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Bêthberry · 03-08-2005, 02:04 PM

Bethberry was exasperated by the ways of this strange, morose man. She had not expected him to be so picky about his room, but he was. That in itself increased her suspicion of him, although she did try to remind herself not to be too critical simply because he appeared to be a loner.

First she had chosen a room on the main floor, thinking that with his lame leg and limp he would not want to climb stairs. That room had not satisfied Alrik. He found fault with the blustery wind coming through a loose pane of glass in the window. He found fault with it being too far away from the main hall. The second room she showed him lacked a fireplace, being close to the huge chimney from the kitchen, that did not satisfy him either. The third room had its own fireplace and its window had been newly chinked to keep out the cold. Yet for nigh on to half an hour they had haggled over the price. Bethberry was ready to wish she had never agreed to show him a room, but something about the way he kept checking the paper in his pocket made her think that perhaps they had best keep a watch on him.

The rest of the morning she took up with balancing the ledger and talking with Frodides about the market order. That woman was a marvel, running the kitchen so well, with always fresh food and enough to satisfy many tastes. Then the light rain ruined the laundry and Bethberry had spent a good part of the afternoon helping the chambermaids carry linens and sheets upstairs and down from the spare linen closet. She had, in fact, been surprised late in the afternoon when she came upon Alrik just standing on the landing to his floor. What he had beendoing she could not imagine, and so at first chance she had spoken with Frodides' husband about him. Their second oldest boy was to keep an eye out on this strange man.

Finally, as afternoon wore on into early evening and supper time approached, Bethberry sat down by the fire in the Great Hall, a pot of tea in front of her, her eyes watching the street out the far window, to see if any strangers walked past the Horse. She waited for Ruthven to return, and became impatient wondering what tales Eowdwine and Falco would bring back from the Golden Hall.

03-08-2005, 02:04 PM	#398
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,979	Bethberry was exasperated by the ways of this strange, morose man. She had not expected him to be so picky about his room, but he was. That in itself increased her suspicion of him, although she did try to remind herself not to be too critical simply because he appeared to be a loner. First she had chosen a room on the main floor, thinking that with his lame leg and limp he would not want to climb stairs. That room had not satisfied Alrik. He found fault with the blustery wind coming through a loose pane of glass in the window. He found fault with it being too far away from the main hall. The second room she showed him lacked a fireplace, being close to the huge chimney from the kitchen, that did not satisfy him either. The third room had its own fireplace and its window had been newly chinked to keep out the cold. Yet for nigh on to half an hour they had haggled over the price. Bethberry was ready to wish she had never agreed to show him a room, but something about the way he kept checking the paper in his pocket made her think that perhaps they had best keep a watch on him. The rest of the morning she took up with balancing the ledger and talking with Frodides about the market order. That woman was a marvel, running the kitchen so well, with always fresh food and enough to satisfy many tastes. Then the light rain ruined the laundry and Bethberry had spent a good part of the afternoon helping the chambermaids carry linens and sheets upstairs and down from the spare linen closet. She had, in fact, been surprised late in the afternoon when she came upon Alrik just standing on the landing to his floor. What he had beendoing she could not imagine, and so at first chance she had spoken with Frodides' husband about him. Their second oldest boy was to keep an eye out on this strange man. Finally, as afternoon wore on into early evening and supper time approached, Bethberry sat down by the fire in the Great Hall, a pot of tea in front of her, her eyes watching the street out the far window, to see if any strangers walked past the Horse. She waited for Ruthven to return, and became impatient wondering what tales Eowdwine and Falco would bring back from the Golden Hall.