Monday, November 14, 2011

Welcome to Tea

Come on in, and chat. Just leave a comment or Tweet me @RuthACasie. To start things off here is an excerpt from Knight of Runes, the inspiration for our tea party.

England - 2008
“Lady Emily, time for your tea.” Ninety-year-old Lady Emily Parsons sat in the old solar at Fayne Manor, now a grand and comfortable drawing room, resting in the wingback chair that faced the large window. She removed her glasses and looked up. Lord Arik’s Journal Chronicled by Doward lay open in her lap.
Helen, Lady Emily’s housekeeper and companion, brought in the steaming Earl Grey tea with warm scones and clotted cream. The tangy citrus aroma of the tea and sweet fresh baked fragrance of the cakes filled the room. She set the tea service on the table.
“Tea already?” Emily closed the journal and put the book on the table. Her hand lingered. She stroked the old leather binding, her finger tracing the strange embossed letters on the cover. “He must have been a driven man.” She straightened up and accepted the offered cup, enjoying the mild orange aroma.
“Who, m’lady?”
“Lord Arik. From everything I’ve read, someone was out to ruin him.” Emily stirred her tea with a shaky hand and let out a heavy sigh. “If only we knew where to find his sister Leticia’s journal I’m certain we would have the complete story.”
“You’ve been working too hard these last few months. First, organizing your family papers and now finding this,” said Helen, gesturing to the book by Emily’s side. “Perhaps Mr. George can take your mind off things. He arrived a few minutes ago.”
“Are those Helen’s scones I smell?” George Hughes entered the room, his bold strides making fast work of the distance from the door to Emily’s chair.
Emily watched as he took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet buttery aroma.
“Ah, there they are. Emily, you’re not keeping those scones all for yourself. What need I do to get one?” He took her hand, kissed it, winking at Helen as she left the room.
“You, young man, can have one just for the asking,” Emily said as she poured his tea.
He sat across from Emily, politely spooning cream onto the small cake. She smiled, remembering a younger George sitting in the same chair scooping all the cream out of the saucer and onto his scone leaving the dish empty, his resulting mustache the only sign there had been any cream at all. She looked now at a fine young man in his late thirties, tall with a muscular build and dark loosely waved rich brown hair with a slight touch of grey at the temples.
There was mischief in his blue eyes as he wiped the last of the crumbs from his mouth using the large damask napkin. “I’ve brought you a birthday present.”
“A birthday present? Is it my birthday already?” Emily teased him innocently.
He put the napkin down, went to her and took her hand. “Come. Let me give you your present before dinner.” He helped her up from the chair, tucked her arm in the crook of his and led her downstairs.
“What’ve you been up to?”




13 comments:

  1. A GREAT scene!

    I love tea. I drink green tea most everyday.

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  2. @Eliza Knight -

    I enjoy Earl Grey or Lady Grey.

    I'm glad you like this scene. It's one of my favorites.

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  3. I found this great recipe for scones and thought I would share.

    Scone Recipe from Alton Brown
    Ingredients
    • 2 cups flour
    • 4 teaspoons baking powder
    • 3/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1/3 cup sugar
    • 4 tablespoons butter
    • 2 tablespoons shortening
    • 3/4 cup cream
    • 1 egg
    • Handful dried currants or dried cranberries

    Directions
    Heat oven to 375 degrees.
    In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Mix well. Cut in butter and shortening. In a separate bowl, combine cream with beaten egg then add to dry ingredients. Stir in fruit. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Roll dough out and cut into biscuit size rounds. Bake for 15 minutes or until brown.

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  4. Pass me the cup with the pink rosebuds, oh, and a scone. How exciting for you, today! Wow! What a wonderful year this has been for the Divas. I'm so excited to be able to finally read the whole story. Well, better run. Still on Mountain Standard time, and got to get back to work. All the best to you, Ruth, and I'm wishing you mega success!

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  5. @J. Coleman

    You are too funny. It really has been an exciting day. The Divas have done wonderfully well and I hope it doesn't stop.

    Thanks for taking a break from work to stop by and for your good wishes.

    Hugs,

    ... Ruth

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  6. Knight of Runes just downloaded on my Kindle! Can't wait to read it.

    I love how Emily looks at George and sees the boy he once was. I'm not as old as Emily, but I do that myself when I look at my niece and nephew!

    Jen Sampson

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  7. @Anonymous

    Hi Jen - I often look at my daughters and my son and see them as children.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    ... Ruth

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  8. Lovely scene Ruth:) In some ways it sounded so familiar...they drink a lot of tea in Australia, and every so often have "High Tea"...or Devonshire Tea.

    I love beautiful teapots and cups, so, I'll be joining you gals!:)

    Lo

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  9. Ruth, I now want scones to go with my tea:) I'm a day late because I taught all day, but I am so going to raise a belated cup to lady Emily tomorrow when I am home.

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  10. @Lita

    I'm glad you like the scene. I can really see George as a little boy with his clotted cream mustache.

    Thanks for coming to tea.

    ... Ruth

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  11. @Denise Nielsen

    It's never too late. Thanks for making time to say hello.

    ... Ruth

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