"I need to," Artie responds."If I don't, then the horse could end up seriously ill..."
"It isn't your job to care for sick animals," she responds.
"It's our job as the royal family to look after the citizens of our kingdom, that includes looking after their horses," he says.
I nod along, what he's saying makes perfect sense to me.
Mama lets out a frustrated sigh and gestures for the servants to start serving lunch, which I assume means that Kathryn won't be joining us today.Either she has an engagement, or she's not feeling well still.
The conversation during the meal manages to stay on safer topics, mostly thanks to Solana's intervention.I'm not sure how she does it, but it's like she's magical when it comes to gaining Mama's attention and keeping it.Maybe it's something to do with how she grew up.From what she's told me about her life back in Someil, her parents were a lot stricter than ours, and that's even with Mama's insistence that I meet with suitors.
My eyes widen with delight as dessert is served, including a decadent-looking cake with cherries and chocolate.I've never seen anything like it, which makes me think that Nate is experimenting with a new recipe.He's never mentioned this one to me, but I know he does countless taste tests before sending something up to us.This is mostly going to be a presentation experiment.
"Do you know what it is?"Veronica asks me.
"No idea," I say even as one of the servants puts a slice on my plate.
"I thought you and Chef Matthews told one another everything?"Artie asks from across the table.
I can feel the blush rush to my cheeks."Not everything," I murmur."And he tests recipes on his own before he tells me about them, he must have just forgotten about this one."
I push my dessert fork through the dense, dark cake and take a bite, amazed at how moist the cake is.I'm not sure what he's drenched the cake in, but I'm going to have to ask him about it later.
"This is excellent," Veronica says."You can tell Chef Matthews that he can make it for your birthday."
"What if I don't want it for my birthday?"I respond.
"Then I'm going to ask for it for mine."She takes another bite of the cake."I see why you like him so much."
Mama clears her throat and looks right at me."Is Chef Matthews why you're being so resistant to meeting with suitors?"
I can't look at her."No."
Veronica catches my eye and raises an eyebrow, but I ignore her.
"I was just discussing it with him, and he offered to help with planning what's being served when I'm doing it."It's not technically a lie, and I miss out the fact that we talked about it late at night and between a lot of kisses.I don't think Mama would be pleased to learn about that.
"I can see some merit in that," Mama says."We should invite him to the meeting tomorrow to discuss."
All of the blood feels like it drains from my face."What?"
"If you want to discuss what we should be serving to each of your guests, then it would be good to have his input, he is the castle's pastry chef."
"Mama, I'm not sure that's..."Veronica starts to say, but is silenced with a wave from Mama's hand.
"It's an excellent idea.I'll send the invitation," she says.
I swallow back my protests.Mama isn't going to listen to any of them even if I say them out loud, and the one thing that might have her reconsider will probably have other repercussions.
Mama nods and sweeps out of the room, leaving the four of us alone.
"What am I going to do?"I murmur as I lean back in my chair.
Veronica gives me a pained smile."I'm sorry."
"It's not me you need to be sorry for.What about Nate?It's going to be horrible for him hearing about all of these people that Mama wants me to spend time with."
"Does he already know?"Veronica asks.
