I hate it.
"Thank you for coming, Chef Matthews," Mama says."I'm sure you're very busy in the kitchen."
"I'm never too busy to serve the royal family, Your Majesty," he responds.
"Hmm."She looks over at me before looking back at him."I've asked you here so that we can discuss what Princess Evelyn will be serving to her suitors when they arrive next week."
Nate swallows hard, but other than that, remains impassive."It's an honour to be able to do that."
There's a strange expression on Mama's face, but it's hard to work out precisely what it means."Lady Elizabeth Warson will be arriving in a few days' time.She'll settle into the castle, and then I believe a tea in the afternoon of the next day will suffice to start with."
Marion's scratchy pen sounds behind me and I wince.I should get her a new one for Yuletide.That would be an acceptable time for me to give her one.
Mama leans forward to pick up the tea, but Nate clears his throat."Please, allow me, Your Majesty."
She raises an eyebrow, but waves for him to continue.
"Lady Elizabeth is from an old Falhavien family," Mama says."I've heard she's fond of apricots."
"Perhaps apricot pastries?"I suggest."With custard."
"I think something more elegant than that," Mama says as she accepts a cup of tea from Nate."Do you have any ideas, Chef Matthews?"
"Perhaps a frangipane tart if Lady Elizabeth doesn't have an aversion to almonds?"he suggests."With apricot and ginger."
Mama considers it for a moment while Nate pours me a cup of tea.He picks up the cup and brings it to me, meeting my gaze as he hands it over.
My fingers brush against his, and I feel captivated, even if it's just for a brief moment.
"What do you think, Evelyn?"Mama asks me, with a shrewd gaze fixed on me.
"Frangipane tart would look good," I say, only managing to tear my attention away from Nate because I have to."Especially if Lady Elizabeth likes apricots."
"Excellent, then that would be a good choice," she says."Prince Francesco will arrive the day before the ball, I was thinking you could also take the opportunity to meet him properly before the main event.He's the third-in-line for the throne of Sovranetti, so a good choice for you."
"Because he's the third-in-line?"I ask."It seems like a strange reason."
A brief flicker of amusement shows on Nate's face, but he makes it disappear just as quickly as it appears.
"Because he's unlikely to inherit the Sovranetti throne."
"I'm unlikely to inherit the Falhaven throne," I point out."At least, I certainly hope I won't be."
Mama let out a sigh."Perhaps you will like the fact that he is supposedly into food, then," she says.
"I suppose that's something," I mutter, though I'm not really sure I believe it.
"Perhaps a Falhaven speciality would do well in this case," Mama says."Do you have any suggestions, Chef Matthews?"
Nate does a double-take, clearly not ready to be addressed again."We could serve scones, Your Majesty.Or something like curd tart."
"Hmm, perhaps a little rustic," Mama says.
"There's a Bakewell pudding, Your Majesty.That would be flaky pastry with a layer of jam, and then an almond paste and egg filling.It can be made to look rather refined."
"Perhaps," Mama says."What do you think, Evelyn?"
"N-Chef Matthews makes excellent pastry, and it would certainly allow Prince Francesco to have a taste of Falhaven.The legends around the pudding say that it was invented in the Midlands..."
