Page 28 of Kept 4
“Trace me, Gerald? I think not, you prick.”
BLANC-MANGER AU LAIT D`AMANDES
(Almond Blancmange)
Ingredients: gelatine, 200ml water, 750 ml full-cream cow’s milk, 1.5 teaspoons almond extract, four egg yolks, 125g white sugar, 1 teaspoon cornflour, 2 tablespoons elderberry flower water, 200ml whipping cream.
Method:
Dissolve the gelatine in water
Make a custard with the milk, extract, egg yolks, sugar, elderberry water and cornflour.
Stir the gelatine water into the custard while it is still hot.
Chill the custard
Remove custard from refrigerator just as it begins to set
Whip the cream
Fold the cream gently into the custard.
Pour the mixture into a mould and let refrigerate overnight.
When ready to serve dip the mould in hot water to loosen blancmange and turn out onto serving dish.
Decorate with elderberry flowers, if in season.
Note: You can substitute almond extract for vanilla and elderberry flower water for dark chocolate if you want a chocolate blancmange.
Note: You can also substitute almond extract for Cointreau, and elderberry flower water for orange blossom water, for an orange blancmange – but be careful you don’t curdle the mixture.
Serve with a sauce if you like – I like it plain.
10
“I’d ask you what you are doing,” an amused voice drawls from the doorway, “but I’m not sure I really want to know.”
“Nicholas!” I spin to where he leans nonchalantly against the doorjamb, watching me grope around inside the stuffed baby bear, my arm elbow-deep up its ass.
I pull it out quickly, leaving the weapon hidden. “What are you doing here?”
“Mmm, one might ask you the same question,” he smirks, “after all, the last time I checked I did live here while you, my Josephine, assured me you were in Asia.”
I rise and walk towards him, swallowing the lump in my throat that had formed the moment I saw his gorgeous eyes upon me.
I’d only arrived this evening to the manor, once again having to hoof it here by foot the last ten miles, no traffic available to offer me a lift.
But even coming down here, to the armoury, had been heart-wrenching, knowing every corridor he had once strode, every door handle his hands had once been upon, every painting he had studied. His smell, his presence, was almost etched into the very walls.
Lord how I have missed this man
I scan him now, from top to toe. He is wearing tan jodhpurs, knee-high boots, and a dark blue polo shirt that sets off his eyes to perfection. His hair is slightly mussed, as though he has been riding in the wind; he looks absolutely divine. And even as my mouth waters at the sight of him, I think ‘how amazing, that this beautiful, beautiful creature loves me so deeply that he would sacrifice his own happiness and even his life so that I might have mine…’
His smile falters as I step closer, he looks sad, uncertain.
“Have you come back for me?” he asks quietly, his eyes revealing he really has no hope that this is true, but widening, as I walk within arms-reach and stare, wordlessly at his face.
