The Bride: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #7

Chapter 6: A Meal to Remember

Ni Na paced back and forth in her sitting room. Waiting for a certain knock on her front door. Lord Lee Beom Sook, the owner of a pair of stunning jade green eyes, was about to arrive. With his mother in tow. And this ruffled young lady who was wearing a hole in the floor with her anxiety found her heart fluttering more with each passing moment. Why on earth had she decided to invite some strange – and wonderful – man to dinner?

She was already feeling mightily awkward, and he hadn't even arrived.

Oh, but he had!

For a knock sounded suddenly. She ceased moving and drew a deep breath. Trying to still her racing heart. A moment later, one of her servants led the distinguished gentleman and his mother into her sitting room.

"Lord Lee Beom Sook, Lady Lee," the man intoned deeply before bowing and exiting. To safer regions of the house.

Ni Na wished that she could flee with him. She turned her eyes on Lord Lee's mother. But before she could draw a breath to greet the woman, Lady Lee rushed forward. A delighted smile brightening her beautiful countenance.

"Oh, my dear! You must be Lord Choi's daughter. My! But you are beautiful!" She reached out and clasped Ni Na's hands. Completely discomfiting the young woman.

Ni Na glanced at Lord Lee Beom Sook, and he smiled charmingly at her. But he looked completely amused by his mother's open behavior.

The enthralled woman then turned towards her son. "This girl is not only brilliant, Beom Sook. She is quite lovely too."

Said girl acquired an instant sunburn from those flaming words. Ni Na cast her eyes at the floor and cleared her throat.

"Oh, my dear! Of course, I just embarrassed you to no end. I can assure you! I meant no harm! But you are indescribably lovely, and in my experience, young girls are rarely told when they are beautiful. And that is such a shame. Not that I would want you to become conceited. But the occasional compliment can do you only good," she added bracingly.

And teased a tiny snicker out of Ni Na.

Which completely pleased his mother all the more. "Ah, yes! That's it! Every woman should be a lady of good humor. And joyous countenance. I am, of course, Lady Lee. And I just wanted to thank you for your gracious invitation. To take pity on my lonely son. And see that he is well-fed. As you can clearly see," she glanced at Beom Sook, "the boy doesn't eat nearly enough."

Ni Na coughed to cover the chuckle escaping her lips as she turned to watch the woman now embarrass her slender son.

"Eomma, what has gotten into you? You promised not to embarrass me tonight," he rebuked her softly.

"If you're embarrassed to be thin, then you should eat something," the woman pointed out reasonably.

To which reply, he simply shook his head. With a rueful smile, he cast a glance at the girl who had caught his eye yesterday. "Do you see what I must endure every day?"

Ni Na's eyes widened perceptibly. "Do you visit a different girl each night? With your mother in tow?"

It was the older woman's turn to release a delightful titter. "Oh, my dear, I do believe you have met your match. In wits, at least."

He grimaced as he glanced from Ni Na to his mother.

"Hopefully, my company will not pale in comparison to all those other girls," Ni Na murmured demurely. But Beom Sook detected a twinkle in her eye, so he decided to play her game.

"Hmm. Well, that depends on how much of the conversation you devote to your needlepoint," he muttered, eyeing her carefully.

"Good gracious!" Ni Na burst out. "And I believed you when you said that you hardly spent any time around young ladies. Now it appears you know their character so well."