For the first time that day since before joining him at the altar, Verity froze for a moment. She had forcibly stopped herself from drinking the wine so that she wouldn't become inebriated and lose touch with her senses. The last time she had enjoyed more than a half glass of champagne she'd been taken from a ballroom. Even now, months later, she still remembered the dig of the wand at her side. She still remembered looking frantically for Noble as if he might somehow save her.

Was Everett hoping the wine would relax her for later? Or was he truly enjoying the meal and wishing to share with her? Verity blinked once to push herself back into reality, to remove the blank expression on her face and resume the easy meal they'd been sharing thus far. Her pause lasted but a second, easily missed if he wasn't paying her any attention. Merlin, she was going to have endure that all over again.

Raising her glass to her lips, Verity took a single sip and returned it to its place on the table. While he was right that it paired wonderfully with the meal, she was now too fearful to truly enjoy it. "You're right. They do go together amazingly. Their chef is certainly talented." She commented. Small talk would distract them both, she hoped. At the very least, it would be light enough that she would be able to focus on anything else but her now racing thoughts.

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