Lunch After Shopping: Jaime and Sabrina

[Sabrina de la Courcel (D)]

I chuckled a little at his words and ducked my gaze for a moment as I felt my cheeks flush; a compliment was a compliment no matter who it came from.
"Well, I can't say that its totally all my own doing. I have a talented staff that help. It would be very unbecoming of the Queen to look anything less then resplendent." I said with a grin as we reached the restuarant.

There was a man at the door then recognized me right away and opened it for me as he bowed, murmuring a 'your majesty' as he did. I entered first and smiled as I looked around; it was quiet at the moment but I was sure it would fill up when word got out that the Queen was having lunch there.

[James de Valois-Burgundy]

I laughed and nodded, "Sort of the way you are helping me, otherwise I would go about dressed like I was still on the front lines," I laughed as we entered the restaurant, the staff obviously recognizing Sabrina and guiding us to what the maitre'd termed "the best table in the house."

Once we were seated and given menus and left alone, I smiled at her and glanced down. "So, I wonder how soon there will be gossip about the Queen being out to lunch with the handsome new stranger to the City," I jested, though after saying it, I realized it probably wasn't too far from the truth.

[Sabrina de la Courcel (D)]

We were steated right away, the normal reaction to my presence as the entire place went into a frenzy at my appearance. When we were settled Jaime spoke of gossip, and though I smiled, I knew he wasn't far from the truth.
"I'm sure tongues will wag." I chuckled softly. "And usually it would upset me, but in this case I don't really care what they say. You're a good friend and I'm not interested in what other people have to say about it." I smiled warmly at him then, knowing it was true.

[James de Valois-Burgundy]

"I'm glad to hear that," I said, truly pleased that she considered me a friend as I considered her one. She probably had tons of people trying to be her 'friend', but as we had known each other long before she became Queen, I hoped that she knew that I valued that friendship for itself, not for the title she had acquired.

"So," I said, perusing the menu, "What are you in the mood for?"

[Sabrina de la Courcel (D)]

"I'm not sure." I replied as I looked over my own menu, but before I had a chance to really look over it, the maitre'd came over.

"Your Majesty, please...if I might?" He said as he bowed. "My chef is honored to be able to serve you this afternoon, and he would humbly request that you allow him to make a special meal not from the menu, for you and your special guest." He looked to Jaime and gave him a bow and a smile as well. I had to chuckle a little and looked to Jaime with a grin.

"Well what do you think?" I asked curiously. "Shall we be impetous and adventursome?" I chuckled.

[James de Valois-Burgundy]

I was surprised when the maitre'd came over, but then when I thought about it, I supposed I shouldn't have been. Why wouldn't Sabrina receive special treatment? I also noticed that the restaurant was starting to fill up and that people were surreptitiously eyeing us over their menus. Word did travel fast in the City!

I laughed at her question and set my menu down. "I think we should, why not? It's not every day one gets a meal specially prepared for them. Well, at least, I don't," I said, smiling across the table at her as the maitre'd took our menus.

[Sabrina de la Courcel (D)]

I laughed softly and shook my head a little before I leaned toward him, the maitre'd leaving us with a bobbed bow and went to the kitchen.
"Don't get used to it," I teased in a low voice as I leaned in. "I don't plan to share my good luck with you every day." I grinned a little and pulled back.
"You'll just have to earn your own name and live off of that."

[James de Valois-Burgundy]

I laughed, shaking my head. "Unless war comes to Terre d'Ange, I doubt that my name will carry much weight outside of military circles. And that's just as well, I would rather be unknown than make a name for myself that way."

[Sabrina de la Courcel (D)]

I chuckled, though some where in my stomach I had a sick feeling; I don't know what I would do if there were a war here.
"Well then," I said with a grin. "Lets just pray to Elua that it doesn't." I chuckled as the maitre'd brought out a bottle of chilled champagne and opened it to pour us each a glass. When our glasses were filled he once against departed and I picked up my glass.
"A toast perhaps?" I asked.

[James de Valois-Burgundy]

Even as I said the words, a shudder passed through me - war, in Terre d'Ange? No, we took the fight to the enemy, as I considered the wiser course of action.

I shook off the unpleasant thoughts, and the images that came with them, picking up my glass and raising it.

"A toast," I agreed, "to rekindling old friendships, and to forging new ones, and to peace in our time." I smiled at her and clinked my glass lightly against hers.

[Sabrina de la Courcel (D)]

I chuckled and nodded, tipping my glass forward to touch his before bringing it to my lips. As I drank, I couldn't help but watched Jaime over the rim of my glass; something in me was just oddly curious with him, who he was, what he had grown into.

When I finished my sip I put down my glass and smiled.
"How is your family?" I asked curiously.

[James de Valois-Burgundy]

"Oh, they are well," I said, smiling when I thought about them. "I have kept up with my sisters in letters, and I am hoping that I will get a chance to go see them, or perhaps they can visit me here. I am certain they would be beyond thrilled to come to the City."

Unlike Sabrina, I had a good relationship with my younger siblings, we adored each other and though I was overprotective, they did not seem to mind. "I miss them, actually," I confided with a small smile.

[Sabrina de la Courcel (D)]

I nodded and smiled as I listened, tilting my head a little as I did and took a sip of my drink before putting it down.
"They should come to court, it makes sense that they should be here." I suggested.

[James de Valois-Burgundy]

"I wonder if they would like to?" I mused aloud, imagining how nice it would be to seem them every day. "Perhaps I shall write home and see." I liked the idea, and my smile widened. "What a wonderful idea, Sabrina."

[Sabrina de la Courcel (D)]

I smiled gently.
"I'm glad you think so." I replied softly as the maitre'd returned with the first dish, a tarrine, and placed a plate in front of each of us before bowing out and I looked to Jaime.
"And your parents, how are they doing?"

[James de Valois-Burgundy]

"They are well, thank you. We are not overly close, but I suppose I miss them too." I said, leaning back as the food was placed before us. It smelled divine and I lifted my fork and prodded at it, grinning at Sabrina. "It looks like they've gone all out, this smells better than anything I've eaten in the last two or three decades!"