Page 25 of Princesses & Pastries
He holds out the piece of croissant to me in an echo of what I did last night. But this time, no one is going to pull away. The air is cleared after the two of us talked.
I almost burn my tongue on the croissant, but the sweet and rich taste is enough to make up for it. My stomach grumbles, making him laugh.
"Apparently, you'll need a few more croissants."
"And at least one pain aux raisins by the time they're done," I respond. "I think Artie would like them too, if there are some to send up for breakfast."
"You know foreign chefs aren't supposed to do that," he says.
"You're not really a foreign chef though," I point out.
"No, I'm not."
My heart feels light with joy as I let the reality of this moment sink in. I'm here, in the kitchen with Nate, with nothing stopping us from spending every evening for the next week enjoying one another's company. I'm just going to have to try not to think about the upcoming separation.
Chapter 12
The darkness of my bed chamber is a welcome distraction from the ripping feeling emanating from my stomach, and I groan in response. I hate this time of the month, and it's even worse that it's happening while Nate is here, and I won't be able to go down to the kitchen later.
Doing anything today is going to be a bad idea.
At least I've had four evenings of uninterrupted baking already, and I should be up and about tomorrow. Even knowing that, it's hard to accept when I know that I only have a limited time with him, and I don't want to waste any of it.
A murmur of voices drifts under the door, and I frown as I consider who it might be. I've already had a message sent to Marion to inform her that I won't be able to take any meetings today, and Betsy isn't the type to talk to herself while she's working.
Someone says something else and I realise I do recognise the voice. Maybe the pain has just made me delirious, because there's no other reason that Nate would be in my rooms.
"Betsy?" I call, sitting up in the bed.
The door to my bed chamber opens, and my lady's maid appears, dipping into a curtsy. "Your Highness."
"What's going on?" I ask.
She clears her throat. "Chef Matthews is here."
My heart skips a beat. He is here. "Help me with my robe."
For a moment, I don't think she's going to do it, but she takes it off the hook and holds it out to me. I put my arms through it, grimacing slightly at the pain in my stomach.
"Would you prefer the bedpan or the hot water bottle?" she asks me.
I consider it for a moment. I'm not particularly fond of the smell of the new hot water bottle design that's recently made its way into use, but it does have the advantage of being held against my stomach, and that is preferable to the bedpan that isn't as comfortable. "Perhaps both?"
"Of course, Your Highness," she responds as she gives me a once-over to check that I'm presentable.
"Thank you." I tie a bow at my waist, satisfied that I'm covered. It wouldn't be deemed appropriate for me to leave my rooms wearing it, but meeting with someone I've been friends with for over fifteen years, in my living space, is different.
I make my way through to my sitting room, smiling when I see Nate crouching by the fire and talking to Ember. They certainly seem to be getting on better now that he's spent the last few days giving her food while she watches the two of us from the top of the oven. One day, I'm going to successfully teach her how to help me bake, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen any time soon.
Nate looks up when he hears me enter, and gets to his feet. He offers me a smile that makes my heart warmer than anything Betsy can put in my bed.
"Good afternoon," I say, making my way to one of the chairs, and noticing a tray waiting on the low table. "Did my maid send for tea?"
He shakes his head. "I brought it."
"Thank you, that's very thoughtful." And I appreciate that I'm going to be able to spend time with him.
"I recently learned that Gravin Johanna suffers similarly with her monthly courses," Nate says. "She always orders this tisane, so I thought it might help you too."
