To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2) Page 7

  “All right, we’re being silly girls.” Jiandra waved a dismissive hand as she rose to shut the door again. “I must have left it ajar.”

  Graciella hugged her arms around herself, rubbing her own shoulders as her sister returned to her seat. “So now you have no cook?”

  “Right. We’re trying to make do without hiring a new one until we sell a few more crops, because Terijin stole a large sum of money from the treasury and gave it to an accomplice. We don’t know exactly where they took the money, or we would go and get it back.”

  “Well, I can cook for you, Jiandra.”

  “I know you can. I suggested as much to Yavi, but he refused to allow me to ask you outright.”

  “Why? I make delicious food.”

  “Oh, it’s not the quality of your food. He just didn’t want to burden you with the responsibilities of working in the kitchen during your stay with us.”

  Graciella smiled, feeling a warmth rising in her cheeks. “He said that?”

  “Yes, but don’t make too much of it. He was just being a protective brother-in-law.”

  Graciella frowned and lobbed a small pillow at her sister’s face. “You’re crushing my dreams, Jiandra!” she teased.

  “Ow!” Jiandra laughed and tossed the pillow back at her. “Someone has to keep your head out of the clouds.”

  “You wait. Yavi will notice me.” Graciella looked down and pushed her breasts up into her neckline a bit. “I will just keep wearing this same dress until he does.”

  “Oh, I’ve no doubt he’s already noticed you. And your cleavage. It’s hanging out for all to see, whether they want to or not.”

  Graciella giggled, then threw the pillow at her sister’s face again. “Stop being so selfish with the Zulfikar twins! You’ve already got one; let me have the other one if I want, you old hag!”

  Jiandra dissolved into laughter. “All right, fine. I may be an old hag, but you’re a little tart.”

  “I am a little tart.” Graciella leaned back, raised one knee to prop the heel of her boot on the edge of the cushion, and flung her arms out wide, along the back of the couch. She fixed half-lidded eyes on Jiandra’s amused face. “Oh, Yavi,” she crooned. “You’re so sweaty from your sword practice. Come here and let me dry you off.”

  The library doors opened. Graciella sat up straight and adjusted her skirt back down around her ankles, then took a prim sip of tea as Yajna strode in.

  Jiandra stood and hurried to greet him. “Yes, my love?”

  “Yavi and I are riding to the barracks to see the Army generals about sending bandit patrols. We’ll be back by dinnertime. I’ve instructed Shandri and Kitran to prepare dinner for eight o’clock.”

  Jiandra gave Graciella a quick glance, then turned back to Yajna. “That sounds good. Safe journey, husband.” She tiptoed up to give him a quick peck, and he swept her into his arms, planting a passionate, too-long-in-front-of-an-audience kiss on her lips.

  When he released her, Jiandra stumbled back a little, then swiped at the corner of her lips with her pinky. “All right, then. See you later tonight.”

  “Gracie.” Yajna bowed to her.

  Graciella smiled innocently at him.

  Once he was gone, Jiandra shut the double doors and leaned back against them, closing her eyes. “I love how he kisses,” she confessed.

  “Me too, and I’m just the spectator.”

  Jiandra chuckled. “Let me get someone to rekindle the fire and refresh our tea. Back in a moment.”

  Graciella nodded. Once her sister was gone, she pulled off her boots and curled her legs up under her on the sofa, then laid her head on a pillow propped against the high back, yawning. She needed a nap, but after she had rested, she would make the best dinner Yavi had ever tasted. She would have it ready to greet him when he arrived back at the palace tonight.

  §

  Graciella changed into a plain white muslin day gown, found an apron from the cook’s closet and tied it around her waist, rolled up her sleeves, and set to work searching through the burlap bags, wooden crates, and barrels in the larder for ingredients.

  Jiandra stood in the doorway, fidgeting. “Can you make a decent dinner for twenty-five people with what we have in here?”

  “Well, these onions have gone bad.” Graciella held her nose and lifted up a burlap sack.

  Jiandra took the bag from her. “Tinni! Come take these onions and dump them on the scrap pile in the garden.”

  A young man appeared to carry out her orders.

  “I found some lovely leeks, though.” Graciella lifted a wooden crate from the stone floor, and carried it into the kitchen. “We’ll grill these with oil and a little lemon, and—ooh, is that a jar of currants?” She reached under the work table and scooped up a jar filled with dried red berries.

  “Yes, I think so. Our currant bushes did well last summer.”

  Graciella looked around in the larder for flour. “Do we have eggs? I can make currant buns if so.”

  “Oh, I… Kitran, do we have eggs?” Jiandra called out over her shoulder.

  “I don’t think so, Your Highness, but I can check the henhouse again.”

  “No matter—I’ll make a quick bread instead.” Graciella searched for cinnamon. She found that, then handed Jiandra a sack of potatoes. “We’ll boil these, and roast these carrots… Are you growing any rosemary here, by chance?”

  “Yes, I think there’s a rosemary bush in the solar upstairs.”

  “I’ll make a savory lentil pie for the main course, then.” Graciella set the crates and bags of vegetables near the worktable. “I’ll need all these vegetables washed and chopped.”

  Jiandra turned to a serving girl who stood nearby. “Wilten, you work with Miss Grace. Do whatever she tells you.”

  The silver-eyed, platinum-haired girl smiled and nodded eagerly. She barely spoke any Villeleian, but she understood Graciella’s demonstrations and hand gestures just fine. With the additional help of Jiandra and Kitran, they soon had two huge kettles full of potatoes and lentils boiling, several trays of carrots coated with oil and sprinkled with herbs, sweet currant bread baking, and the leeks washed and sliced lengthwise.

  Graciella wiped her hands on her apron and smiled as she watched her helpers work efficiently under her supervision.

  Just wait until Yavi gets home.

  §

  Yavi left his horse at the stables, then entered the palace and strode through the Great Hall on his way upstairs to change for dinner. The glorious aroma of bread baking assailed his senses. It smelled heavenly, and made him realize how hungry he was after a week of the meager meals he and his staff had been scrambling to put together.

  Suddenly he realized what that aroma meant, however, and his good mood turned foul.

  He flung open the door to the kitchen to see Graciella stooping to pull a tray of loaves from the oven. The air was thick with the delectable aromas of the other dishes she’d prepared. A row of shepherd’s pies sat on the side table, heaped with mashed potatoes and sprinkled with herbs. Trays of braised carrots fragrant with butter and dill lined the top of the buffet. Rows of leeks were grilling on iron grates over an open flame. She must have worked all afternoon to put together this feast.

  “What in Tejeshwar’s name is going on here?” he thundered.

  Jiandra whirled around, startled. Graciella quickly set the tray of fresh-baked loaves on the worktable. Kitran and a serving girl huddled near the dishpans in the back, staring at him.

  “We—we’re making dinner,” Jiandra supplied.

  Graciella’s cheeks were red with heat and exertion, and escaped strands of her silky dark hair clung to her neck. Her hands and dress were covered in flour, and as he stared at her, she reached up to push a stray lock of hair out of her face, leaving a swipe of white powder across her cheekbone. Her pale-hazel eyes blinked at him, beautifully framed with long black eyelashes.

  He grated out, “Graciella, you are a guest. You do not need to work in my kitchen.” />
  Jiandra held up her hands defensively. “Yavi, she wants to work in here. I kept telling you—”

  “Jiandra!” he snapped at her. “Can’t you see that you’re taking advantage of your younger sister’s desire to please you? She should be at leisure during her visit here, not breaking her back to peel potatoes all day like some servant!”

  Jiandra fell silent, but Graciella pinched off a piece of bread, came around the worktable, and held it up to his lips. “Taste,” she ordered softly.

  The fragrance of the buttery-looking bread was almost overwhelmingly tempting, but he refused to open his lips and sample the fruit of her sacrifice to please her sister.

  She focused her gaze resolutely on his lips, tapping them with the warm bread. “Open.”

  He did, and she popped the bite inside. He chewed, and the softly crusted bread melted decadently in his mouth. The ripe currants and tangy orange peel gave the bread just the right hint of sweetness.

  Graciella watched his reaction. Her sweet little mouth curved into the most bewitching, mischievous grin he’d ever seen, and it wasn’t just his sense of taste that became thoroughly aroused.

  When did little Graciella become…like this? He swallowed the bite of bread.

  She nodded knowingly. “Hm? Good?”

  “Delicious,” he admitted, a slow smile spreading across his face.

  “Do you want more?”

  Yes. Yes, I do, Hazel-Eyes. He cleared his throat. “Yes.”

  She went back to her worktable and faced him, hands on hips. “Then let me work as much as I want to in the kitchen and stop yelling at us.”

  He saw Jiandra stifle a giggle.

  Holding Graciella’s gaze, Yavi smiled wryly at his own defeat, and bowed. “As you wish, my dear Graciella.”

  Five

  Yavi found himself bounding up the stairs with more energy than he’d had in many weeks. Yajna passed him in the second-floor hallway.

  “What’s that delicious smell?”

  “Currant bread. Graciella’s making dinner.”

  “Yes!” Yajna slapped Yavi’s shoulder and continued toward his quarters.

  Yavi entered his wing, closed himself up in his room, and shed his armor. He washed up at his washstand, unable to get the image of Graciella’s amused grin out of his mind. She had a kissable mouth with plump pink lips, perfect white teeth, and her skin looked as smooth as fresh cream, from the slim column of her neck down to the enticing swell of her perfect little breasts. He’d gone erect the moment she’d reached up to push her hair out of her flushed face, and the stiffness hadn’t subsided yet.

  Stop this, Yavi, he chided himself. The girl is too young for you. And you swore an oath. An oath not to cause hurt to an innocent young woman through his lust.

  “Never again,” he vowed aloud to his reflection. “Especially not Graciella.”

  He dressed in black leather breeches and tucked a white lawn shirt into the waistband, then tugged on his boots. Going back to the looking-glass over the washstand, he tucked the emperor’s ruby out of sight into his shirt, and ran a hand through his close-cropped, silver hair. He glanced down at the persistent bulge in his pants.

  Get it under control, he mentally commanded his body as he went to the door.

  When he got halfway down the stairs, he knew he was ruined. She was wearing that same pink dress she’d had on at breakfast, the one that drew his stare directly to her chest.

  §

  Graciella turned to see Yavi descending the stairs, looking absolutely dashing. She straightened her shoulders to lift her breasts a bit.

  He nodded curtly, barely making eye contact. “Good evening, Graciella.”

  “Good evening, Emperor.”

  He reached down to pull out her chair, then spoke in a gruff tone. “Forgive my behavior earlier, in the kitchen.”

  She seated herself and turned to look up at him. He was staring down the front of her neckline, but instantly moved his gaze to her face.

  She smiled sweetly. “Of course. No harm done.”

  Jiandra came down the stairs, holding on to Yajna’s arm. “Good evening, Gracie, Yavi,” she called out.

  “Good evening,” Graciella returned.

  Yajna seated Jiandra on the opposite side of the table from Graciella, then took a seat next to his wife. Yavi sat down at the head of the table and motioned to the serving girl, who disappeared into the kitchen. She returned with a bottle of wine, followed by Wilten and Kitran, who were carrying dishes laden with leeks and carrots, the lentil pie, and a basket with a loaf of currant bread wrapped in a towel.

  “Everything looks wonderful, Graciella,” Jiandra observed happily.

  “Unbelievable.” Yajna gave Graciella a proud smile. “I’ve been working in that kitchen for the past few days and I would never guess you could make all this with what we had in there.”

  Yavi handed her a glass of wine. “Thank you for preparing this meal for us and for my staff, Graciella.”

  It was hard to stare directly at his piercingly gorgeous eyes, so she dropped her gaze to the smooth olive skin of his neck. “You’re welcome,” she murmured. “My pleasure.”

  Yavi poured three more goblets of wine while Jiandra cut into the lentil pie. She served Yajna and herself each a portion, and then passed it across the table to Graciella. Around came the platter of braised carrots, the grilled leeks, and the basket of bread. Graciella watched Yavi from under her lashes as they began to eat, hoping to see some reaction to the food.

  His face was an unreadable mask as he sampled a bite of the lentil pie, but Yajna’s was pure joy. “This is the best shepherd’s pie I’ve ever eaten. The best.” He dabbed the corner of his mouth with his napkin and took a sip of wine. “Outstanding.”

  “Gods, Gracie,” Jiandra exclaimed, her mouth full. “Your leeks!”

  Graciella beamed at their praise. The best part of making delicious meals was seeing other people enjoy eating them. She stole another glance at Yavi.

  “Everything is very good, Graciella,” Yavi finally said, but without looking up. Was the brief smile she got out of him in the kitchen earlier the only one to be had tonight?

  She tried to draw him into conversation. “What is your favorite dish, Yavi?”

  “This pie,” Yajna answered for him, eating another forkful. “Hands down.”

  Yavi leaned his forearms on the edge of the table and sipped his wine. “Roasted pheasant.”

  “Yes, brother. We should go hunting soon.”

  “What about yours, Graciella?” Yavi asked her, slicing off a bite of leek.

  “I have too many to list. I love cooking because I love food.”

  “When I was a boy, my mother grew thyme in pots in her kitchen,” he said. “She used to make a lentil loaf with it called Talún.”

  Graciella took a bite of carrot. “What’s in it besides lentils?”

  “Garlic and onions, sage, thyme, oregano.”

  “Sounds wonderful. I’ll make it for you sometime.”

  He looked up from his plate, surprise in his silver irises. “That would… I would like that, very much.”

  “So does that mean I get free rein of the kitchen while I’m here?”

  He locked gazes with her, and she gave him a sly grin.

  “You’ll get no further argument from me,” he conceded. “Again, I apologize for my outburst earlier.”

  “I’m sure you were just trying to protect me.”

  “Yes. I would always protect you to the best of my ability.” His expression went hard, and he looked down at his plate. “I want only comfort and happiness for you, Graciella.”

  “Thank you.”

  Yajna raised his goblet. “Here’s to Graciella’s fine cooking ability, and to the best meal we’ve had in this palace since my wedding six years ago, I would venture to say.”

  Jiandra raised her goblet, smiling warmly at Graciella. “Here, here!”

  “My brother speaks the truth,” Yavi agreed, raising his gob
let of wine as well. “Our cook might have been an excellent spy, but he was a mediocre cook compared to you.”

  Graciella raised her goblet to them. “Here’s to spending time with my wonderful friends and family. I love you all.” She avoided Yavi’s gaze when she said the word love, but clinked her goblet only with his when they all met in the middle of the table.

  After dinner, Yavi asked two guards to haul in water so the serving girls could clean everything up, then turned to Graciella, Yajna, and Jiandra. “Would you three care to join me in my study for a glass of katsuri?”

  Graciella cocked an eyebrow. “What’s katsuri?”

  “Come and see,” he teased, offering a hint of a smile. He turned to lead the way, and Yajna caught up with his brother and punched his shoulder. They scuffled a bit, then bounded up the stairs ahead of the women.

  Jiandra looped her arm through Graciella’s to hold her back a bit. When the men were out of earshot, she leaned close to whisper, “Yavi’s in a better mood than I’ve seen in years.”

  “Really? Because I could barely get a decent smile out of him tonight.”

  “He never smiles anymore. A half-smile is practically a miracle.”

  They entered the hallway that led through Yavi’s wing on the southern end of the palace. The twins were waiting for them at the door to Yavi’s study. Yavi opened it for the women and Yajna to enter, then followed them inside. “Brother, make a fire while I pour the women a drink.”

  Yajna went to crouch in front of the fireplace at the far end of the room.

  “Just water for me, Yavi,” Jiandra said before going to sit on the couch near the fire. Graciella started to follow her.

  “Graciella, join me for a moment,” Yavi requested.

  She followed him to his sideboard to see what he was doing. He showed her a blue glass bottle that was fat at the bottom, curving into a long skinny neck. “This is Nandalan katsuri. Smell.” He held it out to her.

  Strong, pungent alcohol assailed her nostrils, and she jerked back. “Oh!” Then she leaned in for another whiff. “Mm. It has a kind of ambery-sweet fragrance.”