Tom was on a walk through town with Isis on a bright and cheerful day. He was supposed to meet up with Mary in the pub for a light snack before heading out to check up on some nearby farms, but poor Isis was simply whining to get outside and Tom didn't see the harm in a bit of exercise. She trotted along beside him as he walked into the pub, glancing around the smoky interior for Mary when she spotted her in a booth in the corner. Signaling at the server, he headed over towards Mary, a smile springing on his face at the sight of the noble lady sitting elegantly at a slightly gritty country pub.
"Tom!" She exclaimed happily as he slid into the booth beside her. The proper thing to do would be to pull up a chair, but he liked Mary's closeness and judging by the way she leaned towards him surreptitiously, she liked the proximity too. "I see you brought the dog." She patted Isis's head.
"I hoped you wouldn't mind."
"Of course not! Isis and I go way back, don't we darling?" Isis's tail pounded the ground in agreement. Tom cracked a smile and laid his arm across the back of the booth comfortably. Mary glanced up at him curiously, but was distracted as the bartender brought them their drinks. They clinked them together cheerfully before drinking and, winking, the bartender tossed Isis a small bit of chicken. Mary nestled closer to Tom under the cover of the cool darkness of the pub, the anonymity of the place and the liquor giving her a bit of bravery.
"What's on our checklist for today?" Her lips brushed his ear as if they were discussing state secrets.
"I thought we could wander about a few farms after we have a drink," he mumbled into her hair. "Would you like that?"
"I would, but let's make it a nice long drink." She said.
"I'd like that." Tom reached down for another gulp of his ale when all of a sudden, Isis surged up from under the table, spilling the mugs all over their shoes.
"What on earth?" He exclaimed, while Mary sighed resignedly.
"I forgot about this bit. Isis rather likes a drink now and then." And indeed, Isis was lapping up the liquid all over their feet.
Tom laughed. "At least it gets cleaned up. It's not bad for her, is it?"
"She's had worse." Mary commented. "But we shouldn't encourage her. I suppose we'll have to cut our visit short."
Tom paid the man for the broken mugs and they rushed out into the sunlight, walking closer then etiquette requested yet further they either truly wished.
"She's a good dog, though."
"I know. We can still have a nice walk, despite the interrupted drink."
"I never doubted it." Mary's hand curled around his arm and they headed out for a less-romantic, yet more sensible, tour of the farms.