Re: Sidewalk Interlude - 9:15 a.m. (Dinah, Fred)
When she turned, her face was familiar -- not the features, not the shape, not the essential look that defined Dinah, but the expression. Beauty knew that expression very well. The confusion and hurt it caused was secondary, though; Beauty pushed that aside and focused on what was important. She slowed to a careful walk, raised her hands at shoulder level, arms bent, palms flat --- save for the hand that clutched the letter.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Dinah," she said, using the same voice she used when her sisters were ill or a young man was upset with her or a horse was still half-wild. "I don't know what the history is between you and Eric, and I know he's frightening. He frightened me, too. But he has never mentioned you to me before, I promise. I went to see you because I saw... I saw. I knew what it was to feel that way, because I felt that way, too."
She was close enough now to extend her arm and offer the letter -- not close enough to touch Dinah, of course, but close enough for Dinah to reach the note if she wanted. It was a creamy envelope, with Dinah's name in neat script on the front and a blue wax rose seal on the back. As she extended the letter, she gave Fred a look. What just happened in the bookshop aside, Fred was talking about Eric in a way that made Beauty rather nervous. Even now, Beauty didn't know the full extent of what Eric could do; he'd never really told her. But he'd promised, hadn't he? He'd promised her that he'd never hurt her. Someone that did that for a complete stranger because she was uncomfortable... he couldn't be terrible, could he?
"I wrote everything down that the City told me about him. It isn't much... but I promised you I'd ask. I was going to run it by your shop after work tonight. Dinah, please..."
Beauty had just made friends with her. She hadn't any idea why it felt like she was losing a chance at that friend now. But she wasn't willing to give up.