Free Medieval Ever After by Kathryn Le Veque, Keira Montclair, Emma Prince, Barbara Devlin Page A

I have already asked him to leave me as many as he believes he can spare.”
    They had reached the hall. Stephen opened the door and was hit in the face by the warm, fragrant air inside. It smelled like rushes and roasted meat, and he felt his hunger immediately. Stepping inside, it was a bright and busy world.
    The first sight that greeted him was Joselyn, heading towards him from the east side of the room. She was dressed in the cranberry wool, her luscious figure emphasized by the cut of the garment. Her dark hair was pulled away from her face and the pale blue eyes were brilliant. Stephen watched her with appreciation as she smiled and curtsied politely.
    “Welcome home, my lord,” she said, glancing to de Lara and bobbing another curtsy. “Lord de Lara.”
    Tate acknowledged the lovely woman, grinning at Stephen when the man turned to look at him as if to reaffirm the fact that he had married a truly beautiful lady. Removing his helm, de Lara scratched his head and, still grinning, moved off towards the dais where a huge table of food was spread out.
    Stephen didn’t notice that Tate had left; he was entirely focused on his wife. She looked absolutely radiant, a far cry from the cold and dirty creature he had met last night. Sleep, new clothing and an improving relationship with her new husband had worked wonders. He could hardly believe it was the same woman.
    Joselyn gazed up at him, feeling the intensity of his stare as if he had reached out and grabbed her. Her cheeks flushed a delightful shade of pink.
    “I hope the meal pleases you,” she said, sweeping her arm in the direction of the table. “There were virtually no provisions left at the castle and we only had what your men brought in since yesterday.”
    Stephen knew that the city of Berwick, including the castle, had basically been starved out during the siege but he made no reference to it. He didn’t want to dampen the mood and there was no point in reiterating what they both knew. So he took her gently by the elbow and escorted her to the heavily-laden table.
    “The fare looks quite generous, my lady,” he reassured her.
    In fact, he was quite surprised to see all of the food. There were dishes everywhere, things he didn’t even recognize. But he remembered that during that unpleasant encounter last night she had told him that the nuns of Jedburgh had taught her the art of cooking. He had no idea what she meant until this moment. He gestured at the table, somewhat in awe.
    “Good Christ,” he couldn’t help the soft exclamation. “Did you do all of this?”
    She nodded, somewhat modestly. “Your men brought flour, salt, bags of dried currants and apricots, wine, a few jars of honey, bags of nuts, and slabs of mutton and pork. I did what I could with it.”
    He looked at her, stunned. “Surely you had help.”
    She shrugged, reaching down for a wooden plate filled with something gooey and sweet-looking. “There were two women that aided me. Berwick has no cook, so the servants take turns.” She lifted the plate. “These are sweet cakes with apricots, nuts and honey. Would you try one?”
    He just stared at her. Then, he reached for one of the pastries, realized he had his mail gloves on and paused to rip them both off, tossing them to the bench. He then took one of the pastries and put the entire thing in his mouth. Joselyn watched with trepidation as he chewed a couple of times, stopped, and then resumed at a slower pace.
    “Is… is it not to your liking?” she asked timidly.
    Stephen chewed a few more times before swallowing. He licked his lips and looked at her. “Lady, that was by far the most marvelous thing I have ever eaten and if you let anyone else have one, I shall be sorely disappointed. I would have them all for myself.”
    She grinned brightly and he returned her smile, adding a bold wink with it. In truth, the little cake had been luscious. He gestured at the rest of the table. “What else do we have that is decadent and