[Lilly]

Lilly was well aware of her Aunt’s scrutiny. Having just turned twenty-eight this last winter, she knew how the older women folk in her family were now looking about for likely prospects, that is suitors, for her, even though she wouldn’t come of age for five more years. Five more years – the proper start to the span in her life, or so her family tradition went, when a lass got married and settled down.

She shrugged her shoulders slightly at the thought, twitching off the idea of ‘settledness’. And as for suitors . . . she thanked her lucky stars she’d managed to keep the ones her own aunts and cousins and mother had thrown at her at bay. Surely there was more to life than a husband, a house, and babies to look after!

Lilly left the gawking Chubb cousins to the company of Rose and turned her eye on Fordogrim. ‘A party this evening should prove fun. And you mentioned dancing – do you like the Springle-ring?’ She smiled at him. ‘A vigorous looking fellow such as yourself should surely be able to keep up the pace of it. Yes?’