Page 47 of Princesses & Pastries
"Good morning," I respond cautiously, stepping inside.
"That's a beautiful dress."
I look down as if I don't know what I'm wearing. "Thank you. I have court in an hour or so." Why are we talking about clothing when it's so unimportant?
"How's Ember? Has she recovered from the fireworks?"
"Just about," I respond, almost in a daze. "She's hiding in my fire still." I'm definitely not going to take her out to watch them again, it's taken her three days to recover.
"Ah." The timer in front of him runs out of sand, and he grabs an oven cloth. "You're just in time, by the way," he says as he grabs one of the oven cloths and turns to collect something from the oven.
"For what?" I move closer, my curiosity, and confusion, getting the better of me.
"The pie's ready." He opens the oven, and the smell of freshly baked pastry and sweet fruit fills the air.
I frown, not really understanding what's going on right now, but too interested in what he's baking.
He sets the pie down on the table, and I step forward, immediately recognising it. "You made an apple and blackberry pie?"
"I made our apple and blackberry pie," he says. "I made it all the time while I was away. Not while I was working, but while I was on my own."
"So did I. It made me feel close to you," I admit quietly.
"Same."
"Maybe croissants will make me feel like that now, too," I say.
"I would like it if you think about me when you make them," Nate responds.
"It's a shame we won't get to make them together again." Pain lances through me as I say the words.
"We'll have plenty of chances to make them," he promises.
I let out a short laugh. "I appreciate your optimism, but we don't know when we're going to get a chance to bake together again."
He leans on the table and grins in a way that seems entirely inconsistent with leaving me. "I was hoping you were free in about a month."
I blink a couple of times. "I am, but you'll be back to Wafeland by then."
"Will I?"
"Of course. You're leaving before the midday meal. It's already late for you to still be in the kitchen..."
He laughs. "Oh, Evie."
"What?"
"You don't get hints, do you?"
"No. And you know that. What are you trying to say?" I ask.
"I'm not going to be in Wafeland in a month."
It takes a moment for the words to sink in. "You're not?"
"No."
"Are you going to be in Gaullesse?"
