I had a visit from Missus Holbrook early this morning. Bless her kind heart, she brought a basket of fresh, hot apple tarts and I asked if she would sit and have one with me before running off again. She said aye, so I put on the kettle and we had a lovely little breakfast while we gabbed away. Of course, this will be my very first winter taking care of the boarding house, but I feel I'm up to the task. She couldn't help giving me advice on everything from keeping the chimneys clear when it snows to making sure the pantry doesn't run too low, especially if we have people boarding. Then she told me something what made my stomach turn. She's seen Emory again, lurking around the streets nearby. She said he looked like a ragamuffin, his clothes all dirty and such. I felt such an awful mix of fear, disgust, and pity, all at the same time. He hasn't come here to the boarding house, far as I know, but now my nerves are all jumpy just thinking about it. Maybe I really should ask her about getting a dog for the place. I've always wanted a dog of my own, and it could let me know if any strange folk try to come past the gate.
I saw the big, lumbering gent again yesterday. He must keep awfully to himself because he apparently has a house somewhere in Knotwood, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of him for weeks. He has a nice way about him, though I daresay folk would tell me I'm just being a naive little girl to say this about a stranger. I don't mean that I believe him to be a nice person. But that I find his company and conversation to be enjoyable, if that makes better sense. I'm not put off by rough manners. Gods know I endured years of watching my own brother become a drunken brute, and it weren't till he had blackened my eye for the hundredth time that I finally had enough of him. I don't know, there's just something in me that believes there's something more beneath the scowls and grumbles and grumpy ways of people like this. Folk aren't born grumpy, after all. Something made them that way. And they all deserve a chance to have someone treat them like human beings, as we're all full of mistakes and rough edges. Just some are more on the outside than others. But here I am, rambling again! Anyway, nothing especially interesting happened, we talked by the fire and I had some pottage and then I went home.
The shopkeeper in Bree weren't sure as she had some black and red yarn, but she vanished into the back of the shop and thankfully came back out with a skein of each! I'll be getting started today on Miss Lumina's things. It's already near freezing at night, the ground is frosted when the sun comes up. Can't have the poor woman suffering without proper clothes.
Of course, I have Master Maurr's scarf here, waiting for him. I do hope they're all safe and sound. Mister Dimheim told me that Master Yurri went with them. I were sad to think I'd probably never see the old dwarf again. But glad that he went somewhere that hopefully feels like home, to be with folk who'll understand him and care for him, whatever happens.
I haven't seen a trace of Mister Aeru. I don't think I should go poking around the barbershop again to ask after him. Mister Dimheim made a comment about the night when I rather lost my temper at Mister Aeru for going into his study when he weren't supposed to. I thought he were being serious about it, but after I tried to defend myself a little, he said he were joking, and he said it with such absolute seriousness, it made it twice as amusing to me. He said he isn't good at jesting and humor, but I think he's fair better than he realizes. It might do him good to smile or something when he's at it, though.
I happened to see a posting for a harvest supper party coming up in a fortnight. Going to Miss Piper's party helped me feel a little more bold about going to such affairs, I think. And this one sounds like it will be fun! Of course, my mind got to wondering if there'd be dancing and I keep thinking that one day, I'm just going to try it and not give a fig if I look a fool. But two weeks is plenty of time to think on it and get ready for it. I could always practice dancing with It's a potluck, so folk are supposed to bring food to share. I have no idea what I'd bring, as I'm certainly no great cook. Hmm.
My leg hurts. I'm sure it's nothing, but... Master Tumunir noticed it. It's just the cold weather coming on, surely. What else could it be?
