For the next two weeks, Perceval and Joan went on evening walks whenever Perceval did not have night patrol. Gawain begged for details, but Perceval said nothing more than he and Joan were having a lovely time.
And they were having a lovely time together. During their walks, they spoke of work, their families, their childhoods, and their interests. Perceval shared one story about how he and his patrol recently had a confrontation with some heavily-armed smugglers, and when he opened the rear gate to the smugglers’ cart, no less than fifty jugs of wine toppled out and smashed on the ground. Perceval shared that he thought Gawain might weep over the loss. Joan chuckled about the tale.
“Still, your work is so dangerous,” she said.
“The tavern …show more content…
“And there was that time those three squealing pigs wandered in and I had to chase them out with a broom.”
“See? Dangerous!”
Joan slapped Percival’s arm in jest, but he caught her hand and threaded his long fingers in between her more delicate ones. The strolled along, holding hands, and Perceval felt a rush of contentment. He did his best to hide his feelings from his companion. Meanwhile, Joan chatted about the one and only time she’d gone fishing.
“It was a horrible experience, I tell you,” she said, as they finished their walk and approached Joan’s cottage. “I went with my brother when I was seven and he was nine. And I caught a huge eel, the size of my arm! The thing writhed and terrified me, and I begged my brother to unhook it. Oh, and he unhooked it, all right.” Joan wrinkled her nose and shuddered. “He unhooked it and waved the creature in my face! I never went fishing again after …show more content…
The knight looked forward to a leisurely morning of fishing with his favorite person. Perceval dismounted and tied his horse to the fence post. Meanwhile, Joan exited her cottage wearing a tan traveling dress and her gray wrap – the morning was still cool, but that would change. As she walked up to Perceval, he chuckled.
“What, exactly, is so funny?” Joan inquired, a touch of both humor and irritation in her tone.
“I don’t think you’ve slept well. You look like a newborn babe!”
Joan narrowed her eyes. “Meaning…?”
Damn, Perceval’s joke hadn’t gone over well. “Just that you look a little tired. You know when babies are tired and they look a little puffy around the eyes?” He winced. Why had he made such a ridiculous observation? No woman wanted to hear she looked tired and puffy.
“As you know,” Joan huffed, “I have to keep later hours because of the tavern. So no, I did not get much sleep and yes, I am a touch cranky.” Yet at the end of her statement, she gave a small smile.
Perceval slapped his hand against his forehead. “I am so sorry. I never even considered
And they were having a lovely time together. During their walks, they spoke of work, their families, their childhoods, and their interests. Perceval shared one story about how he and his patrol recently had a confrontation with some heavily-armed smugglers, and when he opened the rear gate to the smugglers’ cart, no less than fifty jugs of wine toppled out and smashed on the ground. Perceval shared that he thought Gawain might weep over the loss. Joan chuckled about the tale.
“Still, your work is so dangerous,” she said.
“The tavern …show more content…
“And there was that time those three squealing pigs wandered in and I had to chase them out with a broom.”
“See? Dangerous!”
Joan slapped Percival’s arm in jest, but he caught her hand and threaded his long fingers in between her more delicate ones. The strolled along, holding hands, and Perceval felt a rush of contentment. He did his best to hide his feelings from his companion. Meanwhile, Joan chatted about the one and only time she’d gone fishing.
“It was a horrible experience, I tell you,” she said, as they finished their walk and approached Joan’s cottage. “I went with my brother when I was seven and he was nine. And I caught a huge eel, the size of my arm! The thing writhed and terrified me, and I begged my brother to unhook it. Oh, and he unhooked it, all right.” Joan wrinkled her nose and shuddered. “He unhooked it and waved the creature in my face! I never went fishing again after …show more content…
The knight looked forward to a leisurely morning of fishing with his favorite person. Perceval dismounted and tied his horse to the fence post. Meanwhile, Joan exited her cottage wearing a tan traveling dress and her gray wrap – the morning was still cool, but that would change. As she walked up to Perceval, he chuckled.
“What, exactly, is so funny?” Joan inquired, a touch of both humor and irritation in her tone.
“I don’t think you’ve slept well. You look like a newborn babe!”
Joan narrowed her eyes. “Meaning…?”
Damn, Perceval’s joke hadn’t gone over well. “Just that you look a little tired. You know when babies are tired and they look a little puffy around the eyes?” He winced. Why had he made such a ridiculous observation? No woman wanted to hear she looked tired and puffy.
“As you know,” Joan huffed, “I have to keep later hours because of the tavern. So no, I did not get much sleep and yes, I am a touch cranky.” Yet at the end of her statement, she gave a small smile.
Perceval slapped his hand against his forehead. “I am so sorry. I never even considered