taste is a warm blend of dense cake infused with brandy, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In contrast, the pound cake has a buttery flavor and a thick layer of almond frosting. Nadia devours both pieces as Mrs. Wilkinson looks on, a small quirk to her lips.
“They’re delightful,” Nadia says at long last, wishing Mrs. Wilkinson had cut her larger slices. Her gaze shifts between thetwo cakes, her brow furrowing in focus. How will she ever choose one over the other?
“Well, miss?” Mrs. Wilkinson presses, tipping her head to one side.
Even with the cook lurking over her, Nadia cannot decide. She thinks to select the fruit cake, but as soon as she opens her mouth, the pound cake catches her eye and makes her change her mind.
A moment later, a flurry of voices sounds from the hall outside the kitchen. Mrs. Wilkinson turns, her focus shifting, but Nadia need not even focus to hear the voices clearly; her hearing is so improved these days, she could likely detect a mouse moving about in the attic if she so desired. In fact, she’s had to focus specifically onnothearing such sounds lest they drive her mad.
“The courier was ambushed on his way to town,” says one voice, and Nadia recognizes the speaker as Benjamin, the butler. “He was robbed blind. They even took the horse, left him to walk the rest of the way to town.”
The maids around him gasp and whisper, asking questions until Mrs. Wilkinson interrupts.
“Enough idle chat,” she says, her voice robust and commanding. “Have you told the lord and lady?”
“Yes, of course.” Benjamin’s tone is sharp, and Nadia imagines he doesn’t take kindly to rebuke from the cook. “Lord Rosetti is gathering men now to go in search of the thief. But if any of you sent letters, it’s unlikely they’ll arrive.”
This catches Nadia’s attention, for she wrote a letter to her mother just the other night—detailing the manor she and Theodore chose and her many ideas for décor and furnishings—and it would’ve been picked up by the courier today. A brief sting of irritation goes through her at the realization that she’ll now need to rewrite the entire three pages.
She’s still staring at the cakes when Mrs. Wilkinson returns to her side. “Have you decided?”
Nadia looks up at her and offers a bashful smile. “I simply can’t decide, Mrs. Wilkinson. They’re both so delicious.”
Instead of becoming upset, the cook lets out a tired laugh. “Then we shall serve one cake each: fruit cake here for the family and pound cake at Riverhill. Would that be acceptable?”
The cook’s reminder sends a jolt through her; she almost forgot there are to be two weddings: a traditional wedding here at the estate, and a second wedding for the vampire clans.
“That would be perfect, Mrs. Wilkinson. Thank you.” She sets the empty plate down and gives the cook’s arm a gentle squeeze, then turns to head back upstairs.
The maids watch her while she goes, and she feels their curious gazes as she navigates the lower level of the house before ascending the stairs to the main level. From the beginning, she’s felt their interest in her, though she assumes it’s because of Theodore. He was the most eligible bachelor in Everborough, after all. If she were a housemaid, she’d be likewise intrigued by the new young miss who stole the viscount’s heart.
This thought makes her smile, but the joy goes from her face when she steps into the upstairs foyer to find a few men gathered and speaking in raised voices. Theodore is at the center of the group, along with his father, but he extracts himself when he notices Nadia watching.
“A courier was robbed on our roads,” Theodore says. He’s dressed in his riding apparel—a dark green frock coat, white trousers, and tall black boots—and the other men are as well. “We’re going out in search of the thief. Such a criminal must be apprehended.”
Worry courses through her veins, and she looks up into his eyes warily. “Is it safe? I hear even the horse was stolen.”
A smirk curls his lips, and he laughs lightly. “Very. So long as I don’t find myself impaled with silver, I’ll be perfectly safe.”
