Chapter 94 – Restock
Jade and Josh arrived at the Silver Acorn around one in the afternoon.
They had intended to arrive by noon, but although Josh knew how to drive a donkey cart, Mr. Apple – the donkey himself – had apparently decided that they would take several unnecessary turns along the way.
Hence, the delay.
“The nut brittles sold out?” Jade blinked in surprise.
“Yes, Miss Jade,” Brother Milo grinned, unable to hide his delight. “I never expected my sweets to be received so well. Many customers wished to purchase them as afternoon treats! Miss Jade, do you think we should expand production, similar to what we do with the bakehouse?”
Jade blinked. “Well, that might be possible if we plan properly beforehand… We can discuss it with Father Rochester after the bazaar. Is that fine with you?”
“Excellent!” Brother Milo nodded enthusiastically. After helping unload the cart, he took hold of the reins. “Leave Apple and the cart to me. I shall drive them back to domus.”
“Great!” Jade said with relief. “I was wondering where I was supposed to park both the cart and Apple…”
“Oh, it is simple enough,” Brother Milo explained. The process involved summoning a hall porter to glance over their vehicle so he would remember its details. Registering it on paper would be a better idea, but most people barely knew how to write, and hall porters fell into that category; thus, they needed a strong memory to hold the position. Then, the vehicle and coachman would be led to a designated holding area to be looked after by a porter boy until the owner requested them again. That area included a hut where the coachmen could have a drink and rest, while feed and water were supplied to the animals.
Admittedly, a rustic donkey cart parked among elegant horses and towering carriages would present a rather amusing sight. Still, if the situation required Jade to park their donkey cart, the hall porter of the Silver Acorn would be obliged to provide the service.
Jade let out a soft “oh” as a slow realisation struck. So this is basically an early version of valet parking…
The sort of service she had only ever seen at expensive hotels in her previous life where she had never actually entered as a customer.
Well, good thing we don’t have to park beside those fancy carriages. Can’t afford to pay for damages if our cart scratches one of them. With that in thought, Jade hurried back to the booth and began filling empty display spaces with baskets of fresh biscuits.
The lightboxes had sold out as well.
The tuition students who came for the craft session the previous noon had produced additional bookmarks, greeting cards, small artificial flowers and simple embroidered handkerchiefs, so the booth now overflowed with small crafts and biscuits while running low on nearly everything else.
The newly introduced goods quickly attracted attention.
To Jade’s surprise, many customers appeared familiar with the packaging. That likely indicated they had encountered the school’s biscuits before winter, though they probably had no idea the products came from the domus. Most likely, servants or housekeepers had purchased them previously while their employers never bothered asking where the treats had come from.
“Miss Jade.” Just as Jade prepared to retreat into the background as she had done the previous day, Miss Arrowot handed her a calling card. “A Lady you spoke with yesterday asked me to pass along her message. She wishes to hire you – or purchase your recipes – should you have interest after resigning.”
“A Lady?” Jade frowned briefly before recognition surfaced. “The very pretty noble lady who spoke to me yesterday afternoon? The one who bought a comb?”
Miss Arrowot nodded, and noticed the complicated expression crossing Jade’s face.
Jade quickly offered a polite smile. “Thank you. I’ll definitely consider her offer.”
Once she slipped into the small resting area hidden behind fabric partitions, alone, Jade allowed herself to think.
A very dedicated noble Lady.
Jade analysed the noblewoman’s actions as how she would do to a book character – if she had the brain of a CSI agent, she would undoubtedly be building a profile – because this analysis would help her decide her path once she left the domus.
She definitely saw me as a thorn in her side at first. Even after I proved my connection with Mr. Rich Sponsor is nothing more than that of a patron and a schoolmistress, she probably still has doubts… So, besides showing kindness by offering me a job, she might be planning to keep me somewhere she can monitor, ensuring I don’t get close to her future husband? Gee, that’s smart. Seems like a smart and capable future mistress of the House!
Jade decided that Lady Glorissa’s offer would remain her second-to-last option. Her absolute last resort would be returning to the domus permanently and serving the Light if circumstances demanded it. Her ideal future, however, was simple: rent a small house, begin a modest business, slowly accumulate savings, and eventually own a shop.
As for her second option… Welp, sorry, Lady. Between you and Mr. Rich Sponsor, I’d definitely pick the nice rich guy who already dared to hire me as a consultant. Jade shrugged as she thought to herself, And after you marry him, I’ll get his recommendation letter and leap to another House!
Jade considered her plan flawless. Feeling satisfied, she stepped out from the partition and resumed helping with sales.
With improved presentation and decorative packaging, the biscuits sold at the charity bazaar for two pence more than their usual price. The customers did not seem bothered in the slightest, many happily purchased a bag or two to accompany afternoon tea.
Yet even after restocking the biscuits, only a handful of crafts remained scattered across the display by the end of the day.
The students cheered for the success. But once the excitement faded, concern settled in – tomorrow was the final day of the charity bazaar. As the venue needed preparation for the evening auction, vendors would be required to close before three in the afternoon. That meant they still needed enough goods to fill the booth from ten until three. Otherwise, the display would look painfully empty with only leftover biscuits and a few remaining crafts.
“What should we do, Sensei?” Josh asked.
Jade let out a long sigh. “Can’t do much except offer the best we’ve got. You and I should get into bed early tonight and wake up extra early to bake more biscuits. Any other suggestions?”
Clara immediately raised her hand. “Could I prepare sketches for customers to browse? For decorative screens they might wish to order later?”
Jade looked surprised. “We’ve had requests for custom orders?”
“I am not sure,” Clara admitted hesitantly. “Several customers seemed interested in buying more, but none asked directly about placing orders… Perhaps they simply didn’t realise we would accept commissions in the future?”
“That’s possible…” Jade thought for a moment before nodding. “Alright. We’ll arrange a few display tables showing sketches for future customers.”
She paused, and continued, “And while customers are browsing, we could serve biscuits with herbal tea… wait, no. We don’t have enough herbs in storage.” She turned to Clara and Miss Arrowot. “Do you think we could get fresh fruit or berries from the estate?”
“Fruit and berries?” one of the students tilted her head.
“Well, fruit tea sounds better than plain boiled water,” Jade said with a shrug. “We definitely can’t afford loose tea leaves, so fruit tea – just fruit or berries and malt sugar steeped in hot water – would probably suit the venue better.”
Miss Arrowot raised her hand. “Miss Jade, allow me to contact Lord Ashborne’s estate steward.”
“Thank you, Miss Arrowot!” Jade smiled. “Now, let’s pack up, head back to the domus, and get ourselves prepared for the last day!”
“Yes, Miss Jade!”
Later that evening, Jade gathered the same groups again in the dining hall for another planning discussion.
“Oh, I can certainly wake you early tomorrow morning, Miss Jade,” Sister Miriam said, “The moment the rooster crows.”
“Thank you, Sister Miriam,” Jade nodded gratefully.
Brother Milo added, “I shall prepare more brittles tonight so you have additional stock for display tomorrow. Though I fear the quantity may not be great.”
“That’s already a huge help, Brother Milo,” Jade replied with a smile. “Thank you.”
Brother James had purchased additional cone sugar after Jade emptied the remaining supply from the storeroom that morning. He had done so as precaution, and was pleased that the extra stock would now support tomorrow’s baking.
“There is something else,” he added. “The students who attended the noon lessons – although I know Miss Jade asked them not to – heard about the shortage of goods at the booth. They insisted on helping, so they remained in your classroom and made additional crafts. I gathered everything afterward and stored it in my room. You may collect them later, Miss Jade.”
“Aww, they really didn’t have to… Thanks, Brother James,” Jade smiled warmly and expressed her gratitude once more.
“Alright, I think we’re covered everything. Any final suggestions before we dismiss?” she asked.
Josh immediately raised his hand, “Sensei, could we fry layered puffs for tomorrow’s display?”
Jade turned toward him. “But water lily puffs take too much effort. I don’t think we’ll have time.”
“No, Sensei, not water lily puffs,” Josh said quickly, gesturing as he explained. “Something simpler. Same layered puff dough, but make it round… ball-shaped, with filling inside.”
He continued, gaining confidence as he put his vague imagination into rigid words. “Miss Arrowot might bring fruit back – apples, maybe? Or we could still use the carrots and beans in storage. We could make puff balls with sweet apple fillings. I think they’d suit the Silver Acorn nicely. The ladies might find them adorable.”
The monks looked faintly startled.
Unlike Sister Miriam, Clara, and Miss Arrowot – who had all witnessed Jade’s teaching style – Brother James and Brother Milo had never observed the dynamic between the baking master and her apprentice.
Both instinctively tightened their expression, expecting reprimand. In their experience, apprentices who presumed to advise their master often received a sharp correction – or worse – just as they had seen other masters bellowing at their apprentice in shops or workhouses.
Yet Jade’s eyes brightened instead. “Ooh, good idea, Josh! If we prepare the fillings tonight and layer the puff dough first thing in the morning, someone else could fry them in the kitchen while we pipe biscuits in the bakehouse.”
She pushed herself halfway upright, “I’ll go get Sister Geenia–”
“That will not be necessary, Miss Jade,” Sister Miriam interrupted gently, motioning for her to sit back down. “I shall inform her myself. She will gladly help.”
“Really?” Jade hesitated – everyone involved had attended the discussion, while Sister Geenia had only received a brief explanation afterward? “But–”
“It is quite alright,” Sister Miriam said with a soft chuckle. “She was a bit disappointed at not being able to contribute to the charity bazaar before. I assure you, she will be delighted to learn that you require her assistance tomorrow.”
“Oh.” Jade blinked, paused, then continued. “Alright then, Josh and I will prepare the fillings as much as we can after supper until nine. Tomorrow morning will be a busy day.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, and the meeting was dismissed.
Miss Arrowot quickly departed through the gate, taking Pea the donkey toward the estate to contact the steward.
Meanwhile, Brother James knocked upon the study door and entered to speak with Father Rochester.
“Father,” he said, taking a seat. Then he quietly shared the latest numbers. The amount startled the old clergy enough that his eyes widened.
Father Rochester repeated the rounded figures under his breath. “£15 yesterday, and £12 today.”
He stared ahead in disbelief. “She is a gold dispenser!”
“She would soar high, but I fear she will face storms and lightning before she can truly stretch her wings,” Brother James said, furrowing his brow. “She may have done her best to remain unnoticed at the venue, but the bazaar committee will certainly notice her once she reports her earnings. She could become a target of fortune hunters.”
“I understand your concern, James,” Father Rochester replied with a nod. “However, she is doing good deeds, and we should not stop someone who sincerely wishes to help others. Miss Jade has never asked for a share of the raised funds beyond her wages as a teacher. She teaches the children valuable skills freely and without complaint. Such generosity is rarely found.”
“I agree, Father, and I would gladly offer any help I can,” Brother James sighed. “I do not wish to restrict her, but it would be best for her to remain at school until her resignation. At least while she is under our care, few would dare act against her.”
“Yes, James. That is what we ought to do,” Father Rochester agreed. “From what I understand, Miss Jade would prefer to own a shop rather than enter service as a pastry cook in a noble household.”
“A lone woman operating a shop with a teenage boy,” Brother James said, shaking his head. “Unless she establishes herself on a well-patrolled street, she would be vulnerable to unsavory people.”
“I may try suggesting she join Lord Ashborne’s estate again,” Father Rochester said. “He is among the kindest and most generous gentleman I have ever known, and he has always admired Miss Jade’s wit.”
“A noble Lady has offered her a position as well,” Brother James added, “Lady Glorissa of Conbury.”
Father Rochester and Brother James did not know that the Lady in question held an interest in their Landlord, but they welcomed the news all the same.
“Perhaps Miss Jade hesitates because Lord Ashborne is a gentleman,” Father Rochester said, “An invitation from a gentlewoman may feel more acceptable to her. Few wicked men would dare approach the kitchen of a noble house. She would be safer there.”
“I would very much hope so,” Brother James said quietly. He remembered Sister Miriam mentioning that Miss Jade would willingly become a nun if she found no other path forward. And he repeated, “I truly hope she remains safe and well.”
Neither man wished to one day see Jade entering the Sister’s House out of desperation rather than devotion.