Discovering the Devil

T w e n t y - t h r e e

XXII

PENELOPE did her best not to stare at the Earl. Ever since their kiss, it had been difficult not to look at him without melting. It had been a week since they'd come back from Berkeley House. There were no rendez-vous during the day, or any meetings of any kind, they'd both decided it was too risky. They met each other at night, when they were both sure the entire house was asleep. So far, it had only been long talks in his private sitting room or his study. Tonight, Lord Hawthorne had insisted they meet in the kitchen.

"I imagine you've never made anything in your life," Lord Hawthorne said. He was wearing a nightshirt and loose trousers. Penelope made sure she was a little ways away from him. If not, she might drown in his scent.

"Of course I haven't, Sir. I've never needed too."

"Harry," he corrected. "It's 'Harry' when we are alone."

Penelope felt herself flush. "Right, Harry. Obviously, I've never had the need to cook." Her eyes surveyed the countertop where eggs, flour, and butter sat. "Is that what we're going to be doing tonight?"

"Not quite."

"What are we doing with these ingredients, then?"

"We're going to make cookies," Harry replied.

"You said we weren't cooking."

"We aren't. We're baking."

Penelope rolled her eyes. "Semantics."

"Come closer, Penelope." Penelope relished the swell of pleasure at the sound of her name. "We can't cook together with you so far away."

"I thought we were baking?"

"Semantics."

Penelope inched closer to him. He spilled flour into the bowl and added a dollop of margarine. "Pick up that egg."

"What for?"

"You're going to crack it against the pan."

Penelope blinked up at him. "Why?"

"So you can put it into the bowl." Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "I would think that bit wouldn't be explanatory."

"Don't tease me." She cracked the egg lightly against the bowl's edge and watched the yoke ooze out of its shell. "Next?"

Harry pointed to the sugar. "Put two cups of that into the bowl."

"How am I supposed to know how much two cups are?"

Harry then pointed to the silver measuring spoon hiding behind the bag of flour. "That's how."

Penelope completed his command. "And now?"

"A pinch of salt. Just a pinch."

Penelope made a face. "I've never heard of salt in cookies."

"This is the first time you've ever picked up a spoon," Harry said. "Just wait till you try them. They're divine."

Despite her skepticism, Penelope followed his directive. Harry added a generous helping of chocolate and handed her a spoon. "You're going to stir."

Penelope gently pressed the spoon into the mixture. She paused when she heard Harry laugh. "What on Earth is so funny?"

"I didn't think it was possible to struggle with something so simple."

"You can do it yourself if I'm doing such a poor job."

"No, you're not getting out of it that easily." Harry leaned in closer, and the room began to spin. He put his hand around the hand she was using to hold the spoon's handle. "I'll show you." Together, they gently turned the mixture into a delectable batter. Against her better judgment, Penelope scooped a bit of uncooked cookie with a tip of her finger, intending to get a preliminary taste. Harry intercepted her finger with his mouth and sucked it clean. Penelope watched him with bated breath. "You shouldn't do that."