"Well, I didn't like it.I didn't like that Marion had to sit so far back either.Normally, she's able to help me when I have questions, but not when I'm with Mama."
He nods."Well, that's something you'll probably be able to change in time," he points out."You've just got to have a little patience."
I let out a sigh."True."
"You've got your whole life as a princess ahead of you, you've got time."
"What if I wanted to give it up for you?"
He shakes his head."You shouldn't do that."
"Why not?The alternative is me asking you to give it all up for me."
"Because you'd be giving up more than me," he responds."I don't mean the potential to rule Falhaven or anything like that, but if you give up your position as princess, you'll be giving up spending as much time with Princess Veronica, and the freedom you have.You'll be giving up doing a job you enjoy when it comes to planning menus and sorting out those things.I can find another job if I need to."
"But you love being a pastry chef."
"I love baking, and I love experimenting.I don't love having to create hundreds of the same dessert, or dealing with demanding briefs, or getting up early to make sure that the croissants are ready for breakfast."
I blink a few times."I didn't realise."
"I've not had the job long enough to tell you," he responds."But I'm telling you now.I would be giving up a job I like, but that's it.I wouldn't be giving up my own dream.You've said yourself that you still want to bake with me, so by that alone, I'll still get to do the thing I love.And I'll get to do it with you."
My heart flutters, even though I know I shouldn't let it when he's talking about giving up part of his life.
"Loving a princess doesn't come for free, Evie.I knew what it meant when I said it to you.Not that I was really thinking of much when you barged into the kitchen in your ballgown."
"It was an evening gown," I respond.
"Is it different?"
"There's less floof."I pick at my skirt to demonstrate.
He laughs."Is that a technical term?"
"Not one you should ever use in front of the seamstresses or Kathryn."
"I don't think that's going to be a problem."
I reach out to take his free hand in mine and entwine our fingers."This isn't a conversation we should be having a few weeks in, is it?"
"I don't know," he admits."But I don't feel like we've only been together for a few weeks," he responds.
"No, I guess not."I lean my head against his shoulder and let out a sigh, feeling much more settled than before, even if I have no real answers.
But I suppose what I do have is someone who can help me navigate the world, and that's even better.
Chapter14
The kitchen is warm and comforting the moment I step inside, even if I'm here to make the frangipane tart for tomorrow's tea with Lady Elizabeth, something I'm not looking forward to in the slightest.
Ember is munching on the stack of meat scraps Nate gave her as part of his plan to win her over, though I'm not entirely sure it's needed any longer.She seems to like him perfectly fine other than scratching him the other night.Then again, she's done that to me several times, and I'd say she likes me.
I reach out to touch Nate's arm as he looks over the recipe in his leatherbound book.He pushes it closer to me so that I can look over it.Just like a lot of his other recipes, this one has notes in the margins where he's made changes or has thoughts about what could make it better.
"Do you think this is a good choice still?"I ask him.
He nods."And even if we wanted to change it, I don't think we can now the Queen has approved it."
