I take a sharp breath, not really understanding the feelings swirling around within me. I'm probably just overwhelmed by the idea of him being here. "I'm glad you're home, even if it's only temporary."
"Me too," he says.
"You're going to have to tell me everything."
He laughs. "You mean everything that I haven't already told you in my letters?"
"All of that as well."
"That's fair. But only if you do too."
"I will. I'm going to be here every night to bake with you."
"I'd have been disappointed if not," he says. "Where's Ember?"
"Oh, she's in my room," I respond. "She was sleeping. If I'd known you'd already arrived, I'd have made sure that she was awake."
"I'm glad to see you, whether she's with you or not," he promises.
"Me too."
Footsteps sound, and the two of us turn in order to see Chef Martina enter the room. The older woman has her hair twisted up into a practical bun and is wearing the uniform chef clothing of the Falhavien royal kitchen. She pauses when she sees me and bows. "Your Highness."
"Chef Martina," I respond with a nod of my head. "I was coming to welcome Chef Matthews back." I look over at Nate, who smiles in response.
"As was I," she says. "I'm looking forward to your input at the banquet meeting tomorrow, Chef Matthews."
"It is something I'm looking forward to," he says.
"Well, let me know if you need anything," Chef Martina says. "Your Highness." She bows and leaves.
"She must be glad to have you back," I say.
"I doubt that. I'm here as a representative of a foreign delegation. I'm sure she's annoyed that I'm here," he responds.
"I don't know why anyone would be annoyed to have you in the kitchen. You're very talented."
He grins. "Maybe that's changed."
"Perhaps I can find out? After dinner?"
"I'd like that," he says. "What do you want to make?"
"Croissants. I need help with them."
He laughs. "I should have known you'd want to perfect them."
"I look forward to it," I say, knowing that I can't stay here much longer with the rush for the next meal about to start.
"Me too."
The way he looks at me makes me think that it means something, but I don't know what. The only thing I do know is that things have been righted again. Nate's only here for a short amount of time, and I'm going to make the most of it.
Chapter 5
Musicians play in the corner of the formal dining room, filling the air with lively music that almost drowns out the scraping of cutlery as people eat. Tonight is a much more intimate affair than the banquets I'm in charge of organising, but that doesn't stop it from being an elaborate affair. Sometimes, I wonder why Father hasn't also asked me to take on these kinds of dinners too, but I'm not about to put the idea in his head if he hasn't thought of it before.
There are about two dozen people around a large table, with my parents at the head of it. Two seats down from me, my brother is leaning towards his wife and whispering something to her. Probably an explanation about the food or something like that. They're very sweet together, especially now that they're finally in the same place rather than corresponding with one another through letters.
