Page 41 of Embracing the Earl (The St. Clairs 3)

“We have three blends for everyone to try today,” Luke said. “Catherine, will you serve as hostess for me? The blends have already been mixed for you.”

“Certainly.” Immediately, she poured hot water into all three teapots in order for it to sit a few minutes so the pots were warmed.

After Luke described the various blends and why he’d chosen them, Catherine poured the water into a waste bowl on the lower shelf and placed a different blend into each pot, following it with boiling water.

“While we’re waiting for the tea to steep, I’d like you to meet the cooks who will run Evie’s Bookstore and Teahouse. This is Mrs. Withers and her sister, Mrs. Baker.” Luke introduced everyone present to the servants, saving Caroline for last.

“This is Lady Caroline, your employer.”

“I am pleased to meet you both,” she said enthusiastically. “I also cannot wait to try what I see on the other caddy. Would you tell us about what we will be served, Mrs. Withers?”

“We’ve prepared an assortment of various sweets—cakes, scones, pastries, and biscuits. Lord Mayfield had us try different variations on some items, such as the chocolate roll. You’ll find one with nuts and one without. Everything on this tea caddy is what we’d like to place on the menu to start, with your approval, my lady.”

“I’m definitely in favor of nuts,” Alex said. “In chocolate? Even better.”

“I see sandwiches on the bottom level,” Rachel said.

Mrs. Baker stepped up. “Normally, sandwiches need a knife and fork to eat them. My sister convinced Lord Mayfield that you also needed to sample some of her sandwiches. They’re not in the usual triangle. These are crustless sandwiches cut into long strips. They are to be eaten with your fingers.”

“An excellent idea,” Leah said. “Oh, I can’t wait. Are we ready to begin?”

“Almost,” Catherine said as she strained out the tea leaves and poured cups from the first pot. Rachel helped pass them around while Leah and Luke made sure everyone had a plate for their sandwiches and sweets.

Caroline asked the two cooks to remain in order for them to hear the comments. “We can all learn from what’s said today. My eyes have already taken in this feast and I can tell you I’m most pleased.”

“Lord Mayfield hoped you would be,” Mrs. Withers said.

“I’m glad I trusted his lordship with this part,” she said, smiling at the women she’d spend a great deal of time with over the next few years if all went according to plan.

She not only ate a sample of everything but tried cups of each blend of tea. She listened carefully as everyone discussed the food and which items were their favorites. It surprised her when Mrs. Withers and Mrs. Baker wheeled in two more carts filled with food. Besides more cakes and tarts, they’d brought a variety of cheeses and fruit.

Everyone present ate until they thought they might burst. Jeremy and Evan favored the fairy cakes with butter icing and the macaroons, which Caroline learned Cor had instructed the cooks to make with a bit of rose water. Alex liked the nutty chocolate roll and Leah preferred the lemon-cheese tarts and trifle. Catherine and Rachel liked the cakes best, especially the currant, walnut, and sponge ones.

“We’ve heard from everyone but you, Cor,” Luke said. “Do you have a favorite sweet or sandwich?”

The elderly duchess smiled. “You know my sweet tooth, Luke. I enjoyed the pound cake and chocolate roll best, though the macaroons were most delicious.”

Caroline asked them to rank which items were a favorite with everyone, calling for pen and ink so that each item was assigned a number rank.

“These top choices will go directly onto the menu. The others with a lower rank I’ll allow Mrs. Withers and Mrs. Baker to tweak a bit. We may go with a feature of the week or month and only offer certain sweets for a limited time.”

“Excellent idea,” Jeremy said. “What people can’t get, they’ll want even more. You could even advertise when a beloved item is coming to draw in a crowd.”

“Do you think we should stick with sweets or include sandwiches from the start?” she asked the group, noting Mrs. Withers leaning forward with interest.

“These sandwiches were by far superior to most,” Luke declared. “I think at least a half-dozen should go on the menu.”

Once again, they discussed which sandwiches they preferred, using Caroline’s method to rank their favorites. After much discussion, she had a list of every item to carry. They all agreed serving a variety of teas would be another draw, though Caroline expressly wanted it limited to no more than three blends.

“If we carry too many selections, it will cause confusion. Some customers will become too fussy.”

“I like the idea of choice—but not too much choice,” Leah said. “Men will eat or drink whatever you put in front of them but women like the idea of picking from a variety offered.”

“I agree,” Catherine said. “Oh, this has been most exciting. I’m afraid, though, that none of you will want dinner.”

Everyone agreed that dinner on top of everything they’d eaten would be too much.

When Caroline saw that things were going to break up, she gave Mrs. Withers the list and said, “Lord Mayfield will help you order the supplies you’ll need to be up and running in three weeks. You’ll need to also let him know the number of ovens and racks to be purchased. In fact, I’ll have him bring you to the property tomorrow so you can look over the space.”

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