Page 18 of Princesses & Pastries
Mama gets to her feet, reminding me that she's here. She says her goodbyes, and I let out a sigh of relief. Out of curiosity, I open the packet Mama brought me. There's a medicinal smell to the tea, but it's not entirely unpleasant. But it is entirely unnecessary, and I take the packet over to my dresser and open a draw, putting it away inside. I don't really know what else to do with it, but I do know that I don't need to take it. And so that's where it's going to stay until I know what to do with it. Hopefully, I can avoid any more awkward conversations with Mama before I can decide what to do with it.
Chapter 9
My dress whispers against the stone floor of the corridor leading to the kitchen, the sound travelling right through me. Perhaps I should ask Betsy to talk to the seamstresses and get the hem raised slightly so it doesn't do it again.
Marion doesn't have the same problem. Her skirt stops above her boots in a much more practical cut. But I know Mama would never let me wear a dress like that. Her argument is that there are some things that are expected of a princess, and one of them is dressing in the appropriate way. I'm lucky she's allowed me to have the alterations that I like done.
I enter the kitchen, nodding to several of the members of staff before I get to the meeting room where we'll discuss the menu for the banquet. As soon as I get there, the five people in the room rise to their feet, all of them bowing to me.
"Your Highness," Chef Martina says.
I nod in response. "Thank you all for coming," I say as I take my seat, with my private secretary beside me.
She gets out her journal and the scratchy pen. I know she has to write down a note about what we decide, but it still fills me with dread to know that I'm going to have to listen to it.
Chef Martina clears her throat. "Your Highness, may I introduce the chefs from Wafeland? I believe you know Chef Matthews..."
I look over in Nate's direction and smile.
He nods his head. "Your Highness." There's something in the way that he says it that feels like it's some kind of secret between us.
"And this is Chef Hooft," she gestures to the man on Nate's left. "He'll be in charge of cooking meals for the Gravin Van Bergdal. She can't eat fish."
"Ah, yes. Welcome to Falhaven, Chef Hooft," I say.
He dips his head. "Your welcome is appreciated, Your Highness," he responds in a heavy Wafelandian accent.
"Thank you both for coming to the meeting," I say. "We're here to discuss the menu for the banquet celebrating the treaty between our two kingdoms."
Chef Martina nods. "Normally, we do a seasonal menu for the banquet, celebrating dishes from both Falhaven and Wafeland."
"I think that would be good. Though I did wonder whether it might be a good idea to include a dish inspired by Someilian cuisine now that Princess Solana is part of our royal family," I suggest. "Perhaps a lemon tart. Oh, or a cake. Maybe a cheesecake." Mama does love cheesecake. Or maybe I can think of something better.
Nate's father clears his throat. I should have known he wouldn't be pleased with my suggestion. I'm not sure what it is about me, but he rarely seems to like the input I have into menus.
"Yes, Chef Matthews?" Martina asks, making me realise how confusing it's going to be by having Nate and his father referred to by the same title in the kitchen.
"Is it really suitable to make a dish inspired by Someil when that's not the kingdom that's being celebrated?" he asks.
Nate straightens in his seat.
"I do not believe Graaf Van Bergdal would have an issue with something inspired by Someil," Chef Hooft says. "And Gravin Johanna is particularly fond of lemons when she can have them."
Nate's father doesn't look particularly happy about the response and leans back in his seat.
"Perhaps a compromise," Martina says. "We could adapt a Falhavien or Wafelandian recipe to incorporate lemons."
"Perhaps a lemon stuffed chicken?" I suggest.
"An excellent choice, Your Highness," Martina says. "That is something we can consider."
"A baked lemon cheesecake, like Princess Evelyn suggested, might be a good choice," Nate says, glancing at me with a reassuring expression on his face. "Is cheesecake still one of the Queen's favourites?"
I smile in response. "It is."
Martina nods. "Excellent. That won't be a problem, will it, Chef Matthews?" she asks Nate's father.
He makes a noise in response that I assume is agreement.
