Page 62 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

“Whoa!” said Dirk, jumping backward. “Did Patch just bark? He never barks at anything.”

“He’s happy,” said Martine. “Patch just needed a little love, that’s all.”

There came the sound of a slamming door from upstairs and Ava appeared, looking down at them. “David? What is she doing here?” The girl slowly walked down the stairs. “And where is Oldrich? I haven’t seen him all day.”

“Ava, Lady Martine and I have a lot of work to do so please don’t bother us,” said David. “And I am not the keeper of your brother.”

Another door opened upstairs and Oldrich came out of Cinnamon’s room, hopping on one foot as he pulled on his boot. Cinnamon leaned on the doorway with a smug look on her face, half undressed as always.

“Oldrich, what were you doing with that hussy?” asked Ava.

“If you have to ask, sweetheart, you’ll never know,” cooed Cinnamon.

“David, do something about this.” Ava held out her arm pointing to her brother.

“I hope you paid her,” David told Oldrich.

“Of course, he did. I don’t work for free.” Cinnamon held up a coin and grinned.

“Don’t forget to give half the money to the inn,” said Martine, tired of all these distractions. “Now, if the three of you are going to keep showing up, then David and I will find jobs for you. After all, the tavern will be crowded tonight with many nobles.”

“Jobs?” asked Ava, sounding shocked.

“Nobles? How many?” Cinnamon perked up, probably already counting in her head how much money she’d be making off them.

“These nobles aren’t interested in what you have to offer,” said Martine. “It’s my father and uncle and several of my brothers-by-marriage. All married and devoted to their wives.”

“Oh.” Cinnamon scrunched up her nose and disappeared into the room, closing the door behind her.

“We’d be happy to help you out, David,” said Oldrich. “I can pour drinks and my sister will wait tables.”

“I will not,” spat Ava. “David just broke our betrothal so why should I do anything for him?”

“David? Why is she still here?” asked Martine softly. “I thought you told me she was leaving.”

“She is, but not until morning,” David explained. “It’s too dangerous for Ava and her brother to leave at nightfall.”

“If you’re taking up a room, then I hope you are paying for it,” Martine boldly told the girl.

“Martine, I couldn’t charge her,” said David softly. “Not after what I did to her.”

“That’s right,” said Ava. “After what he did by breaking our fathers’ agreement, he should be paying me.”

“You wouldn’t.” Martine looked at David and he shook his head. “Fine. Then be sure to help out tonight, because we’ll need all the extra hands we can get.” She didn’t wait for the girl’s answer. Martine headed to the kitchen with the dog following at her feet. David entered the room right behind her.

“Martine, wait,” he said, putting his hand on her arm.

“You need to use my title when we’re around others, David,” she reminded him. “Lady Martine, is what you need to call me.” She was being a little harsh with him, but she couldn’t take the chance he’d forget to use her title tonight around the nobles if she should be spotted. That would not bear well for him at all.

“Of course,” he said, letting his fingers slip off her arm. “Lady Martine, I’m sorry about the whole thing with Ava. You didn’t deserve to have to go through that.”

“What’s done is done. Right now we need to focus on our goal. The first order of business is to make sure the tavern has enough food– good food to feed the nobles. And they’re not going to be sharing a bowl of pottage for the table, so make certain you have enough bowls and cups for each of them.”

“I’ll make certain of that,” said Farley from the fire, having overheard them.

“Thank you, Farley,” said Martine. She noticed Patch wagging his tail and heading over to Farley.

“What’s that hound doing in my kitchen?” spat Farley.