Page 60 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

“Will Lord Corbett be there?”

“Yes, my father will,” said Rook.

“Then it’s too late. He’s sure to ask me about the debt as soon as he walks in. I’m afraid there is no hope of keeping my inn now,” said David. “I’ve run out of time. It’s over.”

“Oh, no it isn’t,” said Martine. “Remember, I told you I’d help you and your family.”

“Still?” asked David. “When you left today I thought you really didn’t ever want to see me again.”

“We’ll talk about us later,” said Martine. “Right now, we need to get back to your tavern and prepare for the nobles.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” asked Rook, sounding as if he felt bad for the hornet’s nest he’d poked.

“Not unless you have four months’ rent,” said David.

“Rook, we need time. If we can just get through tonight, I promise David will have the money he owes. I am going to give him back the deed to the inn but he needs to make a little more money yet. Can you help us?”

“I wish I could, Martine, but I’m not sure how.”

“Try to persuade your father to go somewhere else tonight.”

“Actually, it could work in your favor if they go to the Cross Hare Inn,” Rook told her.

“How so?” asked David.

“Get to know them, David,” Rook suggested. “Let them see you are a good man. And let them see you are a good proprietor as well. That way, when the time comes to ask for Martine’s hand in marriage, it’ll be harder for her father– and the rest of them to say no.”

“Yes,” agreed Martine. “Do it, David.”

“I will,” said David, sounding more confident than Martine ever remembered. “I will do it because nothing can stop a Stone from going after what they want. And I, Lady Martine, want you as my wife.”