Page 3 of Markets & Mooncakes

"He doesn't get a say in what I do," Nate assures me. "And he's definitely not keeping me from spending time with you. Besides, what can he say when the Queen herself has approved?" There's a note in his voice that I don't quite understand, but I'm not sure I'm in a place to really ask about it.

"I think she does," I respond. "She said that she wouldn't stand in our way, and that she wouldn't insist on me courting anyone else. But that there are things we need to consider and talk about. She hasn't said anything since."

"It's been a week, Evie," he points out. "She's probably still working that out herself."

"I know. And I'm mostly just glad that I don't have to have any other suitors to entertain. The tea with Lady Elizabeth was truly a disaster." I think back to the awful tea. She was perfectly fine, but we were badly suited to one another.

"Well, I can assure you that I like cake," he teases.

"I know you do. And I'm glad of it. But I don't just want to be all about cake. I like pies, and pastries, and cream puffs, and...I don't know. Lots of other things. And I want to make them too. I'd never have been happy with Lady Elizabeth."

"Well, I'm very happy about that." He leans in and kisses my nose. "And you might be happy to learn that the croissants are done. Hopefully not too done, I didn't notice the hourglass run out."

"Oh."

He kisses me swiftly, then pulls away to go tend to the oven, leaving me to tend to my dragon and make sure she doesn't actually destroy anything in the kitchen, because it feels like there's a real possibility of that right now.

"No, Ember!" I lean in and grab her before she knocks a pot of flour.

Her claws dig into my arms, and I wince in pain. It wouldn't make a difference if my sleeves were down either. They wouldn't be enough to protect me from dragon claws. It's just one of the things I'm getting used to.

The scent of flaky pastries and hot almonds fills the air, and I take a deep breath, taking it all in. I have no idea what Mama's approval of my relationship with Nate is going to mean, but what I do know is that I'm glad that I get to find out.

Chapter 2

It's always a cause for concern when Mama summons me to her audience chamber along with my private secretary. It's not that I dislike Marion's presence, she's far too good at dealing with my peculiarities for that. It's just that if Mama wants Marion present, then it means that I'm going to be expected to do something, and that the something is going to involve other people. And that's not something I'm ever going to be particularly happy about.

One of the servants opens the door to me, and I smile at him in response before entering the room. Mama is sitting on one of her sofas, while Veronica is on the other, both with their private secretaries behind them. I don't know whether to be relieved that my sister is already here, or worried about what Mama is planning to suggest to both of us.

I dip into a curtsy. "Your Majesty," I say to Mama, while Veronica rises so that she can curtsy to me. Which I personally think is ridiculous. There's barely a year separating the two of us in terms of age, and in proximity to the throne. She shouldn't have to bow to me.

I got to take my seat and straighten out my skirt so that it doesn't annoy me while I'm seated. It's never a good thing when it becomes annoying to me, and I know that Mama prefers it when I don't fidget.

"Would you like some tea, Evelyn?" Mama asks with a surprisingly relaxed smile. It would seem that we're not going to be required to do anything she thinks we're going to hate.

"Tea would be nice," I say.

"Chef Matthews made some shortbread," Veronica says. "It's not as good as when he made those biscuits that were dipped in chocolate. You should tell him to make those again." She looks at Mama as if to see whether she's going to disagree or not.

"They were nice," Mama says. "Though I prefer the ginger biscuits."

"I'm sure he would be happy to make both," I respond, knowing that Nate wants to do what he can in order to bake the right things for the right people.

Veronica sighs. "I'm going to miss his baking when he's no longer in the kitchen."

"What?" I sit up straight, panic running through me as I think about what that could mean.

She gives me a strange look. "Because he's not going to be a chef forever."

"Oh."

Mama clears her throat and passes me the cup of tea she paused. "Perhaps this conversation is better left for another time."

I don't know if she's doing it because I'm uncomfortable, or if it's something else. Probably the latter. I'm not sure she's very good at figuring out the former or she wouldn't ask me to do some of the things that she does.

"Yes, Mama," Veronica says. She leans in to pick up one of the biscuits and takes a bite, not seeming at all bothered by Mama's statement.

"I asked you both to come here because we've been informed that the new ambassador from Shengda is arriving next week. There'll be a small banquet to announce his arrival. I trust that you'll be able to manage that, Evelyn?"