Page 33 of The Starling and the Hatter

She pointed at a booth nearby, and she and the man with her stopped to look at a peddler’s wares. When she reached up to touch a large skillet, I noticed the way she shifted something in her arms. Curious, I moved closer until I spied the baby that was cradled against her chest.

A wave of joy and relief washed over me. I’d always tried to trust that this girl had not only gotten safely away from my brothers, but that she’d gone on to live a good life—a life she wanted.

She took her hand away from the skillet and brushed some stray hairs out of her face so she could look up at the man I had to assume was her husband. And the way they looked at one another…

It wasn’t that they were grinning at one another like two love-struck fools. They weren’t. But there was a quiet peace and contentment that emanated from both of them. It was in the way he held an arm hovering at her back as a protective barrier. It was the way they moved around and with each other. It made me almost breathless.

I reached up and removed my hat, hoping she might see me and recognize me even with the scarf around my head. Perhaps it was that movement, or maybe it was just my staring that caught her attention, but eventually she looked over at me and gave a vague smile before her eyes moved on.

Then her eyes snapped back to me and her jaw went slack. I smiled, glad that she had recognized me. Glad for this moment where we could each see that the other was all right. After that one awful day we’d spent together, trying to keep one another safe, this moment felt like a gift.

I debated stepping closer, trying to say something, but when I heard the call of “Elise” behind me and turned to see Robert looking for me, I knew this moment would have to be enough. So I turned back to the woman in red. I placed my left hand to my heart and held my right hand toward her, honoring her, before putting that same palm over my heart with the other hand.

It was a sign travelers sometimes used. One of deep gratitude. One that meant a debt was owed that could never be repaid.

She smiled and dipped her head, accepting my thanks, and I turned away just as Robert reached my side.

“You didn’t watch my performance,” he said, his face a mask of disappointment.

“I saw most of it, but then I saw someone—” I stopped myself, unsure that I wanted to share that moment with anyone else, even Robert.

“That’s too bad. I’d say it was one of my best.” His voice was teasing, but I could see he was genuinely disappointed.

I put a hand to his arm in apology. “I’m sorry to have missed it. I’m certain you were grand.”

“I was,” he said with a teasing scowl. “And if there had been just one more person in the audience to cheer for me, it would have all been worth it. But as it is…” He gave a dramatic sigh.

“Hmm. I’m afraid I have to disagree. This performance you’re giving me right now is by far the most impressive.”

“Come,” he said with a chuckle. “Let’s find some excitement.”

I happily skipped along beside him, eager for the attention and the diversion, but I still had to ask, “Don’t you need to work?”

“Work can wait,” he insisted. “Adventure first.” He took my hand and spun me in a circle.

A laugh escaped my throat. Robert was vivacious. He was constantly making me laugh, constantly finding ways to surprise and delight me. His fingers remained entwined with mine and he swung our joined hands dramatically between us.

When he suddenly pulled me with him as he ran beneath a stilt-walker, my heart jumped into my throat and I tucked my body in to be sure I did not sweep the man’s leg out from under him. When we made it to the other side, I smacked Robert’s arm. “What if we had toppled him?” I asked.

He shrugged with a grin. “He was fine. They deal with little children running into them all the time.”

“Still,” I said, pressing a hand to my racing heart. “I don’t want to be the cause of someone’s injury.”

He smiled down on me. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He raised my hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it.

I had to look away as my insides did a chaotic dance.

We stopped to watch the jugglers, and Robert even convinced me to give it a try. The two men were happy to give us both some pointers and allow us to toss around their pins and rings. Robert was much better at it than I was, but my failures ended with me belly-laughing at my own ineptitude, so I didn’t mind.

Next we found a penned area surrounded by people who were slowly filing in. “Is this the pig chase?” I asked, having seen it but never participated.

He nodded. “Are you ready to try to catch ourselves a pig?”

I nodded vigorously and we waited in line until we got inside. All the participants waited on one side of the pen as instructed until a voice shouted, “Are you ready, ladies and gents?”

The crowd cheered.

“All right, then. Catch! That! Pig!”