|
Ginger peeked in the window of the kitchen door. The room, or what she could see of it was dark, save for the banked glow from the fireplace, and the one small lamp Cook left lit on the drain board by the stone sink. It threw out a soft glow, guiding any thirsty person to the pitcher of water she left out near the stack of mugs. ‘Cook’s in bed already, she whispered to Ferdy, who’d seen her back safely to Inn. ‘Best I’d be getting in myself. There’s so much to finish before the party.’ She barely stifled a yawn, hiding it as she could behind her hand. ‘And besides, I’m quite tired really. That walk has just about done me in.’ She threw a quick smile at Ferdy. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, won’t I?’
She touched his arm lightly as she asked the question, wishing quite hard that he would say ‘yes’. He smiled back at her, a quite foolish grin, really, and said nothing. Just bent toward her straight away and planted a hasty kiss on her cheek. He stepped back then, giving her a little wave and strolled off with a light step. Ginger returned the wave, then closed and locked the kitchen door securely. She leaned back for a moment against the door, hugging her cloak tight about her. Shivering, but not from the cold night air.
The old tabby raised a sleepy eye at her, and mewed in an inquiring manner. ‘Just fine – no need to worry,’ Ginger whispered with a giggle; then, collecting herself she took off her cloak and hung it on one of the pegs by the door. With a light step herself, she made her way up the dark stairs to her little room. And it was not long before she found herself settling her head comfortably onto her pillow and falling deeply into pleasant dreams.
|