Location: Hemmerington
A few hours later, Thomas and the Korvalt boys returned to the Korvalt residence, several hours after they had originally planned to be back.Formendacil wrote:As the MacDouglasses left, Babs turned to Katha and Roberta.
"She's got a temper, that little Merina girl. Makes me wonder if Maeve's words didn't strike too close to home."
"Of course they struck too close," said Katha. "They were striking at Thomas."
"Ready for supper?" said Mistress Korvalt, as they arrived at the house. "It's still piping hot!"
The boys dug into their meal with gusto, famished. After the meal, the Korvalt boys helped their mother clean the kitchen, while Thomas was shooed out.
Finding Merina in the front of the sitting room fire, he joined her.
"How was tea?" he asked.
"Not bad," she said. "I didn't stay for supper."
"How did you like everybody?" asked Thomas.
"Katha, Roberta, and Babs were nice enough," said Merina, "but I can't say I cared too much for the MacDouglasses."
Thomas's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really... I've always found them to be charming, open people."
"Mrmm," said Merina. Thomas had no idea what emotion lay behind it, and thought it wiser to say nothing.
They were silent for a while.
"Thomas," said Merina. "Which do you prefer? Redheads or brunettes?"
Thomas's eyes widened, his jaw dropped, and he stuttered as he replied.
"Wha... what?"
"It's just a silly question that came up at tea," replied Merina.
"Oh," said Thomas.
"Well?" asked Merina. "Which is it? Redheads or brunettes?"
Thomas took a deep breath.
"Well..." he said. "I don't really judge a woman by her hair colour... but, I'd have to say that when I was younger, I did prefer redheads."
Merina's face hardened ever so slightly.
"And now?"
"Well," said Thomas, "there's this one girl I know, and the fact that she's got brown hair makes brunettes ever so much more appealling, if you know what I mean."
Merina gave him a wide smile, and stood up, noticeably more cheerful than when he had come into the room.
"Goodnight, Thomas," she said, "I think I'll be off to bed."
"Goodnight," said Thomas. "If I don't see you tomorrow, it's because I've gone off with Arvey to see this Fright Knight camp. The Korvalts can help if you need anything."
Merina nodded, and left the room.
Redheads and brunettes? Thomas shook his head at the things women talked about over tea. Unbidden, the thought of Maeve MacDouglas hovered in his mind, her bright red hair prominent. What that what this was about?
Thomas pushed away Maeve's image, and stood up. He needed some sleep, and this was no time to be thinking about Maeve. Maeve had always liked him, but he'd never really had a crush on her. Still, Merina didn't seem to know that.
Heading to bed, he decided to forget the whole matter. He was here to stop the Fright Knights, after all. Once that was done, he and Merina would be gone, and that would be it.