Page 27 of Princesses & Pastries
"That's really good," I say to Nate.
"Thank you." His face glows at my praise.
"Maybe a little more salt, though."
He laughs. "I've missed your critique of my recipes."
I wrinkle my nose. "I'll understand if you haven't." I hold out the box for him so he can take one himself.
"I mean it, Evie," he promises as he takes one. "It's not been the same without getting you to try things." He bites into the truffle.
"It's not been the same baking without you," I admit.
"And you're right, these could use more salt."
"I'd say I'm always right, but you know that's not true."
He laughs. "I'm not supposed to tell a princess that she's wrong."
"I don't have to be a princess around you," I point out. "It's one of the things I love the most about spending time with you."
Something strange crosses his face, but I don't know what it means, or what it's in response to.
"I'd have thought getting to bake would be the thing you loved the most." The way he says it makes it seem as if it's a question, but I can't work out how. And that's not very like Nate. He knows that I like things to be direct, so I don't misunderstand them.
"Maybe at the beginning," I respond honestly.
He looks at me as if he wants to say something, but I can't tell what it is either. I'm not doing very well at that today.
"You're going to have to say what you're thinking, or I'm not going to be able to know what you mean," I say.
"I don't know if I want to ask you what the thing you love the most about baking with me is," he admits.
"You," I respond without a moment's hesitation. "You make me feel safe, Nate. When we're in the kitchen together, or even when we're here, I feel like I can be myself. That's just not something I can do around anyone else. Veronica and Artie are understanding, but it's not the same."
"I'm glad you feel that way," he says. "I want you to feel that way around me."
"I do." I reach out and take his hand, giving it a squeeze. "And I'm glad you're here today, it means a lot to me. Though I hope I'm not taking you away from anything too important."
He chuckles. "The advantage of being the chef of a visiting delegation is that I don't have nearly as much to do as normal until they arrive. Afternoon calls on princesses can be part of that."
"I'd hope you're only making calls on one princess."
"You know I am." The way he smiles makes it clear that it's true.
Despite the discomfort in my stomach, this is a good day. One that I'm going to think fondly of next month when I lock myself away from the world and don't have Nate bringing me truffles and tea.
Chapter 13
Even though I know it's unavoidable, I hate that Nate has to leave to get back to the kitchens. I walk him to the door and lean against the frame. Luckily, there's no one in the hallway, so we're not going to be interrupted as we say goodbye.
"Thank you for coming," I say. "I really appreciated the company. Especially when you braved it despite knowing that I could have gotten snappy at you."
He laughs. "I don't think you get snappy, it's more that you just say what you're thinking."
"Tell that to the footman I made cry a few years back." I grimace at the memory. "I still feel awful about it, even if I did apologise and make him a picnic so he could ask someone to marry him."
Nate laughs. "That's an elaborate apology."
