Chapter 58 - Fifty Eight
"Never mind," Lyra said, dismissing Delia’s clueless response with a wave of her hand. Her eyes went back to the tray of misshapen red cookies. A new, more practical thought seemed to occur to her. "You are going to feed these to my son, right?
Delia looked at the lopsided cookies, then back at Lyra, a confused expression on her face.
Lyra continued, her voice now taking on a low advisory tone as she gestured to the cookies. "Sprinkle some sugar on top. The fine, powdered kind. And use a small knife to carefully cut off the rough, burnt edges. Just make them look pretty. Eric has always loved pretty things." She looked at Delia this time. "He reminded me of that preference the last time."
Duchess Adeline, who was standing across from Delia, carefully decorating her own perfect cookies with silver pearls, let out a sharp, unpleasant laugh. "Look at you, Lyra," she said, her voice filled with sarcasm. "Already helping out your soon-to-be daughter-in-law with her wifely duties. I never thought you would be performing mother-in-law duties so soon."
The comment was a direct hit, meant to mock both Lyra’s sudden change of heart and Delia’s lack of skill. Lyra’s head snapped up, her eyes flashing with a protective fire.
"Hey!" she shouted at Adeline, her voice sharp enough to make several other ladies turn and look. "Look here, Adeline. Mind your own business. I am just being human. How can I see someone who clearly needs my help and not offer it? Is that a foreign concept to you, Adeline?"
Adeline glared back, her own face tightening with anger. The two duchesses gave each other a stern, challenging look, the air between them sizzling with hostility. Delia, caught in the middle, ignored them both. She was focused entirely on Lyra’s advice, her mind already working, thinking of how to make the cookies pretty for Eric and if he will like it.
Standing a short distance away, Lady Isla held a decorative box, ready to help package Delia’s cookies. She stopped, watching the tense scene unfold, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. Things were getting very interesting indeed.
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