"I almost always have to wait until tomorrow," I point out.
"Fair point."He pulls back."How do some peanut truffles sound?"
"Peanut truffles?"
He nods."I made some peanut butter for Prince Ernest earlier, and I remembered a recipe I read a few weeks ago.I thought you might want to make it."
"That sounds good.I hadn't really thought about what I was going to make.Just something.My head is hurting."
"That bad?"
I grimace, not entirely sure what I can tell him about the situation.Normally, I tell him everything, but I don't know if I can tell him this now.
"Evie?"He sets a jar on the table in front of us, before adding the other ingredients.
"Mama is starting to matchmake me," I blurt out."Kathryn says that it's nothing to worry about and that she's not going to force me to marry anyone, but she's still doing it.And I don't know how to feel because I don't want to get married.And I don't want to court anyone.I just want to be with you."
"That's a lot of information to take in," he responds slowly.
I close my eyes and bite my lip."I know that it's a lot, and that it's awful."
"It's not awful," he promises."I mean, it's not fun to think that the Queen is inviting lots of people to the castle to try and impress you, but it's not exactly a surprise.She did the same to Princess Kathryn."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I've been back at the castle for a couple of months, and people talk.The Queen is not particularly subtle about it.I've made plenty of pastries for when Kathryn is entertaining."
I frown."You didn't tell me that."
"I thought you knew," he responds."I'm sure the instructions for what I'm supposed to prepare for your meetings with suitors are going to come soon too."
"That's horrible," I whisper."I don't want you to have to do that."
"It's my job, Evie."
A lump forms in my throat."I can tell Mama no again."
"Do you think she'll listen to you?"
"She hasn't yet," I respond."But maybe..."
"Then I don't think we can count on that," he says."Will you heat the cream?We'll be making a ganache, so you don't want to bring it to the boil."
I nod and head over to the stove to do that, only pausing to put on an apron.
"So, other than the Queen insisting that you start meeting with suitors, how was the evening?"Nate asks with a strange note in his voice, one that probably has to do with what Mama is planning.
I frown and look down at the cream in my pan, though it's not doing much yet.I don't know how I'm supposed to answer him.Should I let him change the subject?Or should I continue to try to talk to him about this?I don't really want to do the latter, but I also don't want him to think that I don't takeusseriously, whatever we are.
"It was loud," I respond."Veronica was playing cards with the Gaullessian delegation, and they seemed to have a good time.Kathryn joined us as well, which is the first time she's been sick.She told me that she enjoyed the things that you made her."I look over at him in time to see him smile.
"I'm glad Her Highness is feeling better."
"Me too.She gave me some advice on the situation with Mama."I let out a sigh."We can't avoid talking about it, can we?"
"I didn't think we were avoiding anything," Nate responds.
"The cream's ready."I turn off the stove and pick up the pan with a cloth so I don't burn myself, taking it over to the table where Nate has a bowl of peanut butter and chocolate.
