Page 124 of A Winter By the Sea
Sarah took a calming breath and said, “Now, now, Mrs. Robins. This dinner has not been funded by the society but by my family and the generosity of Mr. Bernardi, pastry chef to the Duke of Kent.”
Perhaps hearing his name, Mr. Bernardi emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. Mr. Thomson followed, carrying a teapot.
The woman’s eyes widened. “Mr. Thomson! Is this your doing?”
He shook his head. “I am just here to help, ma’am. And happily so.”
The birdlike woman sniffed in offense and turned with her bread and cheese. “Come, Mr. Robins. Our offering is not needed or wanted.”
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Denby called. “We will happily eat it tomorrow.”
But the couple stalked out, their exit punctuated by a slamming door.
After a beat of silence, Miss Reed looked to the others. “Now, where were we?” she said, her good humor undiminished. “Ah yes, enjoying a delicious meal.”
When everyone had finished eating, Mr. Thomson began pouring tea while Emily and Sarah cleared the empty plates.
Mr. Bernardi brought out the prettily decoratedgâteauand displayed it to more exclamations of delight. Then he carried it to the sideboard to cut into pieces.
When everyone had been served, Mr. Hornbeam took a bite and looked up in astonishment. In his younger days the educated, successful man had traveled widely and probably eaten many fine meals. “This is incredible!” he enthused. “This must be Carême’s famousgâteau Pithiviers!”
His neighbor, Mr. Pring, looked at him with a bland expression, clearly unimpressed. “Aye, certainly. What else would it be?”
Sarah restrained a chuckle, then took a bite, closing her eyes to relish the marriage of luscious flavors. When she opened them again, she found Antoine Bernardi watching her with interest.
“Oh my...” she breathed.
“You like?”
“Very much.”
Minutes later, someone else barged in—this visitor more unexpected than the last.
Captain Conroy.
Sarah gulped.Good heavens.
He surveyed the room, demanding, “Is During here?”
“No, sir,” Sarah replied.
“I went to Sea View and your mother told me all of your guests had gone out.”
Sarah felt her brow furrow. “Mr. During was there an hour or so ago. He must have left on some errand after we departed.”
The man’s ever-stern expression darkened further. Then he looked from the table to Bernardi and Thomson.
“Was this meal paid for with the duke’s funds?”
“The duke’s?” Mr. Thomson’s eyes bulged, and an incredulous laugh escaped. “Uh ... no. He has lent his name and patronage to the charity, but this meal was provided by our generous hosts at Sea View.”
“You and Bernardi are complicit in this?”
“Complicit?” Mr. Thomson echoed on another laugh. “In providing a meal? Why yes. Guilty as charged.”
Conroy shifted his angry gaze to Bernardi. “We are not paying you to cook for other people.”
“Actually no one has paid me in some time,” the chef replied, “but let us not split hairs. I had time on my hands.”
