Fortuitously, neither the subsequent day, nor the day after that, nor the day after that, the guards didn’t discover Claire.

As time handed day-to-day, Claire discovered peace of thoughts in her peculiar life.

The recollections of that day light, and Claire opened the door to the Lemon Home with a sense of refreshment, as if she’d by no means picked up a necklace within the birch grove.

The bell on the door swayed and rang calmly.

Claire wiped down the show case whereas she hummed her and Isabelle’s favourite nursery rhyme that their mom usually sang to them after they had been kids.

The savory scent of butter was wafting from the kitchen.

Had been they baking scones at this time?

She was bending over cleansing a window. When she straightened her again a girl, with brown hair like Claire’s, opened the door and got here in.

Chestnut hair was the commonest hair shade all through Kaliba. Shadehill, situated within the southwest of Kaliba, was no exception.

Claire favored that she had chestnut-colored hair that was ubiquitous and inconspicuous.

She smiled apologetically, and approached the girl.

“I’m sorry, however I’m nonetheless preparing. Might you come again later?”

The girl, who in her late twenties to early thirties, wore her hair in a neat updo.

“Do you assume you possibly can bake about 5 dozen cookies, and produce them to me by this afternoon?”

“Cookies?”

“Sure, I want them in a rush.”

“I’m sorry, however we don’t carry cookies.”

“The Countess of Norton mentioned she would take any quantity. She actually likes the muffins right here, so she mentioned the cookies should be scrumptious too.”

Surprised, Claire requested.

“The Countess of Norton?”

“Sure, I’m Sally, the Countess’ maid.”

On the point out of the identify Norton, Claire’s thoughts naturally flashed again to Clive Norton from earlier that week.

She thought he’d forgotten her, nevertheless it wasn’t really easy.

Since she hadn’t heard from him but, she thought that the suspicions round her had been cleared, although she didn’t know why.

With a small sigh, Claire shook off pointless ideas at this level.

“I’m begging you, please.”

“That’s lower than me, so are you able to wait a minute?”

“Do you thoughts if I’m going with you and clarify to the boss?”

Claire led Sally into the kitchen. Brenda was pulling raisin-filled scones out of the oven.

“Boss, now we have a buyer.”

“A buyer?”

Brenda turned her head. With the again of her hand, she wiped the sweat from her forehead that shaped from the warmth of the ovens.

She puzzled what sort of buyer can be keen to set foot within the kitchen.

“Good day, I’m Sally, the Countess of Norton’s maid. We’re having some bother with the oven on the manor, and I’d wish to order some cookies in a rush.”

“Cookies?”

“I do know you don’t promote them, however my woman loves the desserts on the Lemon Home.”

Brenda’s eyes flashed with confusion.

“The madam actually needs to serve cookies which are made right here for her tea get together. Might you do it? Please?”

Sally’s phrases trigger Brenda to pause. Sensing her hesitation, Sally rapidly added.

“We want it instantly, by this afternoon. I’m actually pressed for time, however she mentioned she’d make do with no matter you are able to do.”

“I don’t know if I could make it in time.”

Brenda refused not directly. Though, she was curious how a lot time she was giving when she mentioned they might take any quantity.

If Brenda hurried, she may be capable of do it. Nevertheless, she was additionally apprehensive that she won’t be capable of make it in time, and that may make her seem like a idiot.

“When you’re short-handed, I can ship a couple of maids.”

Sally simply brushed it off as if it wasn’t an enormous deal.

“Please.”

Brenda smiled wanly on the desperation in her voice.

“No, I don’t want maids.”

“Are you able to make me 5 completely different sorts from what you will have accessible proper now?”

“5 issues… black tea, almonds, chocolate, cranberries, and vanilla… I suppose I might do 5 issues.”

As Brenda counted off the elements on her fingers, she gave a nod of approval.

“Please be sure you get there by 3:00 on the newest.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Sally left, then Brenda requested Drew to fetch black tea leaves, almonds, dried cranberries, and vanilla oil from the basement storage room.

“Would you like me to assist?”

“No, Drew’s assistance is sufficient. However I’m presupposed to be making wheat bread for the church this time round.”

The place Brenda’s eye landed, there was row upon row of wheat bread she’d left to rise.

The church periodically ordered loaves of wheat bread from bakeries all through Shadehill.

It was an act of charity, giving the bakeries work and feeding the hungry on the identical time.

And at this time was the day that the Lemon Home can be baking the wheat bread.

It was at this time of all days.

In fact, it was unlikely that the Chief Constable of Shadehill can be within the manor at such a leisurely hour, however Claire didn’t know what the lifetime of a nobleman was like.

If she was unfortunate, she may run into him. She didn’t need to be questioned once more.

Nevertheless, there was no means she was going to have the ability to pull the wagon to the church.

…No, possibly she ought to learn to pull the wagon now.

Claire’s thoughts raced, and he or she couldn’t assist however say one thing she actually didn’t need to say.

“I’ll assist care for the order to the Countess.”

Brenda mentioned she’d be wonderful with simply Drew, however because it turned out, she wasn’t.

Baking wheat bread for the church and the cookies on the Countess’ whim, the ovens had been in fixed want of wooden.

Between fetching wooden and checking the temperature of the ovens, Drew was busy rolling out flour, beating eggs, and kneading dough.

Additionally they needed to cool the baked wheat bread, and cargo it onto the wagon.

In between journeys to the shop, Claire discovered work within the kitchen.

She washed used crockery, took baked cookies out of the oven to chill, and helped Drew transfer loaves of wheat bread.

Because the hours handed, the three of them grew more and more sweaty.

It was unlucky, nevertheless it was essential to preserve busy within the warmth of the ovens.

Within the few moments the place they had been ready for all of the dough to be performed, for the cookies to be baked excellent within the oven.

They devoured up a salad with tomatoes for a late lunch.

Usually, they might have had a cup of tea after the meal, however at this time they couldn’t afford it.

Drew left for church within the wagon loaded with wheat bread, whereas Brenda and Claire fastidiously stacked the cookies within the basket in order that they wouldn’t crumble.

Ugh, the clock was ticking.

Claire locked eyes with Brenda, then left the Lemon Home with out a second to say goodbye.

“I’ll be again!”

Claire hurried her steps, the bell jingled because the door closed behind her.

She was so busy and preoccupied that she forgot about Clive for some time.

Nevertheless, as she headed out of city and into the birch grove, her ideas naturally turned to the necklace she’d present in these woods. Then, her ideas turned to Clive.

Oh no, that necklace belonged to Grandmother Caitlyn Norton.

Claire was nonetheless dumbfounded by the belief.

Fortunately, she couldn’t afford to let that feeling linger. The soles of her toes had been throbbing as she walked, nearly ran, to make it in time.

The birch grove, that had as soon as been so breathtakingly stunning, was a mere reminiscence.

Nevertheless, the reminiscence of being suspected as a thief rapidly sank beneath the floor of her aching physique.

She was out of breath, however she had no time to relaxation…, no.

If she handed out, she wouldn’t be capable of ship the cookies safely, then her boss would assume she’d snuck off with them.

They may go, and ask Isabelle about it. Even the Countess of Norton may ship somebody to harass her sister to get the cookies again.

So, this was for Isabelle’s sake.

Claire made a nonsensical excuse, bent over and stood along with her palms on her knees, respiratory closely.

It wasn’t lengthy now. Only a few extra steps and he or she’d be out of those woods and in sight of the Depend’s manor.

She wiped the sweat from her brow along with her sleeve, nevertheless it solely made her sleeve damp.

After roughly catching her breath, Claire trudged on.

She didn’t know why. She couldn’t choose up the tempo anymore.

Her legs had been drained. Claire mechanically raised, and lowered her legs.

When she lastly reached the Depend’s mansion, she discovered Sally standing nervously in entrance of the servant’s entrance.

No, she noticed Claire and got here operating towards her.

“Oh my goodness! Claire, are you okay? You’re so pink and sweaty.”

“It’s okay, please take these.”

Sally accepted the basket of cookies as she studied Claire’s complexion.

Claire felt her palms lighten, and he or she felt liberated. 

“You’ll pay for them later once you come to the Lemon Home, proper?”

“Sure, I’ll return this basket to you then, too. Thanks very a lot.”

Sally set the basket on the bottom for a second, and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket.

She wiped Claire’s brow and cheeks with the handkerchief. Though the material was of decrease high quality, it was clear and embroidered with yellow birds.

They’d simply met at this time, however the way in which she gently wiped away the sweat was affectionate. Claire clutched on the light hand.

“Can I wash it, and provides it again to you later?”

“It’s okay, it’s only a handkerchief. I’ll wash it rapidly.”

“I’m certain I’ll be sweating so much on the way in which again to…”

She realized that wiping along with her sleeve had its limits.

“I’ll lend it to you, then.”

“Thanks. Ah, the countess shall be ready, and I’ve taken up an excessive amount of of your time.”

Sally all of a sudden realized she didn’t have time for this, and picked up the basket.

“You labored actually exhausting at this time, thanks.”

“Go in. I’ll go too.”

Having accomplished her mission, Claire waved goodbye with a way of reduction.

Her steps had been sluggish and laborious as she walked away from the depend’s property. Nonetheless, the way in which again was good as a result of her palms had been mild.

Leaning her again towards a birch tree that felt like nothing greater than a characteristic, she took out Sally’s handkerchief and wiped her brow, cheeks, and nape.

Claire’s forehead furrowed barely. Her physique was damp and reeked of sweat from the warmth of the ovens.

She wished she might wash her face, however that’s one thing she couldn’t hope for within the forest.

As she rose to her toes after a short, honeyed relaxation, she heard the sound of hooves on the opposite aspect of the trail that lower via the forest.

There was additionally the sound of carriage wheels rolling over the bottom.

The top of the street is the Depend of Norton’s property, so it was clear that’s the place they had been going.

A member of the Depend’s household? Or a visitor? The Aristocracy?