[Primrose Bolger]

Ferdy had only a moment to stay before he had to go back to work. He’d given her the bouquet of lupine and witch-hazel and they’d had a cup of cider together . . . all under the watchful eye of Granny Oldbuck. Ginger could tell he was wanting to ask her something but he hemmed and hawed until the very last moment as he got up to leave.

‘Well, of course, I’ll go to the Spring Fair with you,’ she said laughing as he mumbled the request quickly toward her. Before he was even out the door she was planning the new skirt and blouse she would make to wear.

Tucking one of the small sprigs of witch-hazel in her coppery hair, she poured a last cup of hot tea for Granny Oldbuck and went out to the common room to see if there were anything she might do. Preparations for supper were all done, and she had some time on her hands.

There were several new faces as she made her way between the tables. A Dwarf and a young Hobbit lass were engaged in conversation and the sharing of a generous platter of mushrooms.

And there in the corner sat another lass. ‘Not from around here,’ Ginger noted to herself, taking in the unfamiliar face. Bright sun from one of the Inn windows poured in, lighting up a section of the room. The Hobbit, though, she noted had settled herself in a gloomy corner of the Inn. She was smoking a pipe, her eyes darting about at the rest of those in the room, and all the while, she seemed to be nervously fingering the hem of her dark blue cloak.

‘What’s got the wind up her?’ Ginger wondered. She picked up a pitcher of cider and a mug and made her way back to the corner table, stopping every now and then along the way to top off other customers’ drinks.

‘Hello, there, Miss,’ Ginger said, placing the empty mug in front of the Hobbit. ‘Welcome to the Green Dragon. May I offer you some cider?’