“So would I.”
“Mayhap we can go together? It would be a better trip with someone to enjoy it with.”
Addington’s features lit up. “I would like that,” she said. Then, something caught her attention and she quickly smoothed at her hair before wiping at her mouth to make sure there were no crumbs. “One of my brother’s knights is approaching. Have you met him?”
Lista looked up to see a handsome young knight bearing down on them. He was well-proportioned and muscular, and he smiled when he saw Addington.
She smiled back.
“Good eve, Lady Addington,” the knight said. “I was hoping to see you tonight.”
Addington beamed. “It is agreeable to see you also, my lord,” she said. “Have you met my friend, Lady Lista de la Mere?”
The knight shifted his focus to Lista. With the same rather devilish smile, he took Lista’s hand and kissed it sweetly.
“Anteaus de Bourne at your service, my lady,” he said. “Welcome to Berwick.”
He seemed rather suave and full of himself. Lista took back her hand. “Thank you, my lord,” she said. “It is an honor to meet you.”
Somehow, Anteaus took that as an invitation to sit down and he did, eagerly. He took a seat on Addington’s left hand because Lista was on her right. More food was brought in as Anteaus told stories about his home, a castle known as The Keld. He had two older brothers who came out looking like terrible bullies in his stories, but they were quite humorous. Lista chuckled at the antics of the de Bourne brothers but it was clear during the course of the conversation that Anteaus was paying special attention to Addington. He wasn’t being rude to Lista in theleast, but it was clear that he was focused on her. There was romance in the air.
Smiling at the subtle flirting, Lista went back to her food.
“May I sit, my lady?”
Lista heard the words, having no idea they were meant for her until she caught sight of a big body on her right hand. Startled, she looked up to see Julian standing beside her, indicating the chair.
Cheeks flushing madly, she nodded.
“Please,” she said.
Julian sat down as servants rushed forward to bring him food and drink, but he wasn’t looking at his food.
He was looking at Lista.
“I see you are wearing the dark blue garment,” he said. “It suits you.”
Lista looked at herself, dressed in the dark blue dress with the silver embroidery. “Thank you,” she said. “Your sister was very kind to lend it to me.”
“And the food? Is the food to your liking?”
Lista nodded. “It is very good,” she said. “Do you always eat so well at Berwick?”
Julian wriggled his eyebrows, or at least the one eyebrow Lista could see. “Cori sets a fine table,” he said. “The finest in the north. There will be more courses after this, so do not eat too much. There is more to come.”
“Ah,” Lista said. “I will have to be careful that I do not break the seams of your sister’s dress with all of my gluttony.”
Julian’s glittering gaze lingered on her a moment before returning to his food. “You would be in good company, I assure you,” he said. Silence settled between them for a moment because he was staring at her so much, so he hastened to find something to talk about, fearful that it was about to becomeawkward. “Do you come to Berwick often, my lady? To the market, I mean.”
Lista shrugged. “Often enough,” she said. “My mother likes to visit the apothecaries every month or two. And will you do something for me?”
“Anything, my lady.”
“Will you please call me Lista? Addressing me as ‘my lady’ sounds so formal and we are friends now, aren’t we?”
He looked at her, surprised. “Are we?”
“I hope so,” Lista said. “Unless my insults to you earlier have ruined any chance we have of a friendship and we are now mortal enemies.”
