"The kissing was great," I respond."The mess I made of your face, not so much."I reach out for the cloth he put down and use it to wipe his cheek.
He catches my hand in his and looks at me as if I'm the only person in the room.Though I suppose I am right now.There's no one else in the kitchens at all, just the two of us and the peace of the middle of the night.I could get used to it.
"I don't want this to end," I whisper.
"Truffle making?"
"Being here with you.I don't want you to leave again.I want you to stay here, at the castle."
"I'm not going to leave again," he promises."I don't intend on leavingyouagain.I don't think my heart could take it."
"Even if you've only known the truth for a couple of weeks?"
A strange smile crosses his face, and he reaches up to touch my cheek."Leaving you was hard when I thought I was just leaving my best friend," he says."I never imagined that this is what would happen if I told you how I felt.Or I suppose you asked me how I felt rather than me telling you."
"I think it counts the same."I bite my bottom lip."What would have happened if I'd just wanted to stay friends?"
He shrugs."Probably this with a bit less kissing, I imagine I'd still be listening to you complain about the Queen's attempts at matchmaking."
I grimace."I really wish she wouldn't."
"I know.But Princess Kathryn is unmarried, and so is Princess Veronica.I'm sure that means that you're not going to have to go through with it."
I let out a sigh."Kathryn said as much to me earlier.She said that Mama isn't about to drag me to the temple, and that the best thing I can do is make sure that I tell her that I'm not interested in any of the people she tries to get me to court."
"And that will work?"His face becomes serious, and I think there's some real worry in his eyes.
I touch his cheek."I'm not going to marry anyone else."It takes a moment for my words to register."I mean, I'm not going to marry someone of Mama's choosing.It might have worked for Artie and Solana, but it's not going to work for me.I don't think Mama understands me enough to be a good judge of that."
He raises an eyebrow."You don't think so?"
"Do you?"
He chuckles, seeming to relax a little bit."I don't.But who would you trust to choose a spouse for you?"
"If I really had to, maybe Veronica," I respond."I don't think she'd do anything that would make me uncomfortable."
"So I'll only get nervous if the Princess gets involved."
"She won't, she's too busy with the Duchessee de Mountnoir," I respond.
"Ah, so that's why she asked for a late-night tray for two tonight," he says.
"What?"
"Her lady's maid came with the request about an hour before you arrived," he says.
"And she told me off for kissing with the door open."
Nate's amusement is written all over his face."No one is really talking about it," he promises."Princess Veronica and the Duchesse, or us kissing in the kitchen or your room."
"I don't think people are going to talk about us kissing to you," I point out.
"No, but Camille would tell me if she'd heard anything."
"Right, Camille."
He grins."Still jealous, Evie?"
