Page 75 of The Duke's Unclaimed Bride
Tilly slowly unwrapped the bow and opened the box. She gasped in delight when she found a delicate confectionery.
“Oh no…” Edith chuckled behind her hand.
Tilly seemed to almost vibrate with excitement. “Thank you, Lord Mallowby,” she said, desperately trying to keep her voice calm.
James nodded. “You’re welcome, young lady.”
Tilly hesitated for a moment before putting the box on the dining table and reaching into Edith’s pocket.
“Excuse me?” Edith laughed.
“It’s important!” Tilly protested, before taking out a lemon drop and handing it to James.
James raised an eyebrow and looked between his friend and Edith.
“Ah, I have been giving those to Tilly to encourage good behavior,” Edith explained.
“Aha!” James laughed. “And I have been good?”
“Very good.” Tilly nodded.
“Think this quite an honor, Lord Mallowby,” Edith quipped. “Tilly was quite insistent that her lemon drops not be shared with any of the adults.”
“That’s not entirely true.” Tilly pouted. “I wanted His Grace to have some, if he was nice!”
Edith watched as Laurence blinked in surprise and then let out a chuckle. “My oh my, it seems I’ll have to work hard tonight to earn that honor.”
“Oh, yes,” James agreed, his voice muffled by the lemon drop.
“No talking with your mouth full,” Tilly chided.
James covered his mouth and laughed, nearly choking on his lemon drop.
A moment later, the butler arrived and announced they had visitors. Edith was very happy to see who entered the room.
“Well, it seems we have arrived at a good time,” Ava said as she and her family walked in.
“Ava, it is so good to see you again,” Edith greeted as she walked over to her friend and took her hand.
“It is wonderful to see you too, Edith.” Ava smiled.
Anthony and Luke appeared in the doorway, looking around the grand dining room.
“My mama said you live in a castle!” Anthony cried out.
“Yes!” Tilly giggled, running over to her friends. “Well, not right now, as you can see. But this house is also quite grand!”
“Does your castle have a guardian of the house, like we do?” Anthony asked.
“A what?” Laurence asked, frowning.
“Pudding,” Ava elaborated with a smile.
James laughed again. “What a lively group we are!”
“Stop talking with your mouth full!” Tilly admonished.
“I swallowed it!” James protested.
