Page 2 of The Sweetest Season
“You can’t paint in the dark.”
“I can’t paint in the light either,” Noel said with grim humor.“So there’s no real loss.”
Noel didn’t go to his art studio, though.He remained where he was after his friend left.Why go into the room just to confront all the half-finished, disappointing efforts he’d made?Nothing was the same since the war.Not even painting, his favorite pastime, gave him any joy.
The fire now burned low, but the candles remained bright and glowing in their sconces.He looked at the little box in his hand, then lifted the lid.Half a dozen confections nestled inside.They looked good, he admitted to himself.Perfectly shiny chocolate coatings, with exquisitely presented hints of some of the flavors within: a slivered almond, a little orange icing flower, a fresh green mint leaf, sugared so that it looked as though it was covered in frost.
He picked up the one in the corner, topped with the sliver of almond.Not bad, he thought, biting down through a dense center under the chocolate.Was it marzi—?
Flavors exploded on his tongue.This was no mere marzipan.The richness of almonds had been ground into a meltingly sweet paste with only a hint of sugar and…was thatcoffee?Who thought of that combination?
The bitter edge of black coffee surged through the marzipan layer, waking up his senses, making him…hungry.
For the first time since he could remember, he was actually hungry.Salivating.Eager.
He finished the marzipan in two bites, rolling the taste of it around his mouth.I need whiskey, he thought.Whiskey would pair perfectly with the treat.
He walked over to where the bottles were kept and poured one finger’s worth into a glass.He took a drink.Lord, he was right.The whiskey tingled on his tongue.It was nothing to do with the proof and everything to do with that unexpected, possibly unreal flavor.
With a pang, he realized there were only five more sweets in the box, and none of them looked like the marzipan one.
What if they were terrible?What if he would never taste that flavor again?
Feeling half-mad with sudden hunger, Noel returned to the box and pulled out another candy.He took a bite.Orange.Orange bright as a summer sunrise hid beneath that dark chocolate layer.The texture was light, teasing.A sort of sponge cake, soaked in liquor.
He didn’t need another drink.He needed more of these incredible flavors.He picked up the third piece.Caramel.Smooth and rich, creamy and sweet without cloying.Just thick enough to bite into with relish, but then it melted away, all too soon.
Half gone.He just got the box!He grabbed the next piece.Raspberry.Somehow this magician found what tasted like fresh raspberries—inNovember—and doused them in some whipped, sugary…no, honey-filled crème.This wasn’t fair.
The fifth piece was deceptively simple.Just a perfect half of a walnut smothered in chocolate.No, not just chocolate.Salty, milky, marvelous chocolate.
Noel stared in consternation at the last piece.He should save it.
At least until tomorrow.
At least for half an hour.
At least until the taste of the previous piece faded.
He didn’t.He snatched the final piece out of the box as if someone might steal it from him.Feeling almost frightened, he bit down.
Mint.Perfect, sweet, clean, winter-bright mint mingling with the night-black chocolate.
Heaven.And hunger-inducing.He rang the bell.
The footman appeared immediately.“Sir?”
“Did Emmanuel tell Cook to keep some of that lamb from supper?”
“Well, yes, sir.”
“Bring me a plate.And some of whatever else is in the kitchen.Those soft rolls she always makes.And the rice.Maybe some of that apple compote.”
“Yes, sir!”Not bothering to hide his surprise, the footman hurried to fulfill the request.
While he waited for the food to be brought out, Noel picked up the lid of the box again, readingHolliday’s Finest Quality Confections.
Finest quality?Hell, yes, they were.First thing in the morning, he’d ask Emmanuel to get more.
