The Girl with the Red Ribbon Read Online Free Page A

pie filled the kitchen, and she felt excitement stirring. Wait until her father saw what she’d made from her mother’s book. Carefully she spread the bright cotton cloth they kept for special occasions over the table and set out the utensils they’d need.
    ‘Something smells good,’ Fanny said, gliding down the stairs. Pity she couldn’t say the same, Rowan thought as the pervading scent of rose threatened to overpower the appetizing aroma of her cooking. She noticed her stepmother had changed into yet another fancy dress. How many did the woman have, she wondered, looking down at her own homespun gown. Although she’d dyed it green with leaves from the elder, and had been pleased with the result, beside Fanny’s brightly sprigged material it looked
quite drab. Her stepmother had styled her hair, too, clipping it back with an ornate clasp. Hastily, Rowan smoothed back her own mane of copper curls, reminding herself to take off her apron once she’d served the meal.
    ‘Well, aren’t you going to tell me what’s cooking?’ Fanny asked, looking enquiringly at Rowan.
    ‘It’s chicken and bacon pie,’ she said proudly. ‘It’s from a receipt in Mother’s book. I’ve never made a pie before so I hope it tastes as nice as it smells.’
    ‘Did your mother make it often?’ Fanny enquired.
    ‘Yes, it was one of her favourite dishes. She always cooked it on special occasions,’ she whispered, blinking back the tears so that she failed to notice the interest sparking in Fanny’s eyes.
    ‘My goodness, something smells inviting in here,’ her father said, striding into the room and throwing his cap onto the settle. ‘And what a delightful sight to welcome a man home,’ he exclaimed, smiling at his new wife.
    ‘Edward, my dear,’ Fanny simpered in a soft voice, as she went over and kissed his cheek. Although he flushed and turned away, Rowan could tell he was pleased. Then the door swung open again and Sab clattered in, a flagon under one arm and a bundle of faggots under the other. He sniffed the air appreciatively.
    ‘I heard there’s a bit of a celebration going on, so I brought this in.’ He proudly held up the cider and winked at Rowan.
    ‘How clever of you to know that, Sab,’ Fanny gushed, beaming at him as he carefully set the flagon on the table before tossing the faggots beside the hearth.
    Surprised at the change in the woman’s manner, but
putting it down to her afternoon rest, Rowan proudly set the pie on the table.
    ‘Right, Sab, my boy, if you’d like to pour the drinks, I shall dish our dinner,’ Fanny announced nudging Rowan out of the way and picking up the serving spoons. Rowan stared at her in surprise, but her stepmother was making such a performance of placing a generous portion of the pie in front of her new husband, she didn’t notice.
    ‘Now come along, Edward. Tell me what you think of your new wife’s pie crust,’ she said coyly.
    ‘But, Fanny …’ Rowan began.
    ‘Do help yourselves to some pie, my dears, I’ve made plenty,’ Fanny said, cutting Rowan short and regally making a sweeping gesture towards the food. Really, it was as if she were speaking to servants, Rowan thought.
    ‘Why this looks absolutely delightful, my dear,’ Edward murmured, oblivious to what was going on around him as he raised the crust to his mouth.
    ‘But, Father …’
    ‘Now Rowan, let your father enjoy his meal,’ Fanny interrupted quickly. ‘He must be famished after working out in the fields all day,’ she purred, leaning across and patting his hand tenderly.
    ‘Hmm, delicious, Fanny,’ her father enthused. ‘If you are going to cook dinners like this every night, I shall be a very happy man indeed.’
    Rowan stared at Fanny, waiting for her to correct him, but her stepmother just smiled sweetly. ‘Why, Edward, my dear, this is just a little pie I knocked up this afternoon.’
    Sab,
who was taking a swig of his cider, almost choked on his drink.
    ‘Are you all right, Sab,