Wine of the North

"A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth. Seeing it transpired in front of me is quite... delightful," Duke Lucas answered as he looked at her.

She turned her head away and found a seat opposite him.

"I was reckless," she agreed.

"You were. But there is no need to think about the past, is there?"

She stared at him. In fact, she had every reason to think about the past. But she was not going to tell him that.

"Did you come here to tell me that?" she asked.

He smiled and elegantly lifted his teacup, drinking his tea.

"You look like a grouchy little cat," he smiled.

"It's in the dead of the night," she reasoned. "If you wanted to talk to me, then perhaps—"

"Tomorrow, they will put security around this place and it would be harder for me to walk inside or for you to leave."

"That—" That might just happen.

"I thought we could commemorate this night with some— tea."

"Don't you have something stronger?" she asked.