"You have?" Toby asked. He couldn't mask the curiosity in his voice.
Mrs. Lovett nodded, her cheeks reddening again. "Course I have," she muttered.
Toby came over to her and sat down at one of the already clean tables. "What was it like? Were you happy? Say," he said, his eyes widening, "Are you still in love?"
"Toby!" Mrs. Lovett gasped. "Good Lord, so nosy!"
Toby hung his head. Mrs. Lovett watched him for a few moments before sitting down beside him and ruffling his hair. "It was a while ago. I remember being very happy and very sad at the same time."
Toby looked up at her, his eyes full of confusion. "Happy and sad? Why, mum?"
She sighed. "I was sad because he didn't feel the same way as me. He was kind to me, though, and that made me happy. I was happy just to be close to him."
Toby was still confused. "But, mum—wasn't it your husband that you were in love with?"
Mrs. Lovett flushed. She looked nervous. "O-of course, Toby. Of course it was my husband."
"Then how could he have not felt the same way? Didn't he marry you 'cause he loved you?"
Mrs. Lovett looked at Toby sadly, the color fading slightly from her face. "People don't always marry for love, dearie."
Toby rested his head in his hands. "What IS love?" He asked again, exasperated.
Mrs. Lovett sighed. "Love is many things, Toby. You probably won't know what it is exactly until you feel it for yourself. I don't think I can define it for you."
"Could Mr. Todd? Could Mr. Todd tell me what it is?"
Mrs. Lovett froze. "Er….what?"
Toby grinned. "I'll ask Mr. Todd! I bet he'll have a good answer for me."
She just gaped at him.
He slid out of his chair and, without so much as a second thought, headed for the stairs.
"Wait, Toby!" Mrs. Lovett called after him. He didn't answer.
"Damn," Mrs. Lovett muttered. She gathered her skirts and followed him up to the barber shop, her heart fluttering nervously.
What had she done now?