Page 63 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

“Patch is just in here while the nobles visit,” Martine told the cook. “Please, be nice to the dog.”

“Hmmph,” sniffed Farley, turning his back on the dog and continuing to cook.

“David? What’s going on?” Greta rushed into the kitchen with her daughters right behind her.

“Lady Martine, we didn’t expect to see you again,” said Matilda. “Not since Ava is still here.”

“Matilda, hush,” said David. “We have Mar— I mean, Lady Martine’s family is coming here tonight to celebrate, and we must prepare for them. Keeping the inn might all depend on how this visit goes.”

Martine noticed he was about to call her Martine without her title but quickly corrected himself.

“Oh, good,” said Cecelia. “That will bring in good money for the tavern.”

“Not really,” said David. “You know that nobles eat and drink for free. Especially Lord Corbett since he owns the land we’re on. There is no way we can charge them.”

“If you do a good job and the nobles are happy, I am sure they will leave money in appreciation. They are not heartless,” Martine explained. “They realize you need to make a living. Besides, if they don’t leave coin, I’ll walk out there and suggest that they do. Don’t worry.”

“I’m nervous,” said Cecelia. “Being pregnant, my balance is off lately and I’m afraid I might drop a tray of food on them.”

“You’ll be fine, dear,” said Greta.

“Nay, she’s right,” said David. “We can’t take the chance that the nobles will be disappointed. Besides, Cecelia, I told you I don’t want you carrying heavy trays while pregnant. You can help in the kitchen instead.”

“But we need more help at the tables,” said Greta. “I need to be back here assisting Farley with the meal so I can’t do it.”

“Ava will have to serve tables then,” said Martine, pulling parchment and a feather pen and ink out of her bag. She sat down at the table. Patch hobbled around the kitchen sniffing everything he could.

“Ava is going to wait tables?” asked the Matilda, giggling.

“I don’t think she’ll like that,” said Cecelia.

“If not, she’ll need to assist Farley and Greta can wait tables instead,” said Martine. “Didn’t you say Ava is the daughter of a baker? She must know her way around a kitchen.”

“Ava is lazy and couldn’t boil water without instructions,” said Matilda. “She never could.”

“Nay. I don’t want her touching the food,” said David. “I’ll tell her she will need to serve tables, but I’ll keep her to the commoners’ tables. I will serve the nobles myself if need be.”

“You’ll need help. They are very demanding. I will help you,” said Martine, starting to make a list of things to do and who would do them.”

“Nay,” said David with a shake of his head. “You are a noble. You will not do such a menial job.”

“No job is menial to me when it means it will benefit your family and hopefully save your home and business,” said Martine.

“Nay, he’s right,” agreed Greta. “It would be wise to stay hidden while the nobles are here. They won’t understand why you’ve chosen to help us,” said Greta.

“Perhaps, you’re right. I’ll stay out of sight until I’ve had a chance to talk to my father about David and our plans.”

David couldn’t get over Martine’s selflessness. He’d never met a noble in his life that would go to such extremes to help commoners. She was kind and thoughtful and so willing to do whatever needed to be done. He’d never seen anything like it before. Even Ava, the girl who he was supposed to marry, wouldn’t lift a finger to help him. He knew now that he’d made the right decision to marry her over any other woman. The love in Martine’s heart was admirable. He had never met anyone like her.

“Matilda, call the others in here for a quick meeting,” said David. “Make certain Cinnamon and Ava come too.”

A half hour later, everyone was working together to get the tavern and inn put into the best shape for the nobles’ arrival this evening. Even Ava finally stopped complaining and started helping out, although it wasn’t much. David figured the girl probably only did it hoping to change David’s mind and say he’d marry her after all. Which he wouldn’t. There was no one in the world he wanted to marry except for his angel, Martine. He prayed he could convince her father to give him her hand in marriage, because if not, he wasn’t sure what he would do.