Oh, Itrusther. Wow.
Besides, I may have spilled my guts to her earlier.
“Ah,” she says knowingly. “You said yes.”
“I guess I did.”
My cheeks are already rosy from the cold, but that doesn’t stop them from heating. Lark looks amused rather than disappointed in me, even though I’m the reason we’re failing this first test.
“First rule of method acting, Val,” he teases. “Don’t tell people you’re pretending.”
“I didn’t mean to! It was the sugar high. It’s the icing’s fault.”
“Oh, well, in that case…” he says solemnly. “Who among us wouldn’t be undone by Daria’s cinnamon roll icing?” That ridiculous dimple in his right cheek pops.
Daria lets out a sharp laugh. “You do actually make a lovely couple. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble fooling lesser beings than me.”
“You won’t say anything?” I ask hopefully.
“Oh, no. I have a feeling this will be highly entertaining to watch. And I don’t have nearly enough fun in my life since my wife and daughter left.”
I blink. “You were married?”
Her smirk fades. “I still am. Natasja had to take our daughter to the Ronalands to find work.” She exhales, leaning back in her chair. “We used to run the inn together, but since the ice came, it hasn’t been enough.”
“You couldn’t go with them?” I ask.
She sighs with the weight of things unsaid. “The Laisi Mula is everything we saved for—our whole life in these walls. We couldn’t pack it up in a suitcase and carry it out of the cold. Besides, someone has to keep the hearth lit and the townsfolk fed so there’s something for them to come home to.”
It’s hard to imagine the pain of that separation, of leaving someone you love just to survive. Of choosing it. Distance, sacrifice, survival—these things are so far removed from my life at the palace, yet here in Ylvara, I’m understanding them more.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “It must be difficult missing them.”
“It is. But we all do what we must in these times.” Her gaze flicks to Lark. “Isn’t that right?”
He nods solemnly, giving me an odd look from the corner of his eye. “We do. Thank you for keeping our secret. I won’tturn down help where it’s offered.” Lark takes a breath as Daria inclines her head toward him. “Speaking of which… I know our paid sennight is up, but we really need to stay. Can we cut the meal service to save a bit? I’ll cook instead. And if you have any more repair jobs that need doing, I’m at your service.”
Daria taps a finger against her chin, considering. “I may have a few jobs. Not that I can afford much either.” Then, a slow, almost mischievous smile spreads across her lips. “But there’s another way you could save money.”
Lark straightens. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“Well,” she says, still smiling. “It would be customary for engaged couples to stay together.”
My jaw pops open. Surely she’s not suggesting—
“I can transfer your room and board to the cottage, Val. If we take meals off for you too, it would cover more than half the cottage rental fee.”
Sheis. The woman is batty.
I’ve seen the cottage. It’s packed to the rafters with its eight current residents. Aili already complains about sharing her room, and I know they’re all bunked together like chipmunks sharing a log.
I glance at Lark, expecting reluctance. Instead, naked hope shines in his honeyed eyes. I wet my lips.
“I can’t ask you to give up your privacy for my madhouse of chaos goblins,” Lark says.
“You’re not asking me.”
“No, but…”
