You can read the story so far from the beginning here
Hilary sighed with pleasure. They were still eating in the kitchen, as it was the warmest room in the house by far, but it was far from casual. A crisp, white cloth covered the kitchen table and Bracken had laid out four places with mathematical precision. “That looks beautiful,” she told the brownie. “You’ve done a lovely job.”
Bracken’s smile lit up her small face as she basked in the compliment. “Thank you, Mistress Hilary,” she said formerly. “And I is taking notes for improvement.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Hilary said. Bracken had started stashing a notebook and pen in the pocket of her apron and was recording everything. Hilary hoped that she could keep up. “This time next year, we’ll have home made pickles on the table, with arrangements of flowers from our own garden that we dried ourselves.” She couldn’t stop herself smiling at the thought. “We’ll have fresh flowers as long as we can manage, and dried for the winter,” she said.
“And lots of pickles?” Bracken said. “I is adoring pickles.”
Hilary nodded. “You’ll have to help me,” she said. “It will mean extra work, but it’s always worth it.”
“I is always ready to work,” Bracken said firmly. “And it will be learning.”
Tom came in, his dark hair wet from the shower. “Something smells good,” he said.
“Chicken tagine with apricots,” Hilary said. “It doesn’t take too long, it tastes amazing and it looks spectacular.”
“There is spices,” Bracken whispered, her voice full of awe. “Costly spices that do not grow in Yorkshire.”
“I thought that Lord Peregrine would appreciate a fancy meal,” Hilary said. “He’s insisting on paying a sum per month, so I thought I’d start out with this.”
Bracken nodded. “So many spices.”
Tom looked quickly around, trying to hide his grin. “Can I help with anything?”
“Could you get the butter and milk from the fridge, please,” Hilary asked. “I think I’ve got everything else ready.”
Tom looked over at the kettle hot and steamy at the side of the stove next to a prepared teapot and a mug with a solitary Earl Grey teabag. Homemade bread was on a wooden platter in the centre of the table and the sugar bowl was refilled and ready. He looked around at a beep. “A rice cooker?”
“It keeps rice warm and safe,” Bracken said. “For when we wait for Lord Peregrine.”
“It helps with the timing,” Hilary said. “And I’ll admit that I struggle to cook rice well. Mine always turns out soggy.”
“I’m sure that you make it better than me,” Tom grinned. “When I eat rice, it comes in microwaveable packets.” He sniffed at the pan gently simmering on the stove. “That stew smells amazing.”
“It is tagine!” Bracken said, outraged. “It is not stew. And it will be delicious.”
Tom grabbed the butter dish from the fridge and placed it correctly next to the bread before pulling out the milk jug. “Sorry, Bracken, and I’m sure that it will be extra delicious.” Tom said. “I hope that there’s plenty. I worked up an appetite on my run.” He took a seat furthest away from the stove. “How’s the knee?” he asked Hilary.
“Still sore,” she said. “But it was worth it to find the stones. I’ll have to go back there when I have more time.” She looked ruefully down at her clean clothes. “And when the weather is better. They have to have at least part of the answer to the problem of the magic around here.”
“You is very busy, Mistress Hilary,” Bracken said, looking anxious. “You have a job with work and computers as well as the cookery and magic.”
“Don’t worry,” Hilary said. “I’ll have plenty of time to teach you. Now, take a seat and we’ll wait for Lord Peregrine. I have a feeling that he’ll be here any minute.”
“Second sight?” Tom asked, impressed.
Hilary chuckled. “He sent me a text a few minutes ago to say that he was on his way from the tea rooms.”
“Auntie Olive and Auntie Ivy have decided to stay with Lord Peregrine,” Bracken said. “Just to have a little bit of a situation to keep his hall clean.”
“I hope he knows what he’s doing,” Tom said. “They’ll insist on everything being just so. He’ll have to behave.”
“You can’t make a fae lord behave,” Hilary said, gently stirring the tagine. “It’s not possible. They always find a way to get you back.”
Bracken shook her head, her eyes wide. “Auntie Olive and Auntie Ivy is very stern,” she said.
The kitchen door flew open and Lord Peregrine strode in, his dark hair tousled and his face pink from the cold wind. “I have arrived,” he announced.
“So I see,” Hilary said dryly, moving behind him to shut the door. “You can hang up your coat in the hall and wash your hands in the cloakroom.”
“Are you instructing me?” Lord Peregrine asked with a gleam in his sapphire-coloured eyes.
“I am merely stating what is possible,” Hilary said. “And once you have sat at the table, I will serve dinner.”
“So I don’t have to hang up my coat and wash my hands?” Lord Peregrine asked. “I could just take a seat and food would be served?”
“That is a course of action that you could take,” Hilary said, meeting his gaze without flinching.
“Hmm,” Lord Peregrine said. “But my movement will be easier if I remove my thick coat and I will overheat if I leave it on in this warm room.” He frowned. “And washing hands before a meal is a sign of healthy practices and good manners.”
Hilary raised a single eyebrow.
“The food smells exquisite,” Lord Peregrine said, heading into the hall as he shrugged himself out of his coat.
Hilary shook her head as she pushed the kettle to the centre of the stove to get it boiling before pouring the hot water into the teapot and mug. “I’m looking forward to this,” she said as she placed the teapot on its stand on the table next to the milk jug and the mug of fragrant Earl Grey at the place opposite Tom. “It’s a favourite of mine, and the recipe is something that I think would be known in medieval times. It might bring back good memories for Lord Peregrine.”
“But there are spices.” Bracken whispered.
Hilary nodded. “There were spices in Medieval England,” she said. “But it was only for the wealthy. That’s why I thought it would be suitable for Lord Peregrine.”
Lord Peregrine returned and dropped into the chair opposite Tom. “A commendable sentiment,” he said.
The food was a success. Tom devoured at least twice as much as Hilary and wiped his plate with a slice of bread to get the last of the sauce. Lord Peregrine barely spoke, concentrating on the meal and savouring each mouthful. Even Bracken ate a healthy portion. Hilary relaxed. “I didn’t make a fancy dessert,” she said. “But Bracken and I made an apple and ginger cake that will be nice with custard.”
Lord Peregrine held up a hand. “I think I will require a break before I eat any more,” he said, patting his lean stomach.
Tom nodded. “Even I’ll need a break.” He stood and started collecting the plates. “I think that it’s my turn to wash the dishes after such a splendid meal.”
“The dishes belong to my situation,” Bracken said, jumping to her feet. “I insist!” She glared up at the werewolf who was almost twice her height and three times her weight. “You will not take my situation.”
“I’m sorry,” Tom said quickly, holding up his hands.
“Entrepreneurial!” Lord Peregrine shouted. Tom dropped the plates.
“Look what you made Tom do!” Hilary scolded as she stood to get the dustpan and brush. “Bracken, fetch some old cloths from under the sink.
“I was trying to remember the word all afternoon,” Lord Peregrine said without a shred of remorse. “And I remembered. Entrepreneurial!”
“You were doing a crossword?” Tom asked, stepping carefully away from the shattered china. “I’m really sorry about the plates.”
“It’s not a problem,” Hilary said, shooting a dark glance at Lord Peregrine, who ignored it.
“I’ve been thinking of ideas,” Lord Peregrine said, oblivious to the cleaning going on. “And I have purchased the tea rooms from the Lesken sisters.”
“I’m not cooking for it!” Hilary said quickly, tipping the broken china into the kitchen wastebin.
“Well, not exactly,” Lord Peregrine said.
“No, not at all!” Hilary said. “I’ve not got that much time!”
“You need more lodgers,” Lord Peregrine said. “That would cover more expenses, as would selling cakes at the new stores. Then you could give up that job of yours.”
“I am not giving up my job,” Hilary snarled.
“Why not?” Lord Peregrine asked, baffled. “Tom will as well.”
“What?” Tom said, surprised at the turn of the conversation.
“Tom, you shall give up your job and manage the new stores,” Lord Peregrine said. “You’ve never enjoyed your work in the city, and you hate the commuting. You will miss that and instead manage my new stores.” He leaned in closer. “The commuting is particularly hard, I know, and there was a traffic jam down by the bridge earlier. The traffic lights had failed and there were cars queueing for yards.”
“No, absolutely not!” Tom said.
“You no longer have to contribute money to the pack,” Lord Peregrine said. “And I will be paying a wage that is considered reasonable.”
“Who considers it reasonable?” Tom asked before he could stop himself. “No! I’m not doing it. What do I even know about tea rooms?”
“But they won’t be a tea room,” Lord Peregrine said. “I spoke to Jed and I am opening a general store. I thought I would call it New Stores and I would sell things in general.”
“No more tea rooms?” Bracken whispered. “Auntie Olive and Auntie Ivy are going to be furious.”
“I decided to make a small nook, with a few tables and chairs,” Lord Peregrine said with an airy wave of his hand. “There could be decent tea and proper coffee with cakes that Hilary makes with the free time she has after quitting her job.”
“I’m not leaving my job!” Hilary snapped.
Lord Peregrine smiled happily. “Then it’s all settled. I’ll give you a call tomorrow, Tom, to hand over keys and papers and things.” He leaned back in his chair. “And why don’t we have a slice of that cake now, Hilary? We can test it out for the new stores.”
“I am not giving up my job,” Hilary growled.
Lord Peregrine just smiled.
