Hey sorry about the delay, uni takes alot out of you including your will to live... anyways enjoy maybe


It wasn't every day that you got a bit of time to yourself to do what ever you wanted and Tanith was going to make the most of it. She'd dressed up, to the best of her ability, tamed her blonde curls as much as possible and had proceeded to even put a bit of rouge on her cheeks. In her opinion she looked fabulous but would a certain someone feel the same.

Ghastly Bespoke was a hard person to impress, his stony demeanour was always difficult to break through and he rarely expressed his emotions to anyone, anyone that is except Skulduggery.

Tanith frowned, she was jealous of the friendship between Skulduggery and Ghastly; she'd never had a best friend despite longing for one desperately. The person who came close to being her best friend was Finbar, but that didn't really count did it, Tanith thought as she starred at her self in the looking glass. Whilst she and Finbar had grown up together and shared everything it wasn't the same as having a best friend, Finbar was family.

Tanith was suddenly overcome with giddiness and twirled watching as her dress rose up to float around her legs. It was black, she loved wearing black clothing, it was one of her best dresses, and probably one of her only dresses. If things went well she might have to purchase some more.

The material hugged her upper body and showed off enough of her waist to still be considered modest.

The skirt reached down to mid calf and the rest of her legs were appropriately covered with her stockings and buttoned shoes.

Tanith felt pretty for the first time in her life. She turned towards the door and opened it. Ghastly had agreed to accompany her today on a walk through the park.

She walked out into the corridor and turned to lock her room before starting off down the corridor to Ghastly's, reaching the door she took a deep breath knocked and exhaled.

It opened and standing there with scars covering his face and arms was Ghastly bespoke.

"Ghastly" she gulped, " I mean, Mr bespoke."

"Tanith" he nodded in response.

"Ah, are you ready?" she gestured out into the corridor.

"Just give me a minute, I'll be out in a jiffy."

He turned back into the room and headed over to his bed where he bent to retrieve his tie and wrapped it round his neck.

He then stepped out into the corridor and closed his door offering his arm to Tanith.

Tanith linked her arm through his and off then went towards to stairs and down to the kitchen

The plan was to fill a basket with some food and then head to the park where they might find a spot by the river to eat for a little.

Mrs Kenspeckle was busy in the kitchen bustling round preparing things for lunch. Upon hearing their request for food she quickly put together a basket of chicken legs, bread, some cheese and a pieces of fruit.

"There you go my dears" she smiled slyly as she ushered them out the door and down to the street. "Oh one moment!" she called as she hurried back into the kitchen.

Tanith and Ghastly listened as they heard bottled and jars clanking against each other before Mrs Kenspeckles plump and kindly form reappeared.

"Here you go my lovely's." She brought forth a green bottle and winked tapping her nose. " To set the mood and loosen the tongue." She lifted up a flap of their basket and nestled the bottle in there. " Now mind you don't drink to much of it!" she called after them waving them down the street.

Tanith felt her cheeks redden, what on earth did she give us she thought surely not alcohol?

Ghastly and her walked about a block down to the park and proceeded to find a shady patch of grass beside the river. It was a lovely day. Young families were out, children running round. Little girls had their dresses tucked into their stockings and where chasing their brothers, climbing trees, edging down to the river bed in order to catch frogs or any number of slippery fish.

Men young and old were perched on the edge of the river their fishing rods gripped in one hand as they gestured and talked about anything from politics to the new barbershop that had opened in town.

Women were strolling leisurely their parasols clasped in their hands to block out the sun keeping one eye on their children whilst the other admired the stances and statures of their husbands.

Tanith watched them longingly, she'd never owned a parasol, had never really owned much in all honesty.

Her parents had been poor, very poor and in order to survive they'd offered Tanith over to Erskine. Whilst the living conditions in Erskine's Freak show weren't all that bad it did make it hard to go out and meet people. She moved her eyes to catch a glimpse of Ghastly. The sun was shining off his scars making them stand out to the extreme, the poor man she thought. There really wouldn't have been much hope for him to meet people outside of the Freak show. She sighed and he must have heard for his face turned towards hers. He cleared his throat.

"Shall we get started on the food?"

Tanith nodded and began taking out their supplies. They sat happily eating talking about the Freak show and their companions back at the house.

Eventually conversation turned to the relatively new arrival Fletcher.

"I really thought he was going to ask you if he could court you." Ghastly laughed taking a piece of cheese.

"Oh goodness no! I think he's definitely moved on now, Valkyrie seems to hve his full attention." Tanith chuckled.

"So that means you're free from suitors?" Ghastly asked reaching down for the green bottle and looking away.

"Ah, yes I believe so." Tanith said softly her cheeks growing red again.

"Good." He sated locking eyes with her. Tanith felt the air grow thick and her cheeks burn. She sat there the tension increasing as she stared at him sightly wide-eyed trying to discern what a comment like that could mean.

Ghastly broke the tension by looking down at the bottle and back to her smiling. "Dear Mrs Kenspeckle seems to have forgotten to give us glasses. Care for a sip?" he raised the bottle towards her. She took and removed the lid before tilting it back and feeling the liquid run down her throat.

It was Ale, it was sweet and slightly warm and it seemed to settle her nerves.

His comment surely hadn't meant anything in the slightest she said to herself sternly.

The rest of their picnic passed without incident and they had left when the children had begun to fling mud in every which way.

It was whilst they were on their way upstairs to deposit their basket and remainder of food in the kitchen that they literally ran into Valkyrie.

Her face was white with tears streaking down it; her dress was torn at the top of her sleeves exposing her elbow and the top of one breast. She was bare footed and stocking less.

Valkyrie was clearly distressed. Colliding with the two of them she gasped in a breath noticed Tanith and reach out to her. Tanith brought her arms around Valkyrie and began to hush her asking what was wrong as Valkyrie sobbed.

"Are you alright, Val? What's happened? Has someone hurt you?"

Valkyrie nodded slightly. Tanith furrowed her brow and looked to Ghastly for help. He shrugged and gestured helplessly.

"Who's hurt you sweeting? What happened? Was it Fletcher, did he try to compromise you?" Tanith whispered the last question.

"No," Valkyrie gasped. "It was Ravel."

Tanith looked up at Ghastly in shock. He stepped back and gestured upstairs.

"I'll fetch Skul" he called as he hurried off.


Review if you feel like it, hope this was okay!