The kitchen fire had already been lit by the time Aline arrived. Seris stood at the counter as if the room belonged to her, sleeves pinned, knife working with calm certainty. The servants had been dismissed. That part struck Aline first.
"You do realize," Aline said, leaning against the doorframe, "that most people let the staff handle this part."
Seris glanced over her shoulder. "Most people enjoy surprises."
"That sounds like an accusation."
"It is an observation." Seris turned back to the board and continued slicing. "I prefer knowing what goes into my food."
Aline crossed the room and peered into the pan. "In the house of a baron, no less. I can hear the scandal forming already. Lady Valemont doesn't trust servants of lower noble houses."
"It won't be the first one," Seris said.
Aline smiled. "You inspected the knives too, I assume."
"They were aligned incorrectly."
"That might devastate the cook."
"He will recover."
