Valentine halted at the sound of another set of hooves crossing the ground nearby, and he turned his head at the sound of his name. A wide smile cracked his pink-white lips as he saw Dock standing between the trees, her creamy gold pelt bright against the muted colours of the forest behind her. “Dock!” he replied brightly, turning to come closer and stand before her. His dark eyes swept over her lightly, but even at a glance he noticed the swell to her belly that had not been there before. He remembered her youthful, petite frame so vividly that it was hard not to notice. Although he tried not to make her feel uncomfortable in his brief appraisal, his smile faltered ever so slightly. There was something unsettling about the discovery of Dock’s pregnancy. He had never imagined that the timid, uncertain thing he had found asleep in the Falls would have found herself romancing a man in the short time since their last meeting. He did not like to think that someone might have taken advantage of her, and so he pushed his imagination to the back of his mind and refocused his attention on her lovely blue eyes. He would not question her. Not yet, at least. “It’s good to see you again,” he continued. “You recommended Luthien to me, and here I am.” Valentine was only half-joking in his comment – he had not taken the Prairie simply because he knew Dock lived next door, but she had certainly been an influence on his decision to come to Luthien at least. “It is just as lovely as you said,” he added with a grin. |