So it came to be that on this particular afternoon, she had decided to try out some recipes. She had been wanting to for a while, she reasoned, and it so happened that a majority of the ingredients she wanted to use were also employed for a meal for the students that day, and there were leftovers that were going to waste if they didn't get used. Though she was certain they wouldn't be missed, she had asked Matron for permission still, with the promise that if it turned out well she would share the recipe and they could consider adding it to the menu. Truthfully her hopes were not so high--it was a variation on a tea scone recipe, that was all. Still, she had come into some candied violets and one thing led to another... And here she was.
"Just a bit longer in the oven," she muttered to herself, light smile on her face. This was going well, and she was pleased. Pleased as well with the trust placed in her to make good use of the leftovers. Aurelie was a little afraid her, ah, extra-curricular activities had drawn too much undue attention to herself. That, thankfully, seemed to be not the case--not yet, anyway. A bridge she could cross when she got there, certainly.
After another few minutes of careful attention, and she decided her little project was complete. She pulled them out of the oven, managing to smear flour into her hair as she did so. The smell that came from them was... Well. They certainly had violet in them. Could one have too much violet, she wondered? It was difficult for her to tell--she was so fond of them, after all. Aurelie frowned at her test batch on the cooling rack.
What she needed was a test subject. Someone who would give her a straightforward opinion. These were in rare supply, unfortunately. Aurelie glanced around, unsure of who to ask. Everyone seemed so busy, or tired, or just not someone she knew well enough to ask. It would be embarrassing, after all, if they were terrible. So someone she knew was best. But, who...? Ah!
Across the kitchen she spotted her newest roommate. The taller girl must be here for a delivery. Surely she had enough time to try one...? Aurelie couldn't be sure, but over the last several days she felt like she could tell that Alethea Fairburn would not mince words with her if they were awful. And, as she had already made an enormous fool of herself when they first met, she had nothing to lose by doing so again. Perfect, absolutely perfect!
"Allie! Oh, Allie--do you have a moment?" Aurelie called out to her roommate over the din of the kitchen, waving her arm a little for good measure.