Page 35 of Love Letters & Lemon Drops

"Lemon tarts," I say. "They're one of my favourites."

"Nate sent me a recipe from Gaullesse for them, I've not had a chance to make it yet, but I know they'd let me have some lemons if I said it was for you."

"They'd let you have lemons if you just asked for them," Veronica points out.

"Well, yes." Evie leans back in her seat, clearly planning the menu in her head.

"Do you think Artie would like that?" I ask Veronica.

She nods. "He would."

"Good. And we can be alone? No one will disturb us?"

"We won't tell anyone else you're there," she promises. "So, I'm going to assume you want some accident tea?" she asks. She cuts a piece of her cake and eats it while she waits for my response.

"Accident tea?" I echo.

"So that you don't get pregnant. Unless you want a baby soon."

"Oh, no, I'd rather wait," I say quickly. I'm not against having children at some point, but I certainly don't want to think about one now.

"I don't see how accident tea is going to help avoid a baby," Evie says, apparently tuning in to the conversation enough to follow it.

Her sister just stares at her for a moment. "What?"

"Mama used to give me accident tea, it's to help againstaccidents."

"What are you on about?" Veronica asks. "When did Mama give it to you?"

Evie frowns and considers. "Maybe five years ago or so. She stopped around the time Nate left. Maybe she thought I'd spend less time in the kitchen then."

Veronica groans and runs a hand over her face. "The accident she meant was pregnancy, Evie."

The other princess blinks a couple of times. "I don't see why."

"Because she clearly thought you and Nate were sleeping together," Veronica points out.

"We weren't."

"I know, you told me and I had to buy Artie a hat," Veronica mumbles.

I smother a laugh, but feel a little better about assuming there's something more between Evie and her friend, it seems like I'm not the only one to think that way. "I'd like some of the tea," I say to Veronica.

She nods. "I'll speak to the apothecary. And Mama, apparently, so she knows to be more explicit next time she gives Evie something like that."

"I appreciate it." I know there's going to have to be a bit more going into it, but this is a good start, and I'm going to make sure I have something wonderful waiting for Arthur so we can enjoy some time together. I know we'll have all the time in the world after the wedding, but that isn't the same, and I know this is going to be important for us.

Chapter 16

I'm not sure what I expected from the lodge Veronica and Evie suggested I use, but it's not this. It's larger than I expect, with an entire table spread out with more food than the two of us can possibly eat. I'm not sure what Evie was thinking, but she seems to have gone a little overboard with the whole thing.

A fire flickers in the grate, taking away all of the chill that comes from outside, and it's a nice contrast to the snow falling outside the windows. This could be like a perfect moment captured in a painting, not something that I'm actually living.

Footsteps crunch against the stones that line the path outside and I hurry towards the door, pulling it open even as Artie arrives.

"You got my letter," I say.

"I did." He smiles and steps closer to me.

---