Me: Look at you playing Bitey Faces with Harriet on the bed this morning.
Nell: Everyone has their moments.
Me: Full of the joys of Spring.
Nell: Spring is my favourite season.
Me: So, is it just the weather that’s put you in a good mood?
Nell: No. I had an excellent breakfast.
Me: Bacon?
Nell: Poppy has made some exceptionally good marmalade, if you must know. I had it on hot buttered toast with a lovely cup of Earl Grey.
Me: I’m putting the recipe for that in the next book.
Nell: Good idea. Although I’m surprised she agreed to share it.
Me: I had to do a lot of pleading with her. She’s awfully precious about her recipes.
Nell: I just hope you get the one for Lemon Drizzle cake.
Me: I will.
Nell: What do you think about Tudor Ham?
Me: Tudor Ham?
Nell: Poppy has a wonderful recipe passed on through the generations.
Me: You’re not going to tell me that there was a Maltese/Yorkshire Terrier cross at the court of King Henry VIII are you?
Nell: Of course there was. She worked as a cook in the kitchens. Ask Poppy.
Me: You’re making it up.
Nell: I am not. Mistress Poppy was well known in Tudor circles.
Me: Mistress Poppy? You mean the cook was also called Poppy? Did she bake scones?
Nell: Do pugs fly?
Me: You mean pigs.
Nell: I do not.
Me: Are you telling me that there was a Mistress Poppy in Tudor times baking scones?
Nell: And cooking a particularly delicious ham. Funnily enough it’s in Lady Eleanor’s journal.
Me: Lady Eleanor?
Nell: Yes. The black Labrador.
Me: Nell is short for Eleanor.
Nell: I know. How do you think I inherited her journal?
Me: I give up. Sorry.
