Adrianna Beesbury

  Adrianna was pleased. Alan, her firstborn son, had arrived home from his fostering with the Hightowers. She had hated to see him go, but with how important a positive relationship with House Hightower, and by extension the Citadel, was to House Beesbury, they had no choice but to send their heir down the Honeywine. For six long years all they all had were letters and news from Beesbury captains. Now, they had him in the flesh, and Honeyholt felt whole again.

  She had barely recognized Alan when he first stepped off the boat. The boy that had left then returned as a man grown, as tall as his father and walking with the confidence of a lord.

  There would be a proper feast later in a few months' time. The ravens had already been sent out, but traveling always takes a while, and Honeyholt had to prepare to host hundreds of noble guests. It would be a real headache to organize for future Adrianna, but right now, the Beesbury household was having a nice family dinner.

  Besides her joy at the reunion, Adrianna was excited for what Manrel would be making for dinner. He had been so creative lately, and Adrianna loved those newfangled little things he made called sandwiches. Sliced cucumber, butter, and a tangy white sauce pillowed between two slices of soft white bread. It was delicious, and they were small as her fingers so she didn’t feel like a glutton even after eating four of them. She had started requesting them to be brought up for her afternoon needlework gatherings and they were as much of a hit with her friends as she expected.

  Honeyholt, like any respectable castle, had a great hall. It was large enough to fit hundreds, with tapestries of flowers and beehives, colorfully painted walls, and enough candles to be as bright as the day. But the Beesbury family had gathered in the much smaller dining room nearer to the family residences in the keep.

  Adrianna entered the dining room last, as she had been held up by changing her dress after accidentally rushing over a bit of mud in her haste to hug Alan. Barret, Jeyne and Reylene were sitting on one side of the table, while Alan was next to Lytton who was at its head. Adrianna walked past her children, giving each one a peck on the cheek and a tussle of their hair. She stopped at Alan, and after he smiled and nodded, gave him a hug and a kiss on his forehead. Then she took her place next to Lytton, who reached a hand under the table which Adrianna took and interlaced her fingers.

  It was pleasant, just sitting at the table with her whole family again. The fireplace was lit, keeping the room comfortable, and Adrianna took the opportunity to look at her children. Alan was composed, sitting with a refined bearing. He had changed so much in six years, going from an awkward child to a confident man, but Adrianna could still see the boy she had raised in him.

  Reylene was trying to keep her back straight and head held high, obsessed with trying to be like the princesses in her stories. But Adrianna could tell she was getting tired, and it didn’t help that the two seated next to her were practically jumping up and down. Jeyne and Barret were visibly excited for dinner, and while that was just how Jeyne always was, Barret was usually more able to keep his emotions under control.

  “What has got you so excited?” she asked her littlest son. “You’re bouncing in your seat!”

  Barret tried to sit still at Adrianna’s words, composing himself like he was taught in his etiquette class. Adrianna was pleased to be reminded how, just because he normally acted as he wished, Barret was able to act right and proper when he had to. He spoke, before taking a second to remove the giddyness that had crept into his voice. “I’ve been planning- I spoke to Manrel about trying some new recipes. He’s been gathering the ingredients for weeks. Some of the smallfolk even managed to forage .”

  So that was what the deliveries were for. Adrianna had seen an expense for hiring smallfolk to forage in the woods in the books this morning. She had thought it just a means of giving charity to those who refused to take coin without working for it, but now it seemed Manrel had specific plans for what had been gathered.

  Wooden bowls and plates, sufficient enough for a small family meal, were set in front of them, and a thick piece of trencher bread was placed on top. Adrianna took the time to give her children a warm smile. The imminent arrival of the food had just made each one’s actions more extreme. Reylene tried to sit even straighter, accidentally arching her back in the process. Jeyne and Barret snapped their heads to the entrance and fidgeted in their seats, and Alan made sure his plate and cutlery were clean and in the right places in front of him.

  The first thing Adrianna noticed as the servants started bringing out the dishes was how each serving plate had a wooden cover shaped like a bell that gleamed with a beeswax finish. As they set them down and removed the covers, Adrianna noticed steam rising from each one. They were piping hot, instead of the usually lukewarm temperature that comes from having the kitchen be on the other side of the castle. It had originally been an entirely separate building, but Honeyholt had slowly expanded to encompass the entire top of the hill in one large structure.

  The second thing Adrianna noticed was how peculiar the food was. There was a dish of strings of what looked to be boiled dough that shined with their coating of buttery sauce, topped with herbs and cheese. Another bowl was full of a thick white stew that smelt faintly like a pleasant sea breeze and was served alongside a plate of white bread that had already been sliced, and a third had steaming-hot little white half-moons piled high.

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  At the center of the table was a large platter of fish and meat cuts, but they looked to have been coated in something and had a golden crust, almost like a pie. Alongside them were similarly golden brown little balls, and in the middle of all the meat was a collection of half a dozen little cups that held sauces of whites, browns, and yellows, smooth as running water, and lemon wedges.

  Even a familiar dish, like Manrel’s delicious honey roasted apples, were different. They had been sliced in little cubes and placed atop a bed of a thick, creamy yogurt and topped with chopped hazelnuts.

  It was almost too new for comfort, and Adrianna could see her husband and some of her children were thinking the same thing. Lytton had a slight frown, and Adrianna could tell he was thinking of having a servant bring Manrel out to explain. But she didn’t want to have the first family meal in a month be eaten cold. Besides, at a second glance it all looked so delicious.

  Adrianna took the first dish and placed a spoonful onto her plate, then passed it to her husband. The smell of butter and fresh herbs hit her immediately, and she had to resist the urge to grab it back as Lyton handed the bowl to Alan. She brought a forkful to her mouth and was overcome with a taste and texture unlike anything she had experienced. Silky, rich, fresh, it felt like she was eating food from the old stories of the Gardner kings.

  She finished the small portion she had taken, and regretted not piling it high upon her trencher. But Adrianna always made sure to learn from her mistakes, and took a great deal from the next dish she grabbed. She filled up her bowl almost to the brim with the thick, creamy soup. It had diced carrots, celery, herbs, and bits of what Adrianna realized were clams! Adrianna hadn’t eaten much clams before, or really any seafood other than fish. They were usually left to the smallfolk, with many highborn calling them the insects of the sea. It was a bit improper to serve them at a castle table.

  But she trusted Marnel, so she tasted a spoonful. It was an explosion of flavor, thick and hearty, with a hint of the ocean. Bits of vegetable, clam, and pork occasionally found their way into her spoon, and Adrianna wasn’t complaining. It was so good, Adrianna took a bit of the white bread and scrapped up every last drop of the liquid.

  The rest of the meal was a parade of delights. The little half-moons were more of that boiled dough, but this time filled with a meat mixture that was so juicy it burst when you bit into it. The meat and fish cuts had been coated in something like breadcrumbs and fried in oil so that they were crispy yet without any burnt bits. The sauces were tangy and savory and sweet, with the lemon cutting through the heaviness of the fried food. As the family ate, servants came around with pitchers. Wine for Adrianna, Lytton and Alan, small mead for the children.

  After her plate of what the servant she had asked called a honey roasted apple parfait, Adrianna was finished. She perhaps could have eaten a bit more, but her mother had taught her the value of a controllable appetite. Besides, it gave her more time to watch her family.

  Barret and Jeyne were filling up their plates, eating more than anyone else at the table despite their small size. Rylene, obsessed as she was with etiquette and looking like a fairytale princess, only took small portions, but she kept going back for more, and her smile was genuine.

  But Alan was already finished. He had taken a small bit of each dish, tried it, and hadn’t had any more. Adrianna couldn’t imagine anyone disliking the food, but maybe Alan had gotten used to the cuisine of Oldtown. She would have to ask him about his experiences later.

  Adrianna didn’t have to wait long till everyone was finished eating, and in less than half an hour Lytton stood up. “I have something I must attend to before the sun sets, but let us all gather her tonight to listen to my son’s adventures in Oldtown.”

  “Father,” Alan said, “May I speak with you about something?”

  Lytton nodded and waved a hand. “Walk with me. We can talk in my solar.”

  The two of them left the dining room, but not before Lytton gave a smile and pat on the shoulder to his three children still sitting. Adrianna watched Barret help Jeyne get out of her chair as servants started to clear the table, and Adrianna was proud to see none of her children had eaten their trencher bread. The slices, soaked in juices and sauce, were going to be sent to the kitchen for the servants to eat, and it was the height of gluttony to eat your own trencher bread.

  She made sure her younger children were going where they were supposed to go, which was to their lessons, before starting the climb up to her husband’s solar. She had to speak to him about House Beesbury’s treasury, which had been dropping as of late. As Lady Beesbury, she had the responsibility of managing the house, and while she trusted Lytton had a good reason for spending gold like he was a Lannister, Adrianna still wanted to be sure.

  As she approached her husband’s solar, Adrianna heard voices faintly through the thick wooden doors. Her son seemed to be yelling. “... he’s not acting like a noble!”

  Lytton’s response was outwardly calm, although Adrianna could sense the tense tone hidden in his voice. “Barret is perfectly acceptable. He is advancing in his studies and is kind and just.”

  A thud created the image in Adrianna’s mind of Alan slamming his hands on Lytton’s desk. “Father, there were many learned and honest people in the Citadel, but they are not lords. What sets us apart is our honor. Barret is learning nothing of the meaning of duty, running around with smallfolk children!”

  There was a period of silence, before Lytton sighed and spoke. “After you were gone, me and your mother did dote on him a bit… Okay, I will see about giving him some more duties. Perhaps squiring in a few years time. But as long as I am Lord of Honeyholt, Barret is staying here. I can’t bear sending him away.”

  “That will help, but you must do more. You cannot keep him safe from the world forever. Eventually, he will have to grow up.” After speaking, the solar doors swung open as Alan walked out. He stopped at seeing his mother, but moved past her with a nod of his head. Adrianna stepped into her husband’s solar while looking back at her son’s back. “Alan sounded… passionate.”

  Lytton sighed and put a hand on his head. “He wants Barret to be sent to another house like he was. A fostering or squiring.” He raised a hand before Adrianna could speak. “I already said no. He will squire with one of my knights, but I won’t send him far away.”

  Adrianna leaned over the desk. “You are a good father,” she whispered in his ear, “and a good husband.”

  Then, she leaned back and regained the airs of a highborn lady. “But right now, you need to be a good lord. There is work to be done.”

  Lytton was stunned for a second, before smiling. “Twenty years and you can still… nevermind. You are right, let us get to work.”

  As he brought out a sheaf of paper, Adrianna thought about her children. She had one desire above all else. I hope they will get along.