Chapter 10
A Terrible Invitation
Master Brooks, the older boy with the long, thin nose, suddenly reappeared through the sidedoor, bearing a sizeable covered basket. His head was tilted back to allow him to squint through his spectacles. From the basket, he withdrew two deep wooden bowls. Each contained a quarter-loaf of malted currant bread, soaked in warm milk and liberally sprinkled with crumbs of sugar. He then took out two plates, which held thick slices of steaming shepherd’s pie, a few salted herring, and some pads of creamy cheese.
Aldus looked crestfallen. He stared into his bowl and trencher with his one good eye. “No apple butter, I suppose.”
“No, m’lord. The head baker said… um—” the young man uncomfortably searched for the right words. “He said, if yer, um, majesty is so in
