Free The Chocolatier's Wife by Cindy Lynn Speer Page A

pets, she did not like the idea of taking them for granted. And he was a king, of sorts. She made tea for all of them, a preparation of black tea, apples and cinnamon she favored because the very scent of it calmed her down. They liked it very, very sweet, far sweeter than even she did, which was rather saying something, so she stirred honey and expensive sugar from William’s stores into theirs, while she treated hers with honey alone. “Here is my plan,” she said. “I beg you, tell me what you think?”
    They seemed to be pleased with it, so the next day she wrote a letter to Andrew.
     
    Dear Brother to Be,
    I beg you to allow me to have dinner alone tonight with William. I wish to discuss things of a far more tender nature than you would wish to hear. I promise, nothing too very improper, but things we should discuss. I will not weary him or upset him before his trial; indeed, speaking of something else for a time may well strengthen him.
    Your sister in spirit,
    Tasmin
     
    The response was quick. She was carefully putting things away in the cupboards, still trying to make sense out of the chaos the soldiers had left behind, when a young man came to her door, the son of Andrew’s cook.
     
    Tasmin,
    This is most unusual. But very well. It will give me a chance to sup with my family, which I have not properly done this many weeks. You have promised not to upset him, and I hold you to your word. I do not have to tell you how greatly his state of mind at the proceedings tomorrow will matter. Also, I must beg you, for the sake of the name you shall soon bear, not to do anything foolish. William may not give a fig, but that does not mean you should not.
    Andrew
     
    Sh e rolle d he r eyes . “Tha t ma n i s suc h a prig . I d o hop e I shal l b e abl e t o surviv e Wi l liam’ s family . Abou t th e ma n himself , I worr y not . Bu t hi s family! ” Mor u lande d o n he r shoulder . I wil l tak e car e o f the m i f the y tr y t o hur t you , h e growled . Noru , hi s twi n an d th e sunnie r o f th e two , lande d o n th e other . Yo u ar e ours.
    “Behave , m y littl e loves, ” sh e said , “ I beg . The y canno t hur t m y body . But I d o worr y abou t m y sanity. ”
    Sh e climbe d bac k u p ont o a stool , packin g thing s i n on e o f th e cabinets, the n sighe d whe n sh e realize d she’ d misse d ye t anothe r mold . Eve n though chocolat e cand y makin g wa s a ne w concep t t o thei r land , othe r land s ha d a plethor a o f molds , an d i t seeme d Willia m ha d obsessivel y tracke d dow n an d collecte d ever y singl e one . A t leas t i t fel t lik e i t a s sh e steppe d dow n fro m the stool , grabbe d th e offendin g mol d of f th e table , an d climbe d bac k u p t o place i t wit h th e others.
    “ I a m unde r s o muc h worry . Whe n th e worr y ends , an d w e ar e bac k to , well , th e wa y thing s shoul d be , I wil l b e perfectl y abl e t o dea l wit h his family. ”
    She shut th e cupboar d f irmly .
    “Afte r all , would-b e mage s goin g throug h th e angs t an d pai n o f tryin g t o gro w u p an d harnes s thei r powe r hav e nothin g ove r a grou p o f snobbish , southern , priggis h .. . merchanters. ”
    Sh e sli d a loo k aroun d th e roo m a t he r invisibl e friends . “Pleas e don’ t tel l Willia m I spok e so.”
    With that, she grabbed her cloak. She was already dressed very plainly. Like every other lady of sense she had pockets, small pouches attached to a belt and tied around the waist, filled with the things she would need for her day. She slipped her hands into the slit seam in her dress and made sure she had her tiny knife, the one she used for pruning, and her money pouch. She left by the back door, which opened and shut wit h out her lifting a hand, and went to the prison.
    Once there , she forced herself to be nice to the guards, speaking to them for a few moments while she made a point of hanging her cloak next to the door. She was ma k ing sure that both