The McPadraic family home was a grand Georgian home, just outside of town, surrounded by a modest piece of land. Though the McPadraic's were old money - old, reduced money, sadly - the estate had only been purchased several years ago, and wasn't like the grand estates of some of his fellow aristocrats. But it did the job: keep the family out of the way while he worked in York and lived in the town house.

These days, however, he was in Whitby a lot. He was determined to become Whitby's MP, and raising funds and votes required visibility. And entertaining guests. Which required spectacular cooking. Which required... a spectacular cook. And so Arthur paced the floor of his study, waiting for a footman to lead miss Rosewine to the room.

She was a bit of a mystery, apparently treading a narrow line between fame and scandal, and therefore all the more interesting for the guests he meant to entertain. The notion of a woman from a wealthy family becoming a chef was surely something to be frowned upon, and yet her skill was rumoured to be so good that even the wealthiest families wanted to hire her.

Even those wannabe aristocrats, the Carringtons, meant to hire her, or so Arthur had heard.

And so Arthur was determined: She would cook for him and his guests. And preferably before the Carringtons could show off.

When a footman knocked, opened the door, announced Miss Rosewine, and led her in, Arthur smiled at her and bowed a little. "Miss Rosewine, how good of you to come. I've heard such positive stories about you."