A walk after lunch

[Ciarán Ringe]

"Neither can I," I said. "I'm always so impressed with such skill."

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"Shall we go in, see if they have any other impressive pieces?" I asked instead of ordering.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Absolutely,” I said, smiling. I moved to the door and held it open for her.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"Thank you," I murmured as I passed him, heading into the store. It was quite small and intimate feeling, and the shopkeeper greeted us from behind the counter. I smiled my greeting and then turned my attention to the glass surrounding us.

[Ciarán Ringe]

I returned the owners greeting with a smile before I looked around.

"I suddenly feel far too large and clumsy around all these breakable objects," I said quietly, chuckling low.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

His quip made me laugh softly. "And you don't even have skirts to worry about," I pointed out with a smile, drawing in my skirts even as I spoke. I made my way over to the vases, not in a rush as I wound my way through the glass-filled shelves. The multicoloured vase that Ciaran had pointed out was even more impressive up close.

Yet another one caught my eye, hidden from view of the window. It was a dusky rose with a swirl of crimson climbing the length. It was perfect. "Found it," I told Ciaran with a smile, indicating the beautiful piece of glass.

[Ciarán Ringe]

My attention had been taken by a glass horse, thinking how my mother would like it, when I heard Sophie’s voice. Moving to her side, I smiled at the vase she was admiring.

“It’s lovely,” I agreed.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"It will be perfect in my room under the window," I said with a satisfied voice. "I've been looking for something just right to put there. Our house... still feels like it belongs to someone else."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“You should definitely buy it then,” I said, giving her a smile.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"I will," I confirmed with a nod and a happy smile. "Did you find something as well?" I asked, realizing that I had pulled him away from something.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“I was just looking at a glass horse my mother would like,” I said with a shrug. “Nothing important.”

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I opened my mouth, and then changed what I was about to say. It was my experience that men preferred if you took them at face value. "Oh. Alright. Anything else that caught your eye?"

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Not really,” I said, curious about what she’d started to say. “Anything else you’d like to look at?”

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I shook my head with a smile, then carefully picked up the vase. "No, just this. I'll go have it wrapped up," I replied, wondering to myself if he would go back to the glass horse.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Excellent,” I said, smiling and nodding.

I looked at the vases on display again for a moment, my gaze flicking between the blood red one and the rainbow one. Such skill was amazing. Then I returned to the display where the horse was, thinking of my mother as I studied it.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

The shopkeeper wrapped the vase up for me, and I counted out the proper coin. When I returned to Ciaran, my new decorations was tucked carefully in my arm rather like a baby. He was looking at the horse again. "What is she like?" I asked softly.

[Ciarán Ringe]

I knew she was referring to my mother since I’d mentioned before how she would like this horse.

“She’s brilliant. She teaches linguistics at a college in Eisande. I know for certain she speaks seventeen languages fluently and can get by in at least a dozen more,” I answered softly, still a little lost in thought. “She’s kind and caring and has hair the color of fine honey that she always wears braided and wrapped in like a coronet on her head.”

[Sophie de Trevalion]

He was lost in thought, and his tongue was freer than it might have been otherwise. "She sounds wonderful," I replied in the same voice. "Do you not get on?"

[Ciarán Ringe]

“I am…” a disappointment? the thing that scares her more than anything else in the world? “Not what she wanted in a child,” I answered. I sighed softly and turned to Sophie, smiling. “Shall we shop some more or do you need to be getting home?”

[Sophie de Trevalion]

His eyes focused again as he answered, and I know longer knew if he spoke the truth or only one version of it. I supposed it was his secret to keep if it was a secret.

"I'm in no hurry, but why don't we wander in the direction of home?" I suggested, returning his smile.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Excellent plan,” I said, smiling as I fully returned to the charming man I’d been for her up to this point.

I stepped to the door and held it open for her. “After you,” I said with a little bow.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"Thank you monsieur," I said with a smile, my eyes twinkling as I stepped past him. He was quite the gentleman without being a complete dolt about it.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“You are very welcome, mademoiselle,” I replied, stepping out behind her and then offering her my arm with another smile.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I shifted my parcel to my other arm so that I could take the offered limb. "I could get used to this sort of treatment," I said with a soft laugh.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“I’d be more than happy to help you with that,” I said with a grin as I headed us across the street so we could return but see different stores as we did.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"Are you looking for an invitation to go out again?" I asked with an amused smile.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Do I seem the type of man to be so subtle?” I asked, still grinning.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"Yes," I replied with a laugh. "You do. And it's working."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Well, as long as it’s working,” I replied with a chuckle.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I laughed and shook my head. "Somehow I think that you're not one to try for something and then fail," I commented.