Somewhat Unexpected
Six times. Six times in the last twenty minutes. Six times at least that Joseph Molesley had been away with the fairies while Phyllis Baxter had tried to talk to him.
She was starting to think he would rather be somewhere else. After the sixth time she had to get his attention, she was starting to think SHE would rather be somewhere else.
"Joseph? What do you think?"
"What? Think? I wasn't thinking. What?" He blinked like an owl caught in torchlight, and Phyllis would have laughed if she hadn't been ready to throw something at him.
"Well, that's about enough of this," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
Joseph shook himself and was a bit alarmed, to see her looking both hurt and annoyed. While not the most experienced of men, he was aware that this could not possibly be a good combination.
"I'm sorry," he said, not entirely certain what he was apologizing for, but assuming that it would be for the best if he did.
Phyllis sighed and contemplated the strange afternoon she had just had. Joseph had seemed happy that their half days coincided, but had been unable to hold a conversation to save his life. Mystifying.
Phyllis gave up on it. "Well, it's early yet, but I think it's time we—"
"Get married."
She stopped, stood in the middle of the path with her mouth open. Joseph was frozen in shocked disbelief of what had finally come out of his mouth.
"I…I was going to say it was time to return to the Abbey," she stammered breathlessly. "That was…somewhat unexpected."
"It was, wasn't it," he mused.
"I don't know what to say."
"That's how I've felt all day," he snorted.
She blinked at him, then laughed out loud.
"Alright, then. Why not."