There he was, smiling at her like he hadn’t expected her to say anything else. Her own lips quipped into her smile at his response, green eyes watching as he seemed to turn his full attention onto her. Juniper liked the feeling of him looking only at her “And I must warn you Mr. Flint, that unraveling the secrets of magic sounds much more interesting than turning you into a toad.” Although she might have tucked him into her pocket and walked around the show with him there, speaking to him like he was actually walking beside her. This was better though, being able to have a two sided conversation.

Juniper turned her head to gaze behind her, waiting for her stepmother to come barrelling down the path to find her, and when she didn’t, she let out a small breath of relief. Turned back toward him, her voice lowering to something almost akin to teasing; it felt right, given how his voice sounded genuine when he asked his question. “She would be pleased to see me speaking politely to you, might even ask you what your secrets are so she can pass them along to those mundane suitors.” She winked at him, as if it was their little secret. It would be highly entertaining to watch someone’s horrified face when they learned these kinds of things she and Mr. Flint discussed. “But I come every year. It’s nice to walk through the flowers and see the beauty the world has to offer.” June did like bouquets of any variety and she very much liked the idea of Mr. Flint wandering around the outdoors, stopping to actually smell the roses.

June didn’t even pause to take a breath before she answered him. “Both.” She murmured. “The people around me bore me, talking of polite things like the weather or trying to impress me with verses of poetry they’ve read, like I care about how green my eyes are in comparison to an emerald. When I marry Mr. Flint, it will be to someone who challenges me and someone I can verbally spar with without fear of repercussions.” The woman giggled as she shuffled her feet; something in her gaze though, hardened. “I will not be a housewife nor will I become a mere baby making factory.” Babies — Juniper didn’t even want to be a mother, so she hoped her first born was a son, or she was blessed with twins so she didn’t have to suffer through a pregnancy twice. There wasn’t much left for her to be, but she’d forge her own path.

Watched as he nodded, and Juniper couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face as she stepped forward and offered her hand to him, palm up. “Promenade me around the show. “ She hummed. “And maybe I’ll surprise you.” June wasn’t sure what she knew that Mr. Flint didn’t, but there had to be something; plus she liked the idea of sparring with him, keeping him on his toes. “Come, let’s see if there are some snapping steel vines around. I wouldn’t mind a new necklace for the upcoming season.” Tossed a curious look at him before she tacked on “Or maybe a ring.”

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