Nicholas’s mouth was so close. As I looked at it, he licked his lips. I licked mine in reply. We leaned

closer, closer, dangerously close..

Then the oven timer dinged.

We immediately straightened, snapping away from each other. Nicholas turned, coughing into his hand.

I reached for the oven mitts and pulled the finished stuffed mushrooms from the oven.

With the tray safely on the counter, I couldn’t find the courage to look at him again.

He cleared his throat. “Nostalgia does tricky things to the mind.”

“It does,” I agreed, thankful for the safe retreat his words offered.

“I should go now.” He took a step, then paused. “Goodnight, Piper.”

“Goodnight.”

I didn’t move again until his footsteps disappeared from the kitchen. Even after he was gone, I needed a moment to get my heartbeat under control.

touches on my stuffed mushrooms and preparing

storage.

carefully did not think about what

were adding the finishing touches to the garden party dresses for me and Elva. She was

“about your

certainly opened up to me now, in the early days, she had seemed to only barely tolerate me. The overly–friendly one had

said. “They let her go from the palace staff, but she

that she was trapped in

it. It’s less stressful.” Charlotte picked at

“I’m glad to hear she is safe and well. I’ve been thinking of her.”

things. When I spoke to her,

palace might

that’s what matters. With the support I do have,

any of these hardships.”

ruined appetizers were nothing compared to the hardships I

past.

had a roof over my head, food for both Elva and me, and proper medical treatment for Elva. Any

endure was secondary to those basic needs, which in the past had either

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255