The Rebellious Rooster (Or, Macalley Gets Cocky) Page 5

  “A valid point.” Macalley pulled back into the kitchen.

  I started towards the dining room. As I entered, I heard a knock on the front door. “I can answer that,” I said, as I feared what further interruption could do to Macalley’s croissants, but he still hurried from the kitchen towards the door. “Or not, I suppose,” I murmured as I sat down.

  The tea was still warm, and I wanted to finish it, but as I lifted my cup Macalley walked in. “Madame Alice?” he said. “There’s something out here you should see.”

  I nodded and stood. “Please don’t be Bludergard dragging Reg back in,” I muttered as I hurried out of the dining room. I glanced around and gasped.

  Vyne was standing by the front door, Leif and Ackley at her side. Their clothes were spattered with bluish slime and a smell I had trouble placing. “Alice!” Vyne shouted. “We won!” She brandished a clear glass jar filled with a bright blue preserve.

  It took me a moment to realize what Vyne was holding. “Snarkleberry jam?” I said.

  “Snarkleberry jam!” Vyne said. “No fruit will ever be a match for us!” I laughed as I hurried over and embraced her. I would have done the same for Leif and Ackley, but they were busy kissing yet again, and it would have been rude to interrupt.

  “You finally got in a good shipment?” I said as I pulled back.

  “And Leif had the idea to add a tiny splash of vanilla.” Vyne smiled. “Good show, Leif!”

  “Thank you, mum.” Leif broke away from his boyfriend and grinned. “But Ackley suggested the bit of orange zest!”

  “Teamwork,” Ackley added.

  “That explains the smell,” I murmured.

  Macalley emerged from the kitchen. “Snarkleberry jam,” he said. “Excellent work.”

  “Thank you, Macalley!” Vyne said happily.

  I jumped as the telephone rang. “Shall I answer that, madame?” Macalley asked.

  “Do so, Macalley,” I said, “but take a message. Tell whoever is calling that I’m rather busy at the moment. I wish nothing to spoil the mood.”

  “Very good, madame.” Macalley walked into the library.

  “Busy?” Vyne asked. “With what?”

  “With celebrating what has turned out to be a rather splendid day.” I smiled. “Bring that jam into the parlour, won’t you? I’ll have Macalley put the kettle on when he’s done on the telephone, and there shall be freshly baked croissants shortly.”

  Thank you very much for reading this tale of Peavley Manor! We would be most grateful were you to leave a review to encourage your fellow readers to take a chance and purchase this story, and to encourage the author to write more tales of Alice and Macalley’s misadventures.

  To stay up to date with the latest news from Peavley Manor, and other updates from the worlds of Robert Dahlen, sign up here for his mailing list. You can also follow him and his work on Facebook, on Twitter, or on his website.

  Other works by Robert Dahlen

  The Monkey Queen series:

  Of Introductions And Abductions

  The Brigadoon Boondoggle

  Under The Stars Of Faerie

  A Tiding Of Magpies

  Redblade

  The Crown Of Kylthena

  Tales of Tabitha Miles:

  Copper Cove

  The Skyblade Saga (A Plundered Chronicles Tale):

  Skyblade’s Gambit

  Skyblade’s Claim

  The Peavley Manor series:

  Book Fair Frenzy (Or, Macalley Turns The Page)

  The Thorn Harbour Road Rally (Or, Macally Takes the Wheel)

  The Missing Mallard (Or, “Duck, Macalley! Duck!”)

  Acknowledgements

  Amber Goss continues to be amazing, Shei Darksbane continues to be awesome, Jocelynne Simone continues to be splendid, and all of you are the best for reading these stories. Thanks to all!

  (And apologies to a certain British chap-hop artist with an orangutan butler.)

  About the Author

  Fantasy and steampunk novelist, unrepentant wisecracker, level 3 steampunk, nerd music buff and penguin aficionado, Robert Dahlen lives in northern California with numerous penguins, various electronic devices stuffed with e-books and works in progress, shelves filled with books, graphic novels, and Disney Infinity and other figures, and two very nice hats. He's been having fun telling stories since March 2013, and he looks forward to doing so for years to come. He is hopefully writing another story as you read this, and he thanks you for reading this. (And he pronounces his last name “duh-LANE”, as in “the rain in Spain falls mainly on Dahlen”, and Razzmatazz is still trying to work that into a song.)