Page 46 of Fate's Sweetest Curse
17
You Like It
Hattie
Arainstorm rattled the windowpanes of my childhood bedroom, thunder rumbling in short intervals—but shrouded by the cloth canopy of my bed, tucked safely under the covers, Raina and I were giggling.
We were talking about boys: Noble, Brendan, and some of the sons of servants and soldiers who lived in cottages within the castle walls. At fourteen and fifteen, boys were one of our favorite topics.
“Iknowyou fancy him,” Raina teased. “And Iknowhe fancies you.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I said. “Noble’s just nice, that’s all.”
“I think Brendan fancies you, too,” Raina continued, pushing up onto an elbow. “He’s always trying to impress you.”
“I despise Brendan.”
“He’s not so bad.”
“That’s because he’s not trying to impressyou.” I turned onto an elbow, too, facing her. “What about Ren?”
The hour was late, and in the inky blackness, I couldn’t see much more than Raina’s silhouette—but I could still hear the blush in her voice. “What about him?”
“Half the reason you visit the stables is for him,” I accused.
She shoved my shoulder. “That’s not true!”
Raina’s parents hadjustpublicly announced her arranged marriage to the heir of Lothgaim. She hadn’t even met Archer Loth yet, and probably wouldn’t for another few years. The idea of her one day being sent offto live with a strange man in a strange territory disturbed me, but she’d taken the news in stride—an arranged marriage had always been in her future.
Ren, on the other hand, worked in the stables. He had his sights set on becoming a soldier one day. Raina was notallowedto fancy him—or really even speak to him—but I knew she did.
Raina flopped back against my pillows with a sigh. “I wish…”
She didn’t need to finish the thought. “I know.”
A gust of wind sent rain pattering against the window, rattling the hinges.
I sat up. “I’m hungry. Want to raid the pantry?”
Ten minutes later, Raina and I were downstairs. The kitchens were dark, empty—spooky on a stormy autumn night. I lifted my candle holder a little higher, creeping deeper into the cavernous space—only to halt when I heard rustling up ahead. Raina gripped my arm, wide-eyed.
“Hello?” I whispered into the dimness.
A figure emerged from the pantry, a mischievous grin on his face. “Hattie?”
Raina’s grip on my arm tightened, a high-pitched, teasing little squeal coming from her throat.
“And Raina,” Noble said, sounding amused.
Mildly panicked, I glanced down at my frilly, floral nightdress; had I known we’d run into him, I would’ve worn something a little less…matronly.
I padded farther into the kitchen and set my candle holder on one of the butcher block tables. “Noble? What are you doing down here?”
“Same thing as you, I reckon,” he said, holding up a peach.
My shoulders relaxed. When it came to snacks, Noble and I already had a rapport. “What are we having?”
“Dessert,” he said.
