The door fell to the floor. Hendrick felt the tug at the edge of his lip and tried to keep a serious and cool expression while sipping his tea;
"Yes indeed. A little grease and it will be just as new", he teased. He did his best to keep from laughing (Not wanting to embarrass Petal any further) but he couldn't hold back his smile.
She begun talking about the different carpenters in town. She seemed very distressed while mentioning the second carpenter. Hendrick tried to remember. She had been talking about trouble with the Apothecary, but had she said his name? Hendrick couldn't remember.
"No thank you, no more tea. I'll be on my way to buy groceries", he said while standing up and giving Petal a knightly bow. In his town the Mordecai were taught manners besides just hunting magic. You need to be courteous while dealing with a powerful magic-user, so that said magic-user didn't decide you were not worth the trouble and turn you into a pile of ash.
"You are right. I'll let Marilyn stay here while I go out shopping. Who knows, maybe you can get her to talk?" he added the last part jokingly but some part of him still hoped. Petal was very much alike Marilyn in her personality. Maybe, just maybe, it could help? It was a stupid thought. Marilyn hadn't said a word for seven years, why should she begin now?
If Hendrick just knew that Marilyn's soul (or her ghost) was in the very same room and was by some magic unable to talk to him, well ... He probably would be a little more hopeful.
Without further due, Hendrick lifted the fallen door and put it against the wall.
"So customers won't walk on it", he smiled before heading out into the city of Featherfall. He decided to take a walk, buying food on the way. He wanted to see the city, not just rush through it like he had yesterday. His first thought was that Serendipity was very alike Connloath and at the same time, nothing at all. There was a bakery, a butchery and a pottery shop. Merchants trying to attract customers with exotic wares
"The best you'll ever buy!"
"Connloathian steel!"
"Cheap, cheap shoes over here!"
And beggers trying to earn an extra copper.
"Please sir, help a fellow down on his luck?"
Not many beggers came close to Hendrick. Having a nasty scar could prove useful sometimes. He continued Walking, stopping every now and then to exchange money with merchants for their wares. Soon he had all he needed in way of food. He stopped a young boy and told him to carry the wares back to lady Petal. The boy - who had blonde hair, a to big red cap and was missing a tooth - were eager to help for the two coppers Hendrick offered as payment. With a stern glare Hendrick made sure the boy wouldn't go somewhere else with the wares. A little afraid the boy scuttled away. But the man was with Lady Hornsworth, so he couldn't be all bad, he reasoned while hurriyng off.
Hendrick found himself having walked in a circle coming the other way to Luke's carpenter shop. Not far from there, the town drunk was spilling his problems to his employer. Now way more sober than yesterday, but nothing without slurring the words every now and then.
" ... 'nd you see sir, that ox o' a man, he can't be good for Petal. You really ought to go there, you now makin' sure everything is all right", Tom said. He had just told Agehneim the story of how he, Tom, had politely knocked on the door yesterday because his dog was hurt. How sweet lady Petal, barely had dared to say anything, and the things she had said had been very mean, but it was probably because she was afraid. How that scarred man, refused to introduce Tom to the red-headed girl and barely allowed Tom into the house. He couldn't be good for Petal. And what if Petal learned from his bad behavoiur?
Hendrick was happily unaware of this conversation, but held one of his own with Luke. It was a pleasant day-to-day chatter while Luke measured the new boards.
During all this time, the ghost of Marilyn followed Petal with great interest. She liked this girl. She was sweet, kind and nice. If Petal noticed, she'd feel like there was someone in the room with her (apart from all the animals) and maybe notice how things she needed suddenly just appeared close to her. Marilyn was merely trying to help by bringing scissors, seeds and other things to the flowergirl.