Nearly Headless Nick's Story
Chapter 5
Leila huffed back to the inn to explain to Mafilda that there would be no milk today on account of that jerk, Sir What's-his-face.
As she slammed the back door to the kitchen, Mafilda poked her head around a corner.
Mafilda Jacovich was a smiling woman in her early 50s. She had masses of greyish brown curls a large build, and enough bad recipes and advice to last a lifetime.
"Hello dear," she started in a warm cheery voice, then her eyes dropped to Leila's empty hands, "Dear, what's the point of a milkmaid that doesn't bring in the milk?" she started to turn back to the stove where she had a pot of slightly greenish oatmeal bubbling, then turned back.
"Honey those knights arrived last night, did you know?"
Leila blushed a deep scarlet.
"Yes I know Miss Mafilda, do you think I sit around with my head stuck in a hole all day?"
Mafilda smiled softly at the young women who seemed to be inflating with anger as she stood there.
"Well yes if you call this inn a hole," she started on her oatmeal again.
"Most do," said Leila turning to go up the stairs.
"Leila!"
Leila turned back.
Mafilda was standing, holding the spoon she had been stirring the oatmeal with, and brandishing it like a dagger.
"Dear heart, what's the matter? You aren't yourself this morning."
Leila sighed.
"One of those knight men came to talk to me this morning," she sighed.
"Oh who?" Mafilda was interested.
"No idea, Sir Bob or something.." Leila was worried at the smile toying at Mafilda's lips.
"Did he say anything?"
"He tried," Leila said stiffly.
"Did you say anything?"
"Oh course not! I thought you knew me better Miss Mafilda!" Leila fumed. She picked up a dishrag and began to dry the several near ruined pans Mafilda had soiled in her earlier attempts at oatmeal.
"Leila, I know better than you know yourself and at your age-"
"Miss Mafilda, are you saying I should go for some.some.some common masher because of my age? I have my standards where men are concerned! And I have no intention-"
"I know all about your standards and if you don't mind my saying so there's not a man alive who could hope to live up to them! What are you waiting for?"
"I'm just waiting for a decent, honest, hardworking man Miss Mafilda."
"Alright darling, alright, but it's a fact that if you keep the flint in one drawer and the steel in another, you'll never strike much of a fire."
Furious, Leila turned to speak, only to see Mafilda wink, then round the corner with a pan.
Leila threw down her dishrag in disgust.
Chapter 5
Leila huffed back to the inn to explain to Mafilda that there would be no milk today on account of that jerk, Sir What's-his-face.
As she slammed the back door to the kitchen, Mafilda poked her head around a corner.
Mafilda Jacovich was a smiling woman in her early 50s. She had masses of greyish brown curls a large build, and enough bad recipes and advice to last a lifetime.
"Hello dear," she started in a warm cheery voice, then her eyes dropped to Leila's empty hands, "Dear, what's the point of a milkmaid that doesn't bring in the milk?" she started to turn back to the stove where she had a pot of slightly greenish oatmeal bubbling, then turned back.
"Honey those knights arrived last night, did you know?"
Leila blushed a deep scarlet.
"Yes I know Miss Mafilda, do you think I sit around with my head stuck in a hole all day?"
Mafilda smiled softly at the young women who seemed to be inflating with anger as she stood there.
"Well yes if you call this inn a hole," she started on her oatmeal again.
"Most do," said Leila turning to go up the stairs.
"Leila!"
Leila turned back.
Mafilda was standing, holding the spoon she had been stirring the oatmeal with, and brandishing it like a dagger.
"Dear heart, what's the matter? You aren't yourself this morning."
Leila sighed.
"One of those knight men came to talk to me this morning," she sighed.
"Oh who?" Mafilda was interested.
"No idea, Sir Bob or something.." Leila was worried at the smile toying at Mafilda's lips.
"Did he say anything?"
"He tried," Leila said stiffly.
"Did you say anything?"
"Oh course not! I thought you knew me better Miss Mafilda!" Leila fumed. She picked up a dishrag and began to dry the several near ruined pans Mafilda had soiled in her earlier attempts at oatmeal.
"Leila, I know better than you know yourself and at your age-"
"Miss Mafilda, are you saying I should go for some.some.some common masher because of my age? I have my standards where men are concerned! And I have no intention-"
"I know all about your standards and if you don't mind my saying so there's not a man alive who could hope to live up to them! What are you waiting for?"
"I'm just waiting for a decent, honest, hardworking man Miss Mafilda."
"Alright darling, alright, but it's a fact that if you keep the flint in one drawer and the steel in another, you'll never strike much of a fire."
Furious, Leila turned to speak, only to see Mafilda wink, then round the corner with a pan.
Leila threw down her dishrag in disgust.
