I would have updated a whole bunch sooner, but is acting totally not cool at the present moment, so yeah.

GO A'S FOR THE PENNANT RACE!

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No sign of Jack and four dances later, I was between a rock and a hard place.

Joseph was inching me toward the door, hinting toward a little walk in the moonlight, even though the stars were covered with the wooly clouds.

"Genny, would you mind accompanying me on a walk outside in the starlight?" he finally asked.

Words bubbled to my mouth that would have come out something like 'I'd love to, but I'm afraid you're going to try and do something inappropriate…' and I checked them, realizing how stupid that would be to say that to him…It was entirely childish, and there was no reason to fear Joseph, I mean really, how far could he go in the freezing cold snow?

"I would be honored." I said, looking down at the floor.

But didn't it seem like he was rushing things? After one reel he was calling me by the name used by only close friends, something he is not, and now was asking to walk with me? It would be scandalous in the City, but seeing as the two dance rule was out of the question here, maybe this was normal.

"Genny, I've been looking for you all over!" a familiar voice rang out, and I felt a wave of relief come over me. Jack finally showed up.

"Yes?" I asked, much obliged to have him next to me. If anyone could gently point me in the right direction besides Gramma, it was Jack.

"Joseph, if you don't mind…I'd like to have a word with Mistress Kay." He said pointedly, and Joseph let go of my arm.

Jack herded me to the opposite corner of the barn before he spoke.

"Genny, as a…friend…I have to ask you why on God's green (at the moment white) earth you were going out for a walk with Master Joseph?" He demanded, and I felt that horrible I'm-being-scolded feeling that made me want to run and hide until he wasn't mad anymore.

"Because…he asked…" I said like the cowardly little girl I am.

"Genny, why though? Why did you agree?" he asked, noticing that my eyes were a little misty, the way they always got when I was being told off.

"Because, I don't know…I thought it was the right thing, I mean, it was just going to be a walk." I said, and he shook his head, and I knew that it hadn't been proper at all, and that I was probably thought to be fast and terribly desperate.

"I shouldn't have agreed…" my voice quavered, threatening to break in its high octave.

"No, you shouldn't have." Jack agreed, and we were silent, him looking at something above my head, which reached only to the bridge of his nose, while I tried hard as I could to retain the shameful tears that threatened to overflow, and to try to keep mire from sliding to the aperture of my nose.

"Jack…I'm sorry. I…I didn't realize that it was…wrong." I apologized at last, and he matched his gaze with mine, our eyes locking. I felt a cold shiver down my spine and my insides start up that blasted Virginia Reel.

"You should have known that it's not proper for a lady to go unescorted with a gentleman outside for a stroll; especially not one who you met only minutes prior." He said, breaking the visual connection.

I looked down, fiddling with some fabric, feeling the soft cotton between my gloved fingers.

Behind me, a bright Gigue started up, and the swish of ladies petticoats seemed to act as an accompaniment to the orchestra.

"Well, Genny, care to dance again?" he said offhandedly, and I looked up at him in surprise.

"That was sudden." I said bluntly, and he grinned.

"Better to keep you away from Joseph and his outdoor walks."

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Oh Mylanta, that was the shortest chapter ever conceived by man…or woman, for that matter.

I know, I'm an evil authoress by vowing a super long chapter for you to savor, and you get this little tiny one.

I'm sorry, but the next one should maybe up your enthusiasm about reading more romance between Miss Lolly and Mister Jack.

Actually Genny and Jack, because Lolly is a distant memory of a girl who never really existed except in the Twilight zone…

Sorry for the mad rant, I'm just trying to take up space and make this chapter appear to be a little longer, even though you probably only read the story, not the author's notes at the beginning and end of ever chapter…

Sad.

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