You are after my own heart because I find that blancmange TOTALLY HILARIOUS. I know it's undoubtedly excellent "invalid food" and very delicate and suitable for the tastes of ladies, but IT'S SO FUNNY. He's so distressed that she won't eat the blancmange!
I also like to imagine that she asked for more and more difficult foodstuffs to be prepared, each time claiming that this was what she absolutely wanted, something in the manner of the mother from Thumbelina (picture Segundus sneaking into the walled gardens of Yorkshire in search of various vegetables that she has demanded) and each time mysteriously changing her desire at the last minute. Segundus, of course, falls for it every time.
Re: Segundus/Lady Pole - blancmange/cookery
I also like to imagine that she asked for more and more difficult foodstuffs to be prepared, each time claiming that this was what she absolutely wanted, something in the manner of the mother from Thumbelina (picture Segundus sneaking into the walled gardens of Yorkshire in search of various vegetables that she has demanded) and each time mysteriously changing her desire at the last minute. Segundus, of course, falls for it every time.