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Lily and Posco had sat down and eaten lunch mostly in silence; both of them felt to be starving and were focused on the meal rather than chatting. Now, her hunger sated, Lily sat back contentedly. Life was good. She was about to say something to start up conversation again now that the meal was over, but she hesitated when she noticed a middle-age hobbit enter the inn. This was not unusual, but Lily’s interest was piqued as the hobbit looked about the room and began to head for her.
“Excuse me, miss,” he said as he approached her. “But would you be Miss Lily Thistlewool?”
“Yes, that’s me,” replied Lily cautiously. She wondered what this hobbit could want from her. He smiled at her response. “Very good, miss. Then I have a letter here for you.” He removed the envelope from his front pocket and handed it to her. Lily recognized her aunt’s loopy handwriting.
“Thank you, sir,” said Lily. She pulled a coin out of her pocket and handed it to him.
“Thank you, and good day to you,” he said, and with a slight bow turned and headed back outside. Lily was curious about the reason for the letter, and stuck her finger underneath the seal to break it.
“Do you mind?” Lily asked Posco with a questioning glance. She hoped he would not consider it rude to read her letter in front of him.
“No, go on ahead,” he answered. She pulled the paper from the envelope and found a full page of writing, written small so as to fit more into the space. For now, Lily began to scan the letter for anything interesting; she could read the news more closely later, when she was alone. Dearest Lily, I hope you are enjoying yourself in the Shire. I have missed your lively conversation... Lily was relieved to find everything was going well for her aunt, uncle, and brother. When she got to the final paragraph, she frowned and reread, hoping she had misunderstood:
I have saved the best new for last, and I am sure you will be as pleased as we are. I almost waited until you were home to surprise you, but I cannot resist. Perhaps a week back, young (though I suppose he is not so young any more) Tommy Banks came by the house, asking for you. He was disappointed to find that you were away, and instead asked your uncle for permission to court you when you returned. Your uncle, of course, granted it to him, and I am sure you will be pleased as Tommy is a fine lad...
Lily’s face paled. What would she say to them? She had no intention of allowing Tommy to court her; she had Posco now. Lily let the letter fall to the table. Breathing was difficult.
“Is everything all right?” Posco asked her, clearly concerned.
“Yes... just some surprising news from home is all,” Lily managed to get out. She did not care to think of it as a lie, exactly. She only knew that if she had told him the truth, she might very well succeed in driving him away, something she could by no means allow. She set her mind firmly: she would enjoy her time here with Posco, go home and get things straightened out, and return to Buckland to marry Posco. She could only hope it would go so easily as that.
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