William woke rather early the next morning to the sound of horse-drawn carts moving down the dusty roads of Amboise. Eager chattering could be heard from the craftsmen and townspeople as they headed toward the marketplace; they were keen to set up their wares and hopefully pull in a good bit of quid to feed their families.
He reluctantly rolled off of the soft feather mattress and made his way down into the common room, where he found Kate and Christiana had already awakened and started on breakfast. They greeted him, and Will wandered to the window, trying not to be too obvious about listening in on their conversation.
"It will be nice to have a great proper breakfast for a change," sighed Kate as she turned a pan heaped with fresh eggs.
"That, and to have a nice walk about the fair. Not having to deal with mad horses or the like for just these few days." Christiana and Kate finished their tasks and set the food onto the table. Will hesitated, as none of his other mates had come looking for their breakfasts yet. Christiana noted this as well, and started up the staircase.
"Go ahead and tuck in, you two, before it all gets cold. I'll wake the boys." And with that, she disappeared. Kate waited not even a half-second before sitting down on one of the table's benches and piling her plate high. Will chose the seat next to her and followed her lead. They ate in silence for a few moments.
"Looking forward to a leisurely day wandering about town, are you?" he asked as he reached across her for a platter of sausages.
Kate glanced over at him with an incredulous stare. "Of course I am," she said. "After all, Christiana and I can only take so much wandering about the wilderness with you lot. We've got to indulge our more girly sides when offered the chance."
William shot her a saucy glance. "Since when do you have a girly side?" He poked her lightly in the ribs, then ducked as she flung her fork at him.
"I am still a woman, in case you blokes haven't noticed." She smirked at him, but her eyes widened when she heard his reply.
"Don't worry: it certainly hasn't escaped my attention." Seeing her startled expression, Will had to fight the sudden urge to laugh aloud. Not tearing his eyes ways from hers, he slowly leaned closer to Kate. Just a few more inches…
A loud crash from the upper story, punctuated by Wat's loud cry of "Bloody hell! What was that for?" caused Kate to quickly stand and move away from William. She collected her now-empty plate and started tidying up. Seconds later, the other four members of their troupe stormed into the room.
Will made half-hearted attempts at conversation with his companions, but much like last night in the pub, he found his eyes consistently drawn to Kate. For her part, she never met his eyes, and seemed to be acting overly cheerful. He could see how grateful she was when Christiana dragged her off to "freshen up before the fair". Wat seized this opportunity to wander back to his still-warm bed and get some more sleep; Chaucer also left, claiming that the Muses had just descended upon him and provided an idea for his new book, leaving only Roland and Will to accompany the ladies on their day of frivolousness.
It seemed as though the two men waited for hours, and Roland thrice called up the stairs to see if the ladies were ready. When they did finally deign to return to their escorts, William was struck silent. He could not recall ever glimpsing Kate dressed as she was now.
Though her frock was simple and relatively free from adornments, its elegant cut and deep emerald colour accentuated Kate's fair features and lithe figure. Her raven hair had been swept up into an elaborate coif. She peered shyly at him, tentatively holding his gaze, and William's mouth went dry. Next to Christiana, who was quite lovely in her own right, Kate could certainly hold her own. William felt a sudden flash of paranoia sweep through him; he was afraid to take her into public when she looked so lovely, even though she would be attached to his own arm at all times. What if some other bloke spotted her beauty from afar and tried to claim her from William?
Stifling his jealousy - at least for this moment - Will raised an eyebrow at Kate and offered his right arm to her. Kate stepped up to his side and grasped it lightly, and they followed a smirking Christiana and a very perplexed Roland out into the city square.
***
He reluctantly rolled off of the soft feather mattress and made his way down into the common room, where he found Kate and Christiana had already awakened and started on breakfast. They greeted him, and Will wandered to the window, trying not to be too obvious about listening in on their conversation.
"It will be nice to have a great proper breakfast for a change," sighed Kate as she turned a pan heaped with fresh eggs.
"That, and to have a nice walk about the fair. Not having to deal with mad horses or the like for just these few days." Christiana and Kate finished their tasks and set the food onto the table. Will hesitated, as none of his other mates had come looking for their breakfasts yet. Christiana noted this as well, and started up the staircase.
"Go ahead and tuck in, you two, before it all gets cold. I'll wake the boys." And with that, she disappeared. Kate waited not even a half-second before sitting down on one of the table's benches and piling her plate high. Will chose the seat next to her and followed her lead. They ate in silence for a few moments.
"Looking forward to a leisurely day wandering about town, are you?" he asked as he reached across her for a platter of sausages.
Kate glanced over at him with an incredulous stare. "Of course I am," she said. "After all, Christiana and I can only take so much wandering about the wilderness with you lot. We've got to indulge our more girly sides when offered the chance."
William shot her a saucy glance. "Since when do you have a girly side?" He poked her lightly in the ribs, then ducked as she flung her fork at him.
"I am still a woman, in case you blokes haven't noticed." She smirked at him, but her eyes widened when she heard his reply.
"Don't worry: it certainly hasn't escaped my attention." Seeing her startled expression, Will had to fight the sudden urge to laugh aloud. Not tearing his eyes ways from hers, he slowly leaned closer to Kate. Just a few more inches…
A loud crash from the upper story, punctuated by Wat's loud cry of "Bloody hell! What was that for?" caused Kate to quickly stand and move away from William. She collected her now-empty plate and started tidying up. Seconds later, the other four members of their troupe stormed into the room.
Will made half-hearted attempts at conversation with his companions, but much like last night in the pub, he found his eyes consistently drawn to Kate. For her part, she never met his eyes, and seemed to be acting overly cheerful. He could see how grateful she was when Christiana dragged her off to "freshen up before the fair". Wat seized this opportunity to wander back to his still-warm bed and get some more sleep; Chaucer also left, claiming that the Muses had just descended upon him and provided an idea for his new book, leaving only Roland and Will to accompany the ladies on their day of frivolousness.
It seemed as though the two men waited for hours, and Roland thrice called up the stairs to see if the ladies were ready. When they did finally deign to return to their escorts, William was struck silent. He could not recall ever glimpsing Kate dressed as she was now.
Though her frock was simple and relatively free from adornments, its elegant cut and deep emerald colour accentuated Kate's fair features and lithe figure. Her raven hair had been swept up into an elaborate coif. She peered shyly at him, tentatively holding his gaze, and William's mouth went dry. Next to Christiana, who was quite lovely in her own right, Kate could certainly hold her own. William felt a sudden flash of paranoia sweep through him; he was afraid to take her into public when she looked so lovely, even though she would be attached to his own arm at all times. What if some other bloke spotted her beauty from afar and tried to claim her from William?
Stifling his jealousy - at least for this moment - Will raised an eyebrow at Kate and offered his right arm to her. Kate stepped up to his side and grasped it lightly, and they followed a smirking Christiana and a very perplexed Roland out into the city square.
***