“You're just saying that because I made them,” Linnea said, plopping down next to him with a smile.
“I'm saying it because it's true,” Conrad pointed out as he leaned over to give her a kiss, even though they were standing right there.
They were too cute.“He's allowed to say it if you made them,” Celia told Linnea.“That's how it works.”
“See, she agrees with me,” Conrad said, tucking a strand of Linnea’s coppery hair behind her ear.
Linnea smiled indulgently.“If that's what you want.I need to get back to work.”
“But you just got here,” Conrad said, wrapping his arm around her waist and holding her closer.
“And I was just coming to say goodbye before you have to head back,” she said.“I have more muffins to make.”
“Linnea!”Thea called from behind the counter.
Linnea smirked.“Told you,” she said, kissing Conrad on the cheek once more before hurrying off.
The door opened and Lord Kellan appeared.Conrad grimaced, and Darian tried to remember why Conrad didn't like Lord Kellan.If he remembered correctly, it had something to do with him also trying to court Linnea.
“Hello,” Lord Kellan said as he spotted them and made his way over.“Darian, right?”
Darian raised his eyebrows, surprised that a member of the nobility remembered his name.“That's me,” he said.“What can I do for you, my lord?”
“You have a trader that goes back to Riyel, right?”Lord Kellan asked.“Do you know when he's due to leave next?”
“I believe he leaves tonight,” Darian said, “but he won't be there for two days.”
“That's fine,” Kellan said, pulling a letter out of his pocket.“I have something that I need sent before the next mail run, and I'd rather not send one of my father's messengers.”
Beside him, Celia raised an eyebrow.
Lord Kellan, noticing her, smiled.“I'm sorry.I don't believe we've been introduced.I am Kellan Rendon.”
“I'm Celia Carrington,” Celia said, bobbing into a slight curtsy.“How do you do, my lord?”
“Please, Kellan is fine.I am well, and you?”he asked.
“As am I,” Celia replied politely.
Darian fought the urge to cheer at the fact that Celia didn’t seem charmed by the lord standing in front of them.
“I'll be sure to bring your letter to the trader,” Darian said, tucking it into his pocket.“We should get one of those cinnamon rolls,” he said, placing his hand on Celia's waist and ushering her toward the counter.
What was Lord Kellan mailing out that he didn't want to send with one of his father's messengers?
Not that it was any of his business.
“I need a muffin,” Lord Kellan said, following them.“There is sensitive information in the letter,” he said quietly, “so please be certain that no one else hears of it.”
“Trying to make magic legal again?”Darian joked with a laugh.
Kellan froze, looking at him in surprise.
The three of them looked at each other, nobody willing to say anything.
“Nothing quite as silly as that,” Kellan said after a moment, with a very fake laugh.“Only a letter to my potential bride.”
“A letter to your bride that can't go with your father's messenger?”Celia asked before clapping her hand over her own mouth.
