Page 40 of Once Upon a Crown
She stared up at me from under her brow, her expression unimpressed.
“You know the longer you play this game of pretending to hate me, the more I’m going to try and make you like me,” I continued when she didn’t say anything. Gwen still didn’t respond but I watched her swallow hard.
I was reaching for the flask in the pocket of my tunic when the servant entered carrying two plates, both with a silver cover. Deciding against pulling out my flask, I waited in anticipation for the servant to remove the cover, only to find two steaming scones on the plate, some butter and jam on the side. No eggs.
“This is what you ordered for breakfast?”
Gwen shrugged casually but I could see her trying to suppress a slight grin.
“Too much like cake for you, is it?”
“Not at all.” I grimaced.
I used my knife to cut the warm scone in half and started spreading some butter on it, all the while thinking how stupid scones were and how much I’d rather have a proper breakfast. Or at least some bacon, maybe. But my pride prevented me from calling back the servant.
“So do your plans entail staying inside and reading all day?” I couldn’t blame her — the weather was miserable. There were constant bursts of rain, and if it wasn’t raining, the wind blew something fierce.
“I wanted to go for a walk when the rain stopped, but you know.” She gestured to the walking stick leaning on the chair next to her.
“Well, when you’re feeling up to it, you should go and visit Windchaser. I’m sure he misses you.” This piqued her interest, but she kept her expression nonchalant.
“He told you this himself, did he?”
“Of course.” I took a big bite from the scone, my mouth filled with the buttery taste. “He’s quite a talkative little foal.”
“Hmph.” She snorted at my response, putting her book down to start eating her breakfast.
“How long did the physician say you had to use the walking stick?”
“A few more weeks, though I don’t know how much longer I can take it,” Gwen complained, taking a teaspoon and scooping up a big dollop of cream. I watched her mouth as she licked it off the spoon, my own food temporarily forgotten.
“Does your ankle still hurt?” I quickly cleared my throat.
“A little. I don’t think I should have walked on it after I got hurt.”
“Probably not, no. Which is why I insisted you see a physician.”
“Oh, you would just love to hear me say you were right.”
I opened my mouth to respond that I wouldn’t mind just that when the dining-room door opened, and Cai walked in.
His eyes landed on the two of us sitting across from each other.
“Having breakfast together?” If looks could kill, then I would have died. I wondered if Elara had told him about our conversation.
“Not on purpose,” Gwen replied quickly. “Would you like to join us?”
“No thank you. I’m looking for Elara. Have you seen her?” He looked tired, like he hadn’t been sleeping, and his expression suggested he wasn’t looking for her so that they could share a cup of tea.
“I’m afraid not,” I said before Gwen could respond. “Everything all right?”
The King of Norrandale continued to glare at me. “Everything’s fine,” he said through clenched teeth. “I just need to talk to her.”
“Well, I’ll let the queen know, should I run into her.”
“At least join me for a cup of tea,” Gwen pleaded, patting the table next to her.
Cai hesitated and I cleared my throat, wiping my mouth with a napkin. “I should get going anyway.” The chair scraped over the floor as I got up from my seat.
