“It has been quite a day.”
“It has.”
“Peter?”
“Yes?”
“I’m glad that you are here now.”
“So am I.”
Dahlia had to admit that her new winter clothes were considerably warmer than her old ones. Walking to thehaberdashery in Stilton together with Helena and Chastity, she thanked Peter silently for insisting on the new garments.
“And we thought it was cold in London,” Helena complained.
“You really did not need to come with me,” Dahlia said again.
When she had told her friend that she was going to the village to replenish her embroidery supplies and to purchase another set of gloves, Helena had insisted on coming with her. That meant, of course, that Chastity would be coming too.
“She really tries my patience, Dahlia, the mischief that she gets into! If I leave Chastity by herself, there is no saying what trouble she will soon get into,” her friend sighed. “She is coming out in society soon; I thought she would have grown into a proper young lady by now, but no! Indeed, she is as wild as ever!”
And so, the three of them had piled into the carriage and arrived at Stilton with a bracing wind to welcome them.
“I am glad I came,” Chastity said. “I love seeing new places!”
“Even if they are as cold as this?” Dahlia teased her.
“Yes, I don’t mind it at all!”
Helena, who was swathed with scarves until only her eyes showed, grumbled in reply.
With one errand completed, Dahlia asked the two ladies if they would like to see the rest of the village.
Helena, who was predicting her sister’s answer, was taken by surprise by her actual answer.
“As my older sister, I shall follow your lead, Helena.”
Helena looked at her friend with no little surprise. Dahlia bit her lips and smiled.
“Let us visit the confectionery shop.”
“As you wish, Helena.” Chastity curtsied.
Dahlia pointed to the location of the confectionary shop, and Chastity walked ahead, leading the way.
Pulling the scarf down from her face, Helena implored her friend.
“Dahlia, tell me what your cook puts in the food at Icedale Castle? I will bring the magic spice with me!”
Dahlia laughed. She was aware that Helena took an extremely long time in confectionery shops; her sweet tooth demanded it. She sighed, accepting the fact that she would not be able to complete all her errands that day.
“You know how I adore confectioneries, Dahlia. Oh, this one smells particularly lovely.”
They surveyed the display of cakes, biscuits, jams, and preserves lining the shelves. Dahlia’s sentiments proved true; almost half an hour passed before Helena and Chastity decided on their purchases.
Outside, the sky quickly darkened, alerting Dahlia that they must head back.
“But what about the milliners?” Helena asked when her friend said that they should head back to Icedale Castle.
