He had a good laugh; whole and hearty. Her retort hadn’t been anything special, but he humored her all the same. It was the laugh of a confident man used to laughing. In another time she would have joined in, yet she only allowed herself a moment’s smile before it slipped back beneath the surface. Laughter and happiness played a minor role in her life now.
“That would be eccentric.” She murmured loud enough to carry the short distance. Hanna reckoned she had only a few more opportunities to softly spur him for not taking her to the Ashford before the tone changed and he was no longer laughing. Hanna could have pushed. She could have pushed and pushed until he dripped with fear, and his laughter turned to sobs. It was tempting, but she didn’t want to do that. The quicker she returned to the Ashford, the quicker the laws that governed her life snapped back into place. His ultimatum was an excuse to delay.
“What do I call you?” She asked after the deer thought better of crossing the road.
“That would be eccentric.” She murmured loud enough to carry the short distance. Hanna reckoned she had only a few more opportunities to softly spur him for not taking her to the Ashford before the tone changed and he was no longer laughing. Hanna could have pushed. She could have pushed and pushed until he dripped with fear, and his laughter turned to sobs. It was tempting, but she didn’t want to do that. The quicker she returned to the Ashford, the quicker the laws that governed her life snapped back into place. His ultimatum was an excuse to delay.
“What do I call you?” She asked after the deer thought better of crossing the road.