The empress of ice cream

Carlo

Take care that you serve your ices in small quantities, for a surfeit of any pleasure soon wearies the palate.

The Book of Ices

‘The game is on,’ Lord Arlington said with some satisfaction. ‘The king is pleased.’

‘The girl has done her duty.>’ Walsingham asked.

Arlington shook his head. ‘Not yet. But she will; it is simply a question of when.’

‘Will she need further encouragement?’ That was Cassell.

Arlington smiled. ‘That is exactly the point - she knows she must do it, but at the same time she is reluctant. It gives the king the illusion that he must make the running, and it is precisely this that stokes his interest. There’s little sport in hunting a rabbit in a barn: it’s the running doe that makes for a satisfying chase.’ He glanced at me. ‘Signor, your ices will soon be required. Make sure that you are ready.’

‘You have the pineapple.^’

He nodded. ‘It will be with you soon. Use it wisely. It cost me a great deal of money.’

‘I know my orders,’ I said shortly. ‘I will play my part.’

And then I will be gone, I thought; and good riddance to the lot of you.

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