Miss Brynleigh made me think winter was going to be far worse than I ever experienced, but she was thinking only of winters in the Mark. She forgets the last two years I spent at Woodland Hall, which was far colder than here, and for more of the time. Bree has had more snow, and some of its cold days would rival those in the eaves of the Mirkwood, but then there's warm and sunny days almost the equal of the Mark, and the snow melts away. It's true I spend more time outdoors here, working in the stables, and it can be hard, but it's still not as bad as the last few years, or as I'd feared.
The next few days I will be staying in at the stable studying hard since we've gotten to a more difficult subject, the basics of healing horses. Stable-keepers only learn a small part of this subject, compared to someone like Miss Arelienbur who specializes in such things, but it still takes a lot for someone like me, who reads slowly and is even slower to learn things by memory. Miss Brynleigh has been pleased with my progress in my apprenticeship, and I hope to maintain that. That's why the next few days I won't be doing anything but studying.
Which means I won't get to see Beoda, which will make it even harder to concentrate. I spent most of yesterday with her, up at her farm. I've added their mare Biscuit to my rounds, after Miss Baker's horse Snow, and (now that she's returned, safe and not saying much about her delays) Miss Adri's goat Rascal. Hookworth Stables don't see many working farm-horses, so it adds another good kind of practice. But it also gives me another chance to see Beoda. And the family, which seems glad to see me -- even her pa, Henri, who gave me permission to court her after only a handful of questions. I found out yesterday that Beoda's ma died of an illness some years back, and I can't imagine what that must be like, and how strong a family has to be -- or become -- to get through it. Beoda says her ma would have liked me. I hope I can be what her ma would have wanted for her.
While I try to study the cures and signs of illness, it will be difficult not to think about Beoda, the smell of her hair, the feel of her hand in mine, but also how unsure I am how to court her. I don't have any doubts that this is right, but I do chase myself in circles trying to figure out what's the right way to win her heart. Other than just being myself, of course. Should I be taking her places, or giving her gifts? Should I be finding music I can take her dancing at? Should I kiss her -- and how do I learn how to do it? Should I be singing songs to her? She convinced me to sing for her, and said that my voice is good and my brothers were wrong to tease me about it, but I don't know any songs about romance, really. I don't even know what courting should be in the Mark, let alone Bree. I know I shouldn't worry, and just being together is enough, but I want her to have the best I can. For now the best courtship, and so I wish I knew what that was. Someday, the best of everything.
