Born with a damaged heart, Leanna Weston has lived a sheltered life with little chance at adventure. When she hears that Finvarra's Circus is coming to her small town, she sneaks off to witness the magic first hand, sure that this is her only chan...
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A plate of hearty soup sat untouched for a long while before Leanna. As if a looking glass, all she saw in between the chunks of potatoes and meat, crimson broth and curls of smoke that soon vanished, were Inara's eyes, and the pale mare lying in the dark, surrounded by her fellow horsemen and her fear. No longer able to stand the quiet haunting, Leanna fashioned a pretext of having rooming business to sort out with Finvarra—which wasn't entirely a lie—and excused herself from supper. She had to speak to Finvarra of his war with Krinard, of Inara and her fear. She had to see him.
And so she stood now in the shadows, a distance away from Finvarra's illuminated tent, her eyes focused on the doorway blocked by Tomas. Conviction moved her forward toward the light, determined. One step, and then another. Her heart pounded fiercely the closer she drew, drumming the beat of her approach. She was going to see Finvarra. She hadn't seen him all day, but she was going to see him now—
Leanna stopped abruptly, feeling a little breathless a sudden. There was no pain... no, nothing of the sort, only this strange airiness that suddenly possessed her heart. It fluttered a little lighter, a little faster...
Her brows furrowed at this new sensation. It was almost as if she were nervous, she mused, taking inventory of her feelings. Maybe she was nervous, anticipating even. Perhaps she wanted to see him—
Nonsense, Leanna reprimanded her thoughts with a shake of her head. Her heart was just not accustomed to all being demanded of it. She'd exerted herself more that day than she had in years. Her heart was just... adjusting, Leanna told her meddlesome conscience. That was all. Setting her jaw, she started again toward the tent.
Leanna paused. After what transpired that afternoon with Krinard, no doubt Finvarra was somewhat annoyed with her. She put fingers to her mouth in thought. He'd only be more bothered knowing she'd meddled in his private affairs—again. Leanna hummed. Perhaps she would come back later, once the events from that day had a chance to settle...
Yes, Leanna decided, and turned away from his tent. She would just go...
Go where? her conscience whispered, vanishing then into a passing breeze.
Leanna wavered with a frown. Where, indeed. She had no tent of her own, no place to lay her head. Furthermore, her carpetbag was still inside. No doubt she looked frazzled and dirty with stained shoes and ragged hair. She needed her clothes and hairbrush. Leanna chewed her lip and turned back to Tomas. She had to see Finvarra.
She turned away once more. But perhaps she'd see Minerva first—
"Miss Weston," Tomas' gruff voice rumbled like distant thunder behind her. Leanna whirled to see he held the curtain open. "The Ringmaster wishes to see you."
Leanna dithered, but in muttering a few unintelligible and wholly un-lady like words, she steeled her spine, clenched her hands into small fists, and closed the space between them. With a curt nod, she passed Tomas and strode through the curtain before she changed her mind.
