Late Mardi Gras Night, Hallway Outside Room 203

[kitchen_maid]

Amy makes her way down the hallway, still in the trailing gown of amethyst-colored brocade, and the ropes of diamonds and amethysts, and that ridiculous and heavy for-very-best-occasions crown.

She is not looking especially Cheerful.

All she really wants to do is get to her room and change back into normal clothes.

Comments

[kitchen_maid]

"Simon Perryvall got a waistcoat and a pocket watch at All Hallows' Eve," says Amy. "It was all very confusing, but it didn't involve quite so much . . . excess," says Amy, without turning away from the tea.

And then she looks back over her shoulder at him. "I'm sure you look very dashing in ermine, Perry."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"It's impossible to be dashing in ermine," Perry says, realistically. "It's far too heavy, and much too warm. Not to mention the velvet and the crown."

He looks down at his (somewhat stained) doublet, and smiles.

[kitchen_maid]

"But perhaps it would be only fair," she says. "After all, you've now seen me at my absolute worst.

"How do you take your tea, Perry?"

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Cream and sugar, if you please," he says, coming over to where she is fixing the tea.

"And I shouldn't say 'worst', you know. Only different."

[kitchen_maid]

"Very different," she says, laughing and handing him a cup of tea.

"I'd forgotten how much I disliked dressing like that. It's been almost a year, after all."

She settles confortably into the window seat.

"And how are you this evening, Perry?"

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Doing well enough, kitchen maid," he says, sitting down beside her. "Despite the shock I received from seeing you dressed as a proper princess. And you?"

[kitchen_maid]

"Very well," she says, "now that I'm neither wearing a crown nor shocking friends. And I really am enjoying working with Dar. It's nice to have something to do. Other than embroider, you know."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"I'll have to come join you, some day soon," Perry says, sipping his tea. "I'd like to go for a ride, you know, if there is someone here who would not mind my borrowing their mount for a short while."

[kitchen_maid]

"I can ask Caspian easily enough," says Amy. "Or you can." In a very handwaved conversation, no doubt.

"And both Dar and I would welcome your company."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Then we shall have to arrange it," Perry says, firmly, and smiles so that his eyes crinkle.

"Will Dar be ready to ride soon, do you think?"

[kitchen_maid]

"I hope so," says Amy, "but not right away or anything. Mrs. Reynolds did a very good job with her, and she's very clever and cooperative, but we're still working on the bit and the bridle right now. Caspian thought by summer, or late spring, I think."

With long reins. Which they can't do for too long, because it's rather cold out.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"The weather will be much finer by then, any way," Perry agrees. "Will you leave her here, when we return, or bring her with you to Ambergeldar?"

[kitchen_maid]

"I don't know," says Amy, setting her teacup carefully on its saucer. "Kitchen maids don't usually keep horses, you know. And . . . well . . . It's all very complicated, isn't it?"

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Not particularly," Perry says. "Unless you're speaking of something other than stabling horses, in which case I have no idea what you might mean. I do know that there is plenty of room in the Royal Stables for Dar, if you'd like to keep her there."

[kitchen_maid]

"I suspect she'd get bored, you know," says Amy, "in between second Thursdays. She might be happier here."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"If you think so, I'm sure you're right."

Perry finishes his tea.

"But do remember that the offer remains open, my dear kitchen maid."

[kitchen_maid]

"I will, Perry. And thank you."

He gets a very sweet smile, fond and content.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

He smiles at her then, and leans forward to kiss her cheek, misses, kisses her nose instead, and laughs.

"I suppose I ought to let you recover from your evening as a princess, Amy."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy leans forward to kiss Perry's nose in turn, and grins.

"Probably. It may take rather a lot of recovery," she says, with a rather melodramtic sigh. "Besides, it's getting horridly late, isn't it?"

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Terribly so," he says, and manages to get her cheek this time, before standing.

"Good night, kitchen maid! Pleasant dreams."

[kitchen_maid]

"Good night, Perry," she says, walking with him as far as the door.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

She gets one more kiss, and another smile, and then Perry is walking down the hall, whistling.

"Lavender's blue," he whistles, "rosemary's green."