Brian walked up to Avaline with puppy eyes. "Please."
"I'll leave Thomas behind," Lord Nightingale said. "He'll inform us when Lady Poppy arrives."
Unable to keep the children waiting any longer, Avaline nodded. Anna beamed and skipped back to Brian. Delilah hovered to the side.
Brian shuffled over to her. "This is our first time coming here. We can walk in together."
Without waiting, Anna headed off, followed by Brian and Delilah. Lord Nightingale and Avaline followed behind them. Luckily, there weren't many attendees out and about.
Avaline marveled at the lively atmosphere despite the hour of the evening. She, too, couldn't help herself, gazing at the sparkling hair ornaments or the large stones hanging from a leather necklace. Her cheeks ached as she took in the hanging lights. Blood-born children ran through the vendor stalls waving ribbons.
The children stopped in front of a vendor with a wheel of paper attached to a stick. The vendor picked it up and blew it, making the paper spin. Brian clapped, laughing as the patterns made images. Anna turned to Avaline, eyes wide, before her smile faded and she looked back to the vendor.
Slipping out of Lord Nightingale's arm, Avaline walked up to Anna and crouched beside her.
"Would you like one?"
Anna quickly shook her head. "I'm okay."
Hearing her reply, Brian moved away from the vendor.
"I don't know what I should do," Avaline told them. "I want one. Do you think it's okay for me to have one?"
Sheepishly, the twins nodded.
Straightening, Avaline turned to the vendor only to have Lord Nightingale hand me three pinwheels.
"I bought too many," he said.
Looking at the pinwheels, Avaline's chin trembled. Gratefully, she accepted the pinwheels and handed them to Anna and Brian.
"What do we say?" she asked.
"Thank you," they mumbled.
Delilah blew at her pinwheel, smiling as it spun. She ran up to the twins. Giggling, they took off towards the next vendor.
Lord Nightingale escorted Avaline down the aisle as they followed after the children.
"Thank you," Avaline said. "Though I shouldn't burden you with these trinkets."
"I invited you," Lord Nightingale reminded her. "Think nothing of it." He gestured to the festival. "Are you enjoying yourself?"
Avaline nodded. "Yes! It's been some time since I've gone out like this. "Thank you for the invitation."
The children stopped in front of a vendor with apples lined up in rows. They were coated with glistening sugar. Brian wiped the side of his mouth.
Avaline turned to Lord Nightingale. "It seems that I'm needed."
Walking to the vendor with a smile, Avaline bought one apple and had the vendor split it in two. She gave one-half to each child.
Brian immediately took a bite.
Anna took her piece. "What about you?"
"She has her own," Lord Nightingale said.
Surprised, Avaline stared at the candied apple in Lord Nightingale's hand. Sheepishly, Avaline took it from him.
"My lord," she said in a protest.
Lord Nightingale stepped closer. "Let me take care of your indulgences."
Avaline's face warmed. She glanced at him through her lashes.
"If you do things like this," she whispered. "I might mistake it as a special interest on your part."
As she finished speaking, Avaline refused to stare at anything else other than her apple. Perhaps she shouldn't have been so bold. And yet, how else was she to see his actions as? They were close enough to exchange gifts, even if they were mere trinkets.
"In that case," he said. "Please continue to mistake it as such."
Stunned, her back stiffened. She blew air into her face as it warmed and prickled. He had said that, right? It wasn't her imagination.
Shaking, Avaline hooked her arm against his. She stood closer enough so their shoulders could touch. Shyly, she nibbled on the apple. Even as the weight seemed impossibly heavy on the stick, she gripped it tightly.
"We should continue down the path," she said.
"Yes. Let's."
They walked more slowly as the three children ran in front of them. Avaline leaned against Lord Nightingale's arm, a nervous bubble settling in her chest. She couldn't mistake Lord Nightingale's words for anything else other than interest.
Reaching the end of the aisle, Avaline spotted Sister Tucker behind one of the booths. She moved towards the booth but stopped.
"Delilah," Lord Nightingale called.
She looked back at her brother. Anna and Brian skipped back towards them.
Lord Nightingale leaned closer to Avaline. "Should we speak with her?"
Hesitating, she bit her lip. Anna's impatient tapping made her think better of it. Avaline had yet to send a letter. Perhaps speaking in person would be better. Yet, it was a time of celebration. She didn't want to intrude.
"No," Avaline said. "I'll speak with her another time."
Anna took off, closely followed by Delilah and Brian.
"If I may pry, is this something I can help with?"
She smiled. "It might be an impossible thing."
"I'll be the judge of that."
Avaline mulled it over. Perhaps if she spoke with Lord Nightingale, then it wouldn't be an impossible thing.
"As you know, those displaced have received care packages with items from the church. The ladies and I - Lady Poppy, Lady Kain, Lady Vann, and Lady Stewart - thought it would be nice to send packages to the front lines. Little things from families."
"Hellios are sensitive to smell," Lord Nightingale said. "Such items might increase casualties."
Avaline's brow furrowed. "Is there really no other way? Doesn't the Church use the Black Clove to overpower other scents?" She took a bite of her apple. The crisp and sugar coating made her salivate even more.
"It does." Lord Nightingale pulled her aside as another couple hurried past them.
Avaline glanced at him. "What if families added Black Clove to their packages? Could it help the packages reach their recipients?"
Lord Nightingale was silent as they walked. A vendor shouted at their left about popping balloons. Another called for them to try a sugar cloud swirled around in a machine.
"Luna and Sol's church are the only ones allowed to harvest such an herb," Lord Nightingale said at last. "I believe Prince Cedric was tasked with enforcing that law."
Avaline ate more of her treat and watched her siblings stand near a juggler as they tossed small balls into the air. Lord Nightingale and Avaline stopped behind them.
"In that case," she said, "couldn't packages be held in a storage room with Black Clove?"
"The trees don't yield vast quantities." Lord Nightingale pulled her in front of him.
"So, it is impossible."
Lord Nightingale's coat grazed her back. If Avaline moved back a fraction, she would lean into him. She tried to ignore how her neck prickled and warmed. Or how his frame seemed to envelop her like a cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
"It's a good cause," Lord Nightingale said close to her ear. "It's worth a try."
Avaline turned and froze. Lord Nightingale's face hovered close to her. She gazed at his long eyelashes, took in his refined nose, all the way to his lips. When he spoke, she caught a glimpse of his fangs. Like jewels, they glistened under the night light. Her skin tingled, and her fingertips itched.
He straightened. "Lady Poppy has arrived."
Clearing her throat, Avaline turned and watched Lady Poppy turn into the aisle. Beside her, Juniper clutched her pink skirt. Both sisters wore matching outfits.
"Apologies for my late arrival," Lady Leah said. She bowed at Lord Nightingale, then turned her attention to Avaline. "I hope I didn't make you wait long."
She smiled. "Not at all."
Lord Nightingale stepped away, and Avaline held back a whimper from disappointment. Juniper rushed up to the other children. They awkwardly bowed to each other before rushing off.
Lady Leah walked between Avaline and Lord Nightingale. Avaline smiled politely as she spoke about the traffic and how Juniper had taken a long nap. As the lady spoke, Avaline peeked at Lord Nightingale. Their eyes met. The glow of the lights matched the glow of his eyes, like warm honey.
As the night grew longer, more attendees started arriving. Soon, the aisles were crowded, and Avaline had to keep Anna and Brian close. Yet despite her orders, all four of the children ran from vendor to vendor, giggling, and there were times when she couldn't see them at all. Avaline finished the rest of her apple and tossed the stick in a garbage bin.
"Be careful," Lady Leah called to the children. "Stay in sight."
The group walked the length of every aisle, passing by grilled meat and vegetables, goblets of sanguine nourishment. While most of the attendees were blood-born, Avaline spotted occasional humans mingling.
They had walked the length of all the aisles just as Brian started stumbling as he walked. Anna hid a yawn behind her pinwheel. Even Juniper's chin started dropping to her chest.
"It seems it's time for us to depart," Avaline muttered.
Walking over to the children, Avaline scooped Brian and Anna up in her arms. Their combined weight nearly made Avaline tumble. The children clung to her neck, laying their heads on her shoulders. Avaline had about five minutes of strength to carry both of them before she needed help.
"My carriage is ready," Lady Poppy said. She turned to Lord Nightingale. "Will that be all right with you?"
Avaline's jaw clenched. It would be rude not to accept Lady Poppy's offer. Yet, ruder still to allow Lord Nightingale to return alone.
In response, Lord Nightingale bowed. "Of course."
He escorted them back to where the carriages waited. Delilah skipped along, humming to herself. Juniper struggled to keep up, so Lady Leah had to carry her the last few steps. At the carriage, Lord Nightingale held the door open for them. Avaline coaxed Anna and Brian into the carriage.
"Thank you for tonight." Avaline kept her voice low on purpose. "I'll let you know when I'm home."
"Lady Stark?"
Once inside the carriage, Lord Nightingale closed the door. Anna and Brian leaned against her as the carriage lulled them to sleep.
"Thank you for accompanying me tonight," Avaline began.
"I must confess I was a little taken aback by your request," Lady Leah said. "However, I'm pleased to know you consider me a close acquaintance."
Avaline's smile wavered. "If I may be bold, I'm surprised Lord Poppy allowed you and Juniper out so late."
"Juniper convinced him." She looked at her sleeping sister. "She wanted to meet more children her age. I think she took a liking to Miss Delilah."
"That's good to hear."
Lady Leah returned her gaze to Avaline. "Since we're close acquaintances, I must say taking Lord Nightingale's carriage, alone, might loosen some tongues."
She wasn't wrong. Perhaps Avaline had been too hasty, but she didn't regret it. Now she knew Lord Nightingale wasn't opposed to her advances.
"Thank you for the warning," Avaline muttered. "I'll keep that in mind."
They rode in silence until the carriage stopped in front of Stark Manor. Charles and Jonna waited for them at the door when they arrived. The men carried the twins inside, leaving Avaline to bid Lady Poppy farewell.
"Have a good night," she said with a wave.
As the carriage pulled away, Avaline made my way into the house. The lights were off. Jonna and Charles made their way up the stairs using candlelight.
Removing her heels, Avaline went up to her room. Inside, Belle greeted her with a chirp. Remembering her promise, Avaline scribbled a quick note before sending Belle off. As she got ready for bed, a sense of fulfillment lingered through her body. Avaline didn't remember falling asleep. Her only thought was on how she wanted to see Lord Nightingale again.