Chapter 69: Together (2)
The next day, Annalise was washing the outside of the windows on the right side of the home. There was heavy rain and high wind late in the night, which led to grass and bits of dirt being stuck to the windows.
"What is the festival for?" Annalise asked Cara, who stood by the other window, also wiping away the debris.
"Nothing in particular. We have many festivals once the season starts, so couples can walk around and buy something as they get to know each other. The shop owners make a lot of money during this time, so they call for the town to have many festivals. Other towns have their own ways of entertainment for the season. Lockwood has balls in place of festivals," Cara explained.
Cara grimaced at how dirty her hand had become with some of the dirt coating it. "Isn’t there something special your town does?"
"My family doesn’t live near the town. It takes us a long time to get there, and we only go to sell animals or vegetables. We live quietly," Annalise said, hoping Cara would leave it at that. She didn’t want any more lies to keep up with. She was starting to forget all the things she had said before.
"Well, here you will not. We don’t have to work this evening since Rafael has given the knights and maids the time off to enjoy the festival. I don’t know what has put him in a good mood to let the knights join us, but I like it. It will be the perfect time for me to introduce you to the knights I know. I hope you have the dress you will wear picked out," Cara asked, giving Annalise’s appearance a look over.
"I was not even planning to go to this sudden festival," Annalise muttered. The house would be empty for her to venture around again.
"You can’t!" Cara exclaimed, wanting to shake some sense into Annalise. "The next festival for us regular folk to attend is more than a week away. We need to make the most of this opportunity to be away from work and to dress up. I am not going to let you stay home when you have two perfectly good dresses to wear."
Annalise found that Cara was a bit scary when it came to wanting others to dress up. She regretted telling Cara the white dress Rafael gifted her was still in her care and that she had picked a dress Beatrice left behind to keep for herself. "Why can’t you wear one of the dresses and go with Heidi? I have no interest in going to a festival."