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“Do I want a what?”
Ed laughed at the look of lightly scandalized confusion on Stede’s face.
“A hot toddy,” said Ed. “It’s kinda like mulled wine, but with brandy.”
They’d holed up along Murrells Inlet a couple of days ago to lie low after hearing reports of increased Naval activity in the area. Usually this was one of Ed’s favorite places to hide out, but a freak cold snap had made this a considerably less enjoyable visit than usual, especially since none of them had had the presence of mind to stock up on firewood beforehand.
Stede and Ed had sportingly agreed to give up the captain’s cabin and stay in the smaller room for the duration of the freeze to allow the crew to huddle together below deck for warmth. Nearly every spare blanket or warm bit of extra fabric had been conscripted in service of battling the chill.
“Well, that just sounds delicious,” said Stede. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”
“I expect growing up in the tropics may have had something to do with it,” said Ed, smiling fondly. “Not much call to take the edge off a winter’s night in Bridgetown.”
Ed patted his arm. “C’mon.”
Stede wrapped his gold robe tighter around him and followed closely behind.
It was late enough that the ship had long gone quiet and the kitchen was deserted. Ed busied himself with lighting the stove and hauling one of the smaller sauce pans into position while Stede rustled through the cabinets in search of brandy and sugar.
“Perfect, thanks Stede,” said Ed when Stede handed him the goods. Ed’s shiver when Stede pressed himself to his side to warm himself by the stove had little to do with the cold.
“What else do we need?” whispered Stede.
“A cinnamon stick and a slice of lemon is how my mum always made it.”
Ed tipped a healthy chunk of sugar into the hot brandy, smiling to himself as Stede hummed a little tune behind him while he chopped a lemon.
“Here we are,” said Stede, returning to Ed’s side with two mugs and the final ingredients. “How long until it’s ready?”
“Not long now, just need to wait until the sugar dissolves.”
Ed stirred slowly, savoring the warmth of the hot steam on his face and Stede nestled up against him.
“Smells nice.”
“Mm.”
Ed ladled two healthy dollops into each of the mugs and passed one to Stede, who sighed happily as he closed both hands around the warm cup.
“Cheers,” said Ed, raising his mug.
“Cheers, Ed.”
Ed took a sip and instantly felt warmer, the hot drink already working its magic as it made its way down his throat. It tasted like home in only the best of ways. He turned his head to watch Stede take an experimental sip from his own mug.
“Well? What do you think?”
“It’s wonderful, Ed,” Stede said, beaming. “Thank you.”
“Any time, Stede.”
They stayed there, chatting quietly with one another, until the toddies were long gone and the stove had burned itself out.