Last, but not least, for our fourth and last Pinkorama, Candace and Cassandra bring us “Showdown at Peep’s Tomb”, from The Betrayal of the Blood Lily.

This year we present Chapter 31 of The Betrayal of the Blood Lily.  The scene is Peep’s Tomb in Hyderabad, a great spot with a hidey-hole filled with truth, treason, and flowers.  Amidst purloined munitions, the Moonflower makes his bold, roguish debut by saving our heroes, the audacious Lady Penelope and the noble Captain Alex, from a maniac in friend’s clothing and aids them in discovering a few additional truths after our intrepid duo has just learned Guignon is deadly allergic to marigolds.

The remarkably tasty-looking Penelope and Alex stumble into a nest of French spies at Raymond’s Tomb…

… including that infamous spy, the Moonflower, looking incredibly dashing and more than a little Indiana Jones-esque.

It’s a good thing they brought their lantern, illuminating all the munitions being stockpiled in secret.

And here’s the view from above, with the crates of contraband, the conspirators– so many crosses and double crosses!– and Pen and Alex.

As always, Candace and Cassandra, I am so impressed by your wondrous, candy-working skills, which spin sugar into scenes!  Those tiny pistols and cravats are amazing.

I can’t include the whole scene, because it covers roughly two chapters, but here’s a little snippet of it for your amusement.

“It all seems to be accounted for,” said Cleave stiffly, making a doomed attempt to herd the Frenchman back towards the stairs. “As you promised.”

Guignon bumped Cleave out of the way with one casual wiggle, making an expansive gesture that encompassed the pile upon pile upon pile of munitions stacked against the stone walls. “An impressive sight, non? Musket, powder . . . Par dieu! Who are they?”

“No one,” Cleave said hastily. “No one at all.”

Penelope did her best to look like a musket. Alex seemed to be doing a bit better with his stone pillar impression, but it was still not enough.

“You cannot fool me so easily,” said Guignon. “That”—he nodded to Alex—“is not a keg of powder. And that”—his gaze traveled appreciatively over Penelope—“is most certainly not—”

Penelope rose smoothly to her feet. “A loaded gun?” she said sweetly, training hers on his midsection. It was the largest target in the room, after all.

So many kudos to Candace and Cassandra and to all of this year’s Pinkorama creators!  As always, I am so amazed and impressed by your ingenuity and talent in creating these tableaux sucrés.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, Carrie, Laura, Carla, Rowan, Colleen, Nick, Candace, and Cassandra for bringing my books so gorgeously– and deliciously!– to life!

On Satuday, I’ll be posting the Pinorama round-up and opening it up to voting….  So head back here on Saturday to vote for your favorite Pinkorama of 2019!