He Loves Mead

Gina looked at her feet. That was not how her plan played out in her head, but reality had a way of hitting her hard.

'You have given me your word, Gina. You must not breathe a word of this to anyone.' He said.

'I know. I shall not mention it to anyone, even in my sleep. But you have to call for me once the smoke with Ansley dies down.' She requested.

'I shall.' He hugged her and walked away.

'Your dress, it is soiled, Gina. Did you slip?' Missy asked.

It was already time for nonmete and Donna, Missy's mother had prepared her famous vanilla-flavored bread. It was the best around and she knew it. Although she hated to admit it, it was one of the things that attracted Benedict to her.

'It is?' Gina looked at her dress and saw a big spot of mud.

She knew it was going to be from all her fidgeting while trying to put her clothes back on earlier when she was with Richard.

'Settle down for the meal, I shall have someone take care of it later. Gina, you must understand, lunch is a very special time for us here.' Gina's uncle, Benedict said.

Although Benedict often got wasted seeking happiness at the bottom of every rum bottle, he could lay his hands on, he was still a good man at heart.

'I must apologize for not being here at the start, I got caught up.' Gina sat down beside Missy.

'And whatever is it that you got caught up in?' Benedict asked.

He did not look it, but he was a very thorough man who enjoyed seeking out details so much. He wanted to be involved in the life of everyone around him and he did not know a better way than to question everything they did.

That was something Gina could not run from because she was going to stay under his roof for at least two months. And two months could easily turn into a lifetime.

'My hair needed care and so I cared for it.' Gina said.

She was not lying. She had gone up to her room in the tavern to repair her hair after she met with Richard.

'Did you go to the tavern?' Benedict asked and Gina simply nodded.

'I shall have some men move your things from that room. You are family and so you should stay here with us, in the house. That way, you and Missy can get better acquainted.' Benedict smiled.

'I would love for that to become actuality but father, I need fewer shifts at the tavern then. The men there are even more disrespectful.' Missy said.

Missy was not one to complain so whenever she did, Benedict knew he had to look into the issue. After all, she was his only daughter and even though he wanted to instill hard work in her, he also wanted her to keep her dignity.

'You shall take as long as you desire away from the bar, Missy.' Benedict said.

'Shall we eat? I have been starving.' Marlow complained.

Marlow, Missy's brother hated the little chit-chat the family always had before a meal, but what he hated more, was when the chit-chat did not happen.

Benedict had created a tradition where the family talked for a while at the table before eating and the only time they did not talk was when there was something serious happening, or when there was a conflict between Benedict and any other member of the family.

'Hush now, Marlow. Let everyone discuss. And, Gina, your caller earlier today, who was he? I did not see flowers or biscuits.' Donna questioned.

That was the one topic Gina did not want to talk about because she had not prepared herself and she knew better than getting caught in a lie.

'I do not know the fellow, but he was nice to me. He spoke on how he wanted to know me before making a declaration.' As Gina spoke, she imagined it to be true.

She imagined Richard knocking on the door, seeking her and asking her to take a walk with him by the oak tree valley.

The oak tree valley was a place where most people who were in courtship visited. They would often take long walks and advertise themselves to anyone willing to see them.

It was the one place where men could hold hands with women and not be questioned. It was the one place Gina wanted to be with Richard.

'Thomas, the vintner informed me about this caller. Does he say you met him at a corner? Gina, you know that is not acceptable. Any onlooker who saw you with him there could start a rumor.' Benedict said.

How could Gina tell her uncle that all of the precautions did not matter given that she had already given herself to this mystery caller?

'I know better, uncle. I shall not respond to calls outside of the house.' Gina lied to herself and her family.

She told herself that the next time Richard was at her uncle's house, it was going to be to declare his intentions to marry her.

'Missy, I know you don't want to hear this, but you must tell me, have you set your eyes on any man?' Donna asked her daughter.

Donna believed that she passed her luck on to her daughter. Her luck of getting the suitor she desired. And so, she advised Missy to keep her eyes peeled for the man of her dreams.

'There was a man today, he was not like the other men in the tavern. He did not know how to use his words, but I admired him.' Missy smiled. She was thinking about what had happened with Richard and she kept seeing the scene in her mind.

There was no way he could not have charmed her because he was different from what she was accustomed to. Missy dealt with vulgar men, but Richard kept to himself.

'Well then, whatever is this stranger's name?' Marlow asked. He was curious to know the person that was making his sister smile so hard.

Marlow loved Missy so much and he did not want her to get hurt. He wanted to know the stranger and keep an eye on him. Marlow wanted to oversee his sister's relationship with him.

'I did not catch it, but I know he enjoys Mead. He also mentioned getting served by you.' She told her brother.

All Gina thought about at that moment was how anyone could like Mead. Richard had rubbed off on her so much that she hated the drink just as much as he did. She told herself her man was too special to order such below par drink.