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

[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."