Phoebe was always up first. She slid stealthily out of the bed, disentangling herself from Sibella. Picking up her dark blue dressing gown from the floor, she tied the sash around her waist before quietly opening the curtains, allowing sunlight to fall onto the rug. Glancing out the window, she stopped suddenly, her eyes fixed on something perplexing.
From the window, the outskirts of London were visible, as well as the taller buildings in the city outline. But between Highhurst and London sat what appeared to be a circus. A circus which Phoebe was certain had not been there the previous day.
It seemed to Phoebe to be a peculiar circus. Rather than having one large tent in reds or golds, this circus evidently had many tents of varying sizes, contained within a circular fence. And instead of bright colours, every tent bore stripes of white and black.
She was so preoccupied with the sudden appearance of a mysterious circus that she did not notice Monty waking until he wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Good morning, my dear," he murmured, and she smiled, leaning back against him. "What's that?" he asked a moment later.
"It appears to be a circus," Phoebe replied.
"I saw no mention of a circus in the paper." Monty sounded as perplexed as Phoebe.
"Nor did I."
"Well, would you like an outing today?"
"I doubt Sibella would be willing, but I'd certainly be interested."
"We could always ask her." Monty let go of her and turned back towards the bed.
"No, it's too early!" whispered Phoebe frantically.
"It's alright," Monty chuckled at her.
He lay down carefully behind the blonde, snuggling close. Nuzzling his face into her neck affectionately, he brushed kisses against her throat. Sibella gave a sleepy smile and turned onto her back, eyes still closed. Tilting her head to the side, she encouraged him to continue giving his attention to her skin.
"Good morning, my love," he breathed against her neck.
"Mmm, good morning," she mumbled, smiling as he wrapped his arm around her bare waist.
"How would you feel," he asked, continuing to kiss at her neck. "About a trip to the circus?"
"Hmm?" Sibella made a questioning noise at him.
"We've discovered a circus between us and London," Phoebe explained from the window.
The blonde opened her eyes to look across at her, squinting slightly against the sunlight. "A circus?" she asked.
"Yes," Phoebe confirmed. "A circus with black and white stripes, and many tents."
"It wouldn't be my first choice of activity," Sibella said unenthusiastically. "But, if you insist."
Phoebe crossed back to the bed and leaned over to kiss Sibella happily. Deciding that she rather liked being back in bed, she settled close to Sibella, and the three stayed late in bed, all wrapped in each other's arms.