Make into a paste with Eggs and Orange Flower Water, Rose-water, sweet Wine, and Brandy. Drop on a floured tin-plate and bake them for a very short time. My mother said these cakes bring luck, and indeed, I fed them to my husband the day he proposed! Serve to ensure the success of your rout or any other event you’d like to see turn out well. —Katherine Chase, Countess of Greystone, 1765 Finally, the day of the reception dawned. Corinna arrived at Lady Avonleigh’s town house, where an ancient butler ushered her inside. Her knees were shaking. Lady Balmforth, who shared the house with her sister, came over to greet her and bring her to the drawing room. ‘‘Welcome, my dear. Where is Mr. Hamilton?’’ ‘‘He . . . ah . . . he couldn’t come,’’ she said, which was the truth. Mr. Hamilton couldn’t come, as he was in Wales, and Sean couldn’t come in his place, either. ‘‘I haven’t actually seen him the past few days, Lady B. Apparently he’s very busy.’’ That was true, too.
