My Lady Chef
Chapter 26: I Miss Her

Ezran's POV:

I missed her.

How else can I describe the way I feel when I went to court early without even seeing her face.

Thank God. The prince asked His Majesty to extend my stay here at the capital for a few more days.

Normally I would be upset because I would rather be on the encampment preparing for war but somehow all I have felt was...

Relief.

It meant that I can spend more time at my home and take care of other matters regarding my businesses.

No. That was a lie.

I was glad because I could spend more time with Alaina.

Last night, I tried not to go to her because I fear that I might want to hold her again or whittle away the night listening to her talk when I should be sleeping and getting ready to present my reports at court.

That and I gave her my word that I would give her time to think about us sleeping together. As a man, I have to keep my word.

So I tried to sleep but I heightened my senses to hear her footsteps or a whisper of her voice through the connecting door.

Until I heard her padding past the sitting area and stopped in front of the connecting door, I could not help but get up from the bed and watch the shadow beneath the door; my heart raced when I heard her breathing quicken for a bit until she sighed loudly and silently retreated.

I wished I had summoned the courage then to come her that night but I did not.

I woke up early because I made up my mind to finish my business early at the Royal Palace so that I can come home to her however the meeting had dragged even later than I thought.

But then as I was talking by the Crown Prince's study which has a great view of the First district shops, I spotted a familiar carriage and then the small figure I can recognize as my wife's when I used my Eagle Eye ability to make sure of it, seeing her here became too stimulating and I could not stay away from any longer.

After I hastily made my farewell to the Prince; I immediately ran to the stables and soon had my horned stallion Thunder gallop past the gates and a few startled guards but I was beyond caring if I looked like a madman.

And now here I stand before my wife who looked surprised and I felt something squeeze my heart when I smelled her enticing scent.

She was dressed in a pretty blue dress and cream cloak; her hair was in a simple ponytail braid.

"I trust your tour of my shops was enjoyable?" I started the conversation awkwardly.

She nodded. I saw that she was blushing and she looked embarrassed by it. I think that she looks absolutely fetching.

"The shops were nice. I had no idea you had a lot of them." she smiled when her expression turns to worry as she fished out her handkerchief and reached out to wipe my forehead. "Did you hurry over here? You are sweating like crazy."

Her touch...feels nice.

I bend over to allow her to more freedom in touching me because it just seems natural for my wife to fuss over me.

Our eyes met and her flushed cheeks reddened even more as she laughed nervously while her hand trembled slightly. I like it actually. It was adorable.

"Are you done with your business at the Palace?" she put her handkerchief back in her purse after wiping me off carefully.

"I have." I checked the carriage if it was full of packages from my shops but I frowned when I only saw my wife's hand maid Linda putting two small bags of sweets on the carriage's back trunk. "Is that the only thing you took?"

She looked confused at my question.

"Those sweets were given to me by the candy shop girls at La Petite Creme. I did not take anything else from the other shops. Why? Should I have?"

Incredible. I cannot make heads nor tails of her at all.

I have had lovers demand or even took things from my shop all because I was involved with them but my very own wife would only take things if it were given to her.

I am losing my mind over her for a whole other reason it seems.

For the first time, I want to give this woman all the expensive clothes, jewels and anything she could ever want.

"Alaina." I used her name and she jumped."As my wife, you can take anything you fancy in my shops and just have Pierce write it down to be deducted from the inventory later. As the mistress of House Aisenburg, no one would bat an eye if you take a whole collection or the entire line."

"Oh well. It is fine; the shopkeepers at the second district were busy so I did not want to interrupt and I was busy suggesting a few things to Mr. Pierce than taking actual things." she waved away my words. "Suggestions?" I raised my eyebrows at my secretary who was suddenly interested in writing on his notepad.

"Please don't be mad at him." she reached out to hold my hand. "Will it make you feel better if I buy things now?"

Her anxious gaze made me soften up. She is really something. No lady has ever behaved this way with me before.

"Make it up to me then, wife."I gave her my most flirty smile as I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed it. "Have supper with me here. Choose any restaurant you want. Do we have a deal?" "Alright then..." she nodded.

"Please escort my wife's maid back to the mansion and take the rest of the day off. I will see you tomorrow." I made eye contact with Pierce to make sure I get my point across. "Yes, Milord." Sensing that I wanted my wife all to myself, he bowed respectfully before giving my wife a half-smile before he escorted Linda back to the carriage and drove off. "Where do you want to eat?" I hoisted myself up to my steed and held a hand out to her.

She hesitated after seeing how high up I was but she steeled herself, took a deep breath, and grabbed my gloved hand as I pulled her securely up in the front of my saddle.

I made sure that she was seated firmly in front of me and held her waist with one hand, prompting her to grab my arm as I used my free hand to signal Thunder to canter towards the section of the district where the best restaurants are.

Somehow my duchess's initial awkwardness on the saddle vanished as she saw that I won't let her fall so she loosened up while basking in the fresh air as she looked for a place to eat.

I took that time to pull her closer and rest my head against the top of her head and she did not object but she actually leaned against me. That small sign of trust made me smile.

My wife then decided on one of the smaller exotic restaurants before we dismounted and I handed my horse's reins to a young man who tied it with the other horses.

I remembered eating here one time with the idiot Prince and remembered that their specialty here was their rich lamb stew with bell peppers and spicy rice. The chef is a foreigner from the Andals, a small island country just west of the Lorraine region past the Black Mountains.

I think she will like the flavors here.

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