Have begun Ch.2 of my little tale...
2.
Sophie gawked as the exquisite, blonde creature that had appeared out of thin air just seconds before flounced over to them. Her eyes were only for Howl; it was if Sophie wasn't standing there, holding his arm.
"Oh Howl, it's so good to see you!" she beamed up at him confidently.
"R-Rebecca." Howl stuttered out of his trance. Sophie turned to him.
"Rebecca?" she whispered to him in confusion before the subject of her query closed the final distance between them. She gave a cute little curtsy, staring up adoringly at Howl.
"What's this, are you not even going to kiss my hand, Sir Jenkins?" Her lashes fluttered flirtatiously as she fanned herself with a gloved hand.
"Ah…" Howl started, but she interrupted.
"It's been so long since I saw you last in Kingsbury, I was beginning to think you were avoiding me!" She giggled and squeezed his other arm.
"Sometimes you are just so horribly taciturn Howl, I don't know why I even bother with you." She winked and looked down at Sophie for the first time since arriving.
"Isn't he just devilish? And you are, dearie?" Sophie stiffened her spine and looked to Howl for his answer. His eyes darted back and forth between the two women – one clinging almost drunkenly to his arm, the other with slight, tentative fingers lightly resting upon his lowered hand.
"She's...she's only my…"
"Your what?" Sophie interjected, stepping away and glaring at him fiercely, willing him to finish the sentence. When he didn't, she continued, hurt.
"Your cleaning lady?"
"No!" Howl quickly replied, while Rebecca gasped in apparent surprise.
"My, Howl, you are quite the charmer – even your housekeeper is kept wrapped around your little finger!"
Howl shot her an annoyed look when suddenly another girlish voice trilled from across the square.
"Howl Pendragon! Is that truly Howl Pendragon?" People moved quickly aside as another young woman, this time a brunette, came rushing forward to meet them. She was just as beautiful as Rebecca, and her clothing even more lavish. She shoved Sophie out of the way as she approached and grasped Howl's hand as if she were drowning and he her one hope of rescue.
"Oh, Howl, its Cordelia! You don't know how long I've waited to see you again! I'm so terribly sorry about the way things ended, and I've been nothing but longing to speak with you about us…"
Sophie's face grew red as she was looked up and down by the small crowd that had formed around the loud trio. She crossed her arms self-consciously.
"Excuse me!" Rebecca interrupted Cordelia's speech to grip Howl closer, "I do believe you are mistaken. Mr. Jenkins is the man's name, and I am the only female with which he is intimately acquainted. So perhaps you should leave us and search for your mysterious Mr. Pendragon elsewhere." she sneered.
"I know Howl Pendragonwhen I see him, thank you very much!" Cordelia practically snarled and yanked Howl up against her side.
Howl's voice calling "Ladies, ladies…" was drowned out as the two cats unleashed their verbal claws and began bickering over who knew him better and who had seen him first. The crowd of townspeople chuckled, imminently entertained by the squabbling love triangle unfolding before them. Howl caught only a glimpse of yellow as Sophie shoved her way through the mass of bodies and disappeared into the shadows.