Page 29 of Love Letters & Lemon Drops

"She used to bake with the pastry chef's son before he went away for training a few years ago. Now she comes down here alone most of the time."

I nod and run my hand along the wooden table at the centre of the room. It's a strange thing to consider. Evelyn's position isn't unlike my own at home. She's a princess, but nottheprincess. But here at Falhaven, she's allowed to come down to the kitchens and bake. With a servant, no less.

There's something comforting about that, even as it makes me question the lines of decorum that I've been taught my entire life.

Artie looks at me, concern written all over his face. "Are you all right, Sola?"

I bite my bottom lip and nod. "This is all just a little strange," I admit. "I had no idea what your kingdom was going to be like."

"We don't have to be down here."

I shake my head. "No, I'm interested in seeing what you have planned."

"I thought we could make some lemon drops," he says. "Evie left us all the ingredients..."

"Artie..."

"What? You said you didn't have more, and had asked your mother to send some."

"I did," I agree. "But that doesn't mean we have to make them."

"It might be fun. I want to see what all of Evie's fuss is about."

I laugh despite myself. "All right, that's a good reason. Do you have a recipe?"

He pulls a sheet of paper from his pocket. "I do."

"Where did you even get that?"

A sheepish expression crosses his face. "After I learned that they were your favourite, I asked every visiting dignitary if they had one."

"Did it work?"

"Not at all." His smile is infectious in the best way. He's having a good time thinking about all the questions he's asked."Eventually, when I was in Porton, I encountered a sailor who knew about my knowledge of animals who came to find me about a ship's cat who was giving birth. The Captain of the ship happened to be Someilian and I asked him if he knew the recipe. He gave me it to say thanks for my help with the ship's cat."

"That's quite an adventure, especially for a prince." And a little heartbreaking for me, because I know from talking to them all that his sisters also have similar stories.

He frowns and steps closer. "Sola?"

I sigh. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound so dismissive."

"You don't," he assures me. "You sound sad."

"It's just so different here. You and your siblings all seem to have your own interests, and your parents encourage that."

"I think it's more that they're resigned to it," he responds. "If they didn't let Evie bake, she'd never be able to make it through official functions."

"Perhaps not, but it's different from back home. I don't think I've ever been able to choose an actual interest. I love embroidery, but it's not something I chose. It's just what's acceptable for a princess to do. It's not like you caring for animals, or your sister baking." I look around the room. Now I'm seeing it properly, I can see the evidence of Evie's presence, even down to the dragon bed on top of the oven.

"You can change that," he says, stepping closer to me. "You're here now, we're to be married in less than a week. You can choose to spend your time on whatever interests you."

"What if that is embroidery?" I ask, thinking about how much I've enjoyed making his handkerchief, even if I haven't given it to him yet. It's almost done, I suspect I should be able to finish it tonight.

"Then it is," he says. "There's nothing wrong with that. And if it is what you want, then I'm sure we could get the best lace makers in the kingdom to visit and teach you their tricks."

"Lace and embroidery aren't the same," I point out.

"Then I shall also learn from them so I don't get them mixed up in the future," he promises.

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