Lucy in Avalon // Lindensea 3

XX

"So you've enjoyed yourself, then?" Bernard asked, as he walked hand in hand with Lucy by the lake.

As he listened to her chatter about sailing and swimming, Bernard noticed that Lucy was both tanned and freckled by the sun, and had lost some of the roundness in her cheeks. He also noticed other changes to her body, which meant that she really needed to have her own seamstress and start wearing grownup clothes. He felt guilty that they had all loved having a baby sister so much that they had done their best to keep her a child, when she was fast growing into a young woman.

"You and Eden seem to be getting on well?" he suggested, noticing the slight blush on Lucy's cheeks as she agreed that Eden was quite fun.

"What do you say we ask Eden and Meriadoc to come to Camden for Yuletide?" Bernard asked, and Lucy became almost incoherent with joy, her little eyes round with excitement at the thought of showing Eden her home during all the fun of Yuletide celebrations.

"Pip couldn't come here with you?" Lucy asked.

"He has to stay with Clarissa in Everwick," Bernard replied, "but we'll be with them ourselves tomorrow night. Clarissa has been ... very happy in Everwick. In fact, I might as well tell you now – she's betrothed to Prince Henry."

"Oh! What's Prince Henry like? Lucy asked in surprise. "Is he handsome?"

"Not a bit," smiled Bernard. "But he's tall, strong, clever, kind, and very, very nice. You'll like him, Lu. And Clarissa loves him."

"Does he love her?" Lucy asked. "I mean, does he love Clarissa for herself, and not just because she's beautiful?"

"I'm sure he does, but it's very hard for a young man not to think about a girl's beauty when he falls in love."

"When's the wedding?"

"Next year, in Everwick," said Bernard. "You're going to be a bridesmaid, and Pip is already designing a dress for you."

"Well, I'm very happy for Clarissa, and a wedding will be lovely, but she's going to live in Everwick, and it's so far away!" Lucy said.

"Far from Lindensea, but not too far from Westmoreland," said Bernard with a smile, and that made Lucy blush again.

Brother and sister walked up to the castle for dinner, and were greeted by King Meriadoc. And Eden, that wicked bandit and dastardly pirate, was wearing her green silk evening gown which swept the floor, her long hair shining in the candlelight. She dipped into a deep curtsy when she saw Bernard, bowing her head as she murmured, "Your Majesty."

Only Lucy noticed the little twitch of her lips, and the boldness of her black eyes.